T.S. Eliot was right
Jan. 6th, 2010 08:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaunthieThe Naming of Cats *is* a difficult matter. Much more difficult than socializing them, as it turns out. Here they are, cooperatively pinning me to the sofa:
But we have finally, finally, finally come up with names that suit them. Real names that we can put on licenses, not nicknames (which came within the first day, and have proliferated almost as fast as the kitty-toys under the couch.) We had placeholder names (Thing 1 and Thing 2), but those weren't suitable for actually calling the kitties/getting them to get off the furniture/etcetera, as the kittens themselves don't distinguish between "Thing 1" and "Thing 2," and we weren't going to shorten them to One and Two. Even their jellicle names were easier to learn than their use-names. (And despite what Eliot says, non black-and-white cats have jellicle names, too.)
Thing 1 was the toughest one. We went through 26 different possible names. But in the end, it was simple.
He's Baggins.
Thing 2 was much simpler. We only came up with 18 possibles for her, and three were ever really in contention. And figuring out the actual one was straightforward. We had her name settled several days before we figured out her brother.
She's Lillibet. And as you can see from this picture, she too has become snuggle-buddies with M, just as much as her brother.
So there you have it. Everyone now has a name. Next challenge: keeping the kittens off of the things we don't want them on, keeping them from using the sofa as a scratching post, making sure they eat their own food and not each others...
Yes, we're all very happy.
But we have finally, finally, finally come up with names that suit them. Real names that we can put on licenses, not nicknames (which came within the first day, and have proliferated almost as fast as the kitty-toys under the couch.) We had placeholder names (Thing 1 and Thing 2), but those weren't suitable for actually calling the kitties/getting them to get off the furniture/etcetera, as the kittens themselves don't distinguish between "Thing 1" and "Thing 2," and we weren't going to shorten them to One and Two. Even their jellicle names were easier to learn than their use-names. (And despite what Eliot says, non black-and-white cats have jellicle names, too.)
Thing 1 was the toughest one. We went through 26 different possible names. But in the end, it was simple.
He's Baggins.
Thing 2 was much simpler. We only came up with 18 possibles for her, and three were ever really in contention. And figuring out the actual one was straightforward. We had her name settled several days before we figured out her brother.
She's Lillibet. And as you can see from this picture, she too has become snuggle-buddies with M, just as much as her brother.
So there you have it. Everyone now has a name. Next challenge: keeping the kittens off of the things we don't want them on, keeping them from using the sofa as a scratching post, making sure they eat their own food and not each others...
Yes, we're all very happy.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-01-07 04:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-07 05:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-08 12:44 am (UTC)And I'm sorry to let the professional out one more time, but since they've got microchips, be sure that the microchip numbers are registered under your name. If the microchip was implanted by the shelter/rescue then it's likely the numbers are in the registry under the shelter/rescue's name and contact information and not yours.
Call Home Again and they'll tell you.
--J
Kitties
Date: 2010-01-08 10:39 pm (UTC)