Veronica Crockpot, Rocky Rivers, and Chapstick (a cat who lives down my street) are just … gah … no, No, NO. The people at the shelter need to reread “The Naming of Cats” from Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that’s particular,
All cats have a secret name that humans never know. But humans like to name everything they come in contact with even if they already have their own names.
At the shelter, my little girl was “Mischief”—which was silly because she is the least mischievous cat I have ever had. I decided to rename her with something that shared some of the same sounds, so I went with “Melissa”—-which was then shortened to just “Lissa.” But now I don’t know why I bothered because I hardly ever call her that to her face. When speaking to her, it is always Sweetie, Sweet Girl, Sweetheart, etc. I am pretty sure she thinks her name is “Sweet.”
Every time I see a strange bug I do not recognize, I whisper “are you a star ship? Have you come to visit us?”
I think they have all been bugs so far.
No one has ever answered me, at least. Or beeped when they slowly backed up.
A clear night with many bright stars. Reminds one of the 1833 Leonid Meteor Storm. Look it up, if you have not heard of it before. What a marvel that must have been to witness.
I shall stare out through the living room window and imagine it tonight.
Glad they’re open to new names. I kind of like Rocky Rivers in general, but it does not really fit him. I wonder where it came from. As demonstrated by Puck’s shelter name being Leg-o-loss, shelter employees seem to have a weird sense of humor
Ah, the hastily-thought-up shelter names for cats. I’ve bestowed many a questionable name on a shelter cat at first glance. But, as T S Elliot explains, a cat has several names, and one of them is known only to the cat himself.
I thought Georgia said OraZella was named after the name of someone in a comedy routine? I want to say it was how they referred to their mother or m-i-l?
His name is mangled, mutilated, folded, and crumpled by Marie and the Kids, just because he is a little round from all the cooking and tasting he does.
His name is Hamilton A. Cat.
But he’s called Ham, Hamy, Ham Sandwich, Ham Loaf, Ham & Eggs, Ham Salad, etc., by Marie and the kids. Once, he got close to the fireplace, and Marie called him Smoked Ham. It’s enough to give a poor cat a complex.
Albert was a street cat, so his Man just called him The Cat while he searched for the owners (because, as he kept saying “This is someone’s cat”). After a time, The Cat revealed that his name was Albert A. Cat and the someone was his Man.
As for Bartholomew, he had a shelter name. But first… We had been visiting friends in Chicago and I was starting to despair that we would never find NewCat or that I wouldn’t realize he was the one when we did. I begged the Universe for a sign. One night our friends took us to The Magic Lounge (highly recommended) and there was a guy wearing a baseball cap, emblazoned with “Save Ferris”. As we were in Chicago and I was the target demographic for John Hughes films, I found it noteworthy and amusing.
A couple of weeks later we found NewCat, who would eventually reveal that his name was Bartholomew Allen Cat. As we were driving him home from the shelter, I started laughing and crying. His shelter name was Ferris.
Our rescue cat came from a rural town in our county called Lincoln. The shelter named him “Tad” after Abraham Lincoln’s youngest son. We did rename but that was a good interim moniker.
My darling soul-kitty was Pistachio Trouble Hellspawn Demonchild, known casually as Stashy. In her prior life she was a he known as Trouble Hellspawn Demonchild. He accidentally got out one night (only about a year old at the time) and was never seen again—broke my heart so badly! A few months later I was at an adoption event and fell in love with a black kitten. When I was told her foster papa had named her and her siblings for PB&J and she was Pistachio, I knew my late mother had found my baby and arranged a return. You see, when I was very young, we would go to the PX on base for ice cream and my favorite flavor was—one guess—pistachio. She was with me this time for 15 years and was the most bonded, loving cat. I miss her to this day but was always so grateful that Mom sent her home again.
Maverick’s shelter name was Mr. Garrison, presumably just because a South Park fan works at the Denver Dumb Friends League. Ember’s was Maid Marian; she was part of a rescued litter of four (Mom was feral and ultimately TNRed) and they all got Robin Hood-themed names. I’ve forgotten what Mickey’s shelter name was, mostly because he was named (The Woman is a Disney addict) before we ever saw him.
… “Crockpot” ??? I’m having trouble figuring out where that would have come from.
When I get foster kittens from the shelter, I never name them because I know their new parents will change them.I just call them, my little nuggets, hooligans, babies..whatever. When it’s time to get them spayed or neutered, then the shelter does need a name for the paperwork but I let the shelter master do it.Right now I have a mama and her 5 two week old babies. I call two of them Sqawker.
I’m hesitant to rename a cat that is old enough to have become accustomed to its original name. However, a good name is important for a cat. When I was looking for an inspirational cat, I found her at the local animal shelter. She was a beautiful golden-eyed tabby kitten who had just been brought in and had not been named. I “pre-adopted” her and had them label her cage “Colette”. I visited every day for three days until I was allowed to take her home.
She is that special kind of cat I call a “Catuar”.
As in, “What a beautiful Catuar!”
She walks with me, listens to (but does not laugh at) my jokes and prefers to be in the same room with me when she is not outside hunting.
I seem to have been very lucky with cats all my life. Perhaps it is me, but I think the secret is to recognize them as personalities but not to treat them like little people.
Starlord’s shelter name was Chicken Nugget. If you check out The Humane Society Of Sheboygan County website you can see the weird names they give the animals.adoptsheboygancounty.org
These were indeed their first names in the shelters! Ora Zella’s foster Mom reached out to me and let me know about Crockpot. She said that Ora Zella went missing for a time and it turned out she had curled up inside a (turned off!) crock pot and fallen asleep. I very nearly kept Iggy’s original name Rocky, but we had a pet rat named Rock and it felt too close. (RIP Rock. You were a good, big, fat, sweet, old rattie boy.)
We also came close to naming Iggy “Barnabas”, due to his little vampire cape! The kids wanted to name him Bunnicula, and it was one of the only “comic related” decisions I’ve made for the cats, since I felt like that would complicate ever bringing Iggy into the strip lol.
(Also, fun fact, my parents nearly named me Veronica!)
When our cat was on the streets before being rescued, the mailman who shared his lunch with him each day nicknamed him Tuna. We renamed him Maxwell, and kept the T for Tuna as his middle initial.
lpayne.1632 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Is that an Elvis Costello reference? “You can call me anything you want, but my name is Veronica”?
Robin Harwood almost 2 years ago
How about George and Mildred, then?
Robin Harwood almost 2 years ago
I suspect that another few hours of watching Puck stand next to a door and ask questions will result in a large decline in viewer numbers.
Sue Ellen almost 2 years ago
I wonder if those were the shelter names of real life Iggy and Ora?
Cleementine almost 2 years ago
Oreo and Nutmeg. :)
dmah Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Veronica Crockpot, Rocky Rivers, and Chapstick (a cat who lives down my street) are just … gah … no, No, NO. The people at the shelter need to reread “The Naming of Cats” from Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that’s peculiar, and more dignified,Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?WelshRat Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Calm vs Chaos. Which shall win?
222jo almost 2 years ago
Johnny, after the beautiful pirate of the Carribbean and Ora, Jennifer after the actress from The Hunger Games. Both sort of modern!
cb8ty almost 2 years ago
I kinda like Iggy and Ora. Just saying…..
sergioandrade Premium Member almost 2 years ago
All cats have a secret name that humans never know. But humans like to name everything they come in contact with even if they already have their own names.
catmom1360 almost 2 years ago
My pretty tortie is named Torrie Louise. I think it suits her.
gashren almost 2 years ago
“Bandit” and “Stop biting me you little hell cat!”
cat19632001 almost 2 years ago
Are those tiny little Crockpot, I mean Veronica, I mean Ora Zella toe beans?
Tigrisan Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Crockpot!! OMG! Still laughing here!! More like ‘crackpot’ though! She’s a tortie after all. At least I didn’t have a mouthful of coffee this time.
cb8ty almost 2 years ago
I have a feeling Ora’s exuberant gesturing is going to provide us with an abundance of toe beans for years to come.
Jungle Empress almost 2 years ago
Veronica’s a nice name, though.
molliesgirl almost 2 years ago
She is clearly Nada (nothing) and he is One-Eyed Jack, aka Jack.
cat19632001 almost 2 years ago
Yeah, we gotta do better than Rocky Rivers and Crockpot.
Trespassers W almost 2 years ago
At the shelter, my little girl was “Mischief”—which was silly because she is the least mischievous cat I have ever had. I decided to rename her with something that shared some of the same sounds, so I went with “Melissa”—-which was then shortened to just “Lissa.” But now I don’t know why I bothered because I hardly ever call her that to her face. When speaking to her, it is always Sweetie, Sweet Girl, Sweetheart, etc. I am pretty sure she thinks her name is “Sweet.”
Miss Mina almost 2 years ago
Dr. Scuttles tweets
Nov. 17
Every time I see a strange bug I do not recognize, I whisper “are you a star ship? Have you come to visit us?”
I think they have all been bugs so far.
No one has ever answered me, at least. Or beeped when they slowly backed up.
A clear night with many bright stars. Reminds one of the 1833 Leonid Meteor Storm. Look it up, if you have not heard of it before. What a marvel that must have been to witness.
I shall stare out through the living room window and imagine it tonight.
Kitty Katz almost 2 years ago
Meanwhile, Back on the Nile
Thomios: These piecrust cookies are ready to come out of the oven.
Puckmosis: Can we try a sample after they’ve cooled a bit?
Thomios: Sure. I’ll make some Kat Koffee to go with them.
A Few Minutes Later
Puckmosis: They’re delicious. Great job, Ora.
Ora Zedd: I like baking. Is there something else I can try?
Thomios: How making some biscuits? You’re a natural.
Ora: Alright. Can I try making something sweet as well? Like a cake?
Thomios: Well…Sure, why not?
Sometime Later
Thomios: Great job on the biscuits. I didn’t know you could thwump cake batter like that, though.
Puckmosis: No matter. It’s delicious. What shall we call this new confection?
Ora: How about Pound Cake?
wuhts almost 2 years ago
“I don’t have my own name yet.” Sad yet sweet.
Katzen1415 almost 2 years ago
Glad they’re open to new names. I kind of like Rocky Rivers in general, but it does not really fit him. I wonder where it came from. As demonstrated by Puck’s shelter name being Leg-o-loss, shelter employees seem to have a weird sense of humor
DorseyBelle almost 2 years ago
Ah, the hastily-thought-up shelter names for cats. I’ve bestowed many a questionable name on a shelter cat at first glance. But, as T S Elliot explains, a cat has several names, and one of them is known only to the cat himself.
artchick530 almost 2 years ago
I thought Georgia said OraZella was named after the name of someone in a comedy routine? I want to say it was how they referred to their mother or m-i-l?
Jacob Mattingly almost 2 years ago
Crockpot is a great name for a cat. Just saying. It’s also nice to see Iggy just has resting smile face now.
rs0204 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Poor Hamilton.
His name is mangled, mutilated, folded, and crumpled by Marie and the Kids, just because he is a little round from all the cooking and tasting he does.
His name is Hamilton A. Cat.
But he’s called Ham, Hamy, Ham Sandwich, Ham Loaf, Ham & Eggs, Ham Salad, etc., by Marie and the kids. Once, he got close to the fireplace, and Marie called him Smoked Ham. It’s enough to give a poor cat a complex.
Le'letha Premium Member almost 2 years ago
CROCKPOT. I’m dying. I love shelter names.
reefcarl almost 2 years ago
Spike and Lily LaRue
Nuliajuk almost 2 years ago
Are you sure it was “Crockpot” and not “Crackpot”?
Miss Mina almost 2 years ago
Albert was a street cat, so his Man just called him The Cat while he searched for the owners (because, as he kept saying “This is someone’s cat”). After a time, The Cat revealed that his name was Albert A. Cat and the someone was his Man.
As for Bartholomew, he had a shelter name. But first… We had been visiting friends in Chicago and I was starting to despair that we would never find NewCat or that I wouldn’t realize he was the one when we did. I begged the Universe for a sign. One night our friends took us to The Magic Lounge (highly recommended) and there was a guy wearing a baseball cap, emblazoned with “Save Ferris”. As we were in Chicago and I was the target demographic for John Hughes films, I found it noteworthy and amusing.
A couple of weeks later we found NewCat, who would eventually reveal that his name was Bartholomew Allen Cat. As we were driving him home from the shelter, I started laughing and crying. His shelter name was Ferris.
Hedgehog almost 2 years ago
Our rescue cat came from a rural town in our county called Lincoln. The shelter named him “Tad” after Abraham Lincoln’s youngest son. We did rename but that was a good interim moniker.
Daltongang Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I would suggest Gertrude and Heathcliff, but those are already taken.
cpiller Premium Member almost 2 years ago
My darling soul-kitty was Pistachio Trouble Hellspawn Demonchild, known casually as Stashy. In her prior life she was a he known as Trouble Hellspawn Demonchild. He accidentally got out one night (only about a year old at the time) and was never seen again—broke my heart so badly! A few months later I was at an adoption event and fell in love with a black kitten. When I was told her foster papa had named her and her siblings for PB&J and she was Pistachio, I knew my late mother had found my baby and arranged a return. You see, when I was very young, we would go to the PX on base for ice cream and my favorite flavor was—one guess—pistachio. She was with me this time for 15 years and was the most bonded, loving cat. I miss her to this day but was always so grateful that Mom sent her home again.
morningglory73 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
ZOOM and Patch.
skipper1992 almost 2 years ago
Maverick’s shelter name was Mr. Garrison, presumably just because a South Park fan works at the Denver Dumb Friends League. Ember’s was Maid Marian; she was part of a rescued litter of four (Mom was feral and ultimately TNRed) and they all got Robin Hood-themed names. I’ve forgotten what Mickey’s shelter name was, mostly because he was named (The Woman is a Disney addict) before we ever saw him.
… “Crockpot” ??? I’m having trouble figuring out where that would have come from.
cat19632001 almost 2 years ago
If I were new to a place and still unsettled, Puck is who I would want on watch.
scyphi26 almost 2 years ago
Well, I dunno, I kinda like the sound of “Crockpot.” :P
Queen of America almost 2 years ago
When I get foster kittens from the shelter, I never name them because I know their new parents will change them.I just call them, my little nuggets, hooligans, babies..whatever. When it’s time to get them spayed or neutered, then the shelter does need a name for the paperwork but I let the shelter master do it.Right now I have a mama and her 5 two week old babies. I call two of them Sqawker.
azevedan almost 2 years ago
You can call me anything you want, but my name is Veronica.
prrdh almost 2 years ago
One-eyed Jack?
misty almost 2 years ago
A little ditty ’bout Rivers & Crock
Two wayward kits growing up, hearts tightly locked
Now, he’s bound to be a sweet, shy star
She’s bold and loud, as most great wild things are
Escaped from a shelter, outside they felt the freeze
Saved by a kind, loving village
They’d like a name change, please
So she says
“Hey, Pucky, what do you think is a good name for me?
Rattle off some lovely ones
I’ll still go by what I please"
Saying "Oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of running is gone"
Saying "Oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of running is gone"
They rock on
- Jack And Diane – John ‘Cougar’ Mellencamp
markwillman4 almost 2 years ago
My new tortie kitten (Patches) answers to nothing too, unless it’s snuggle time.
anomalous4 almost 2 years ago
OT: Kitten on the lam at TinyKittens!
willie_mctell almost 2 years ago
Nothing is a good cat name.
mistercatworks almost 2 years ago
I’m hesitant to rename a cat that is old enough to have become accustomed to its original name. However, a good name is important for a cat. When I was looking for an inspirational cat, I found her at the local animal shelter. She was a beautiful golden-eyed tabby kitten who had just been brought in and had not been named. I “pre-adopted” her and had them label her cage “Colette”. I visited every day for three days until I was allowed to take her home.
She is that special kind of cat I call a “Catuar”.
As in, “What a beautiful Catuar!”
She walks with me, listens to (but does not laugh at) my jokes and prefers to be in the same room with me when she is not outside hunting.
I seem to have been very lucky with cats all my life. Perhaps it is me, but I think the secret is to recognize them as personalities but not to treat them like little people.
DawnMcCandless almost 2 years ago
Starlord’s shelter name was Chicken Nugget. If you check out The Humane Society Of Sheboygan County website you can see the weird names they give the animals.adoptsheboygancounty.org
scaeva Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Considering my “handle” here, I cannot help but like Iggy.
dinguheado almost 2 years ago
Chaos and Patch.
burke129529 almost 2 years ago
OT – Skywalker (good news this time)
anomalous4 almost 2 years ago
OT #2: Lordy lordy…
ocarol7 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Great reporting from live on the scene, Pucky!
Red Bird almost 2 years ago
I’m honestly very fond of “Rocky Rivers.”
mepowell almost 2 years ago
OT: Everyone in the path of that huge snowstorm, stay safe (meaning, stay inside).
Martin 78 almost 2 years ago
Nemo (No Name)
Georgia Dunn creator almost 2 years ago
These were indeed their first names in the shelters! Ora Zella’s foster Mom reached out to me and let me know about Crockpot. She said that Ora Zella went missing for a time and it turned out she had curled up inside a (turned off!) crock pot and fallen asleep. I very nearly kept Iggy’s original name Rocky, but we had a pet rat named Rock and it felt too close. (RIP Rock. You were a good, big, fat, sweet, old rattie boy.)
We also came close to naming Iggy “Barnabas”, due to his little vampire cape! The kids wanted to name him Bunnicula, and it was one of the only “comic related” decisions I’ve made for the cats, since I felt like that would complicate ever bringing Iggy into the strip lol.
(Also, fun fact, my parents nearly named me Veronica!)
michaelemyers almost 2 years ago
When our cat was on the streets before being rescued, the mailman who shared his lunch with him each day nicknamed him Tuna. We renamed him Maxwell, and kept the T for Tuna as his middle initial.
Fennec! at the Disco almost 2 years ago
At least they didn’t call her Stacey. Or Mary-Jo-Lisa. That’s not her name, that’s not her name…
Fennec! at the Disco almost 2 years ago
We once had a litter of kittens born on May the Fourth. So they all got Star Wars names.
knight1192a almost 2 years ago
What do you call a werewolf? This one needs a name other than Crockpot. How about London?