The Naming of Cats

[angieh]

Yes, dinahsmum, you were quite right in the Daily Thread!

The Naming of Cats by T.S. Eliot

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
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?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

[dandysmom]

I've always loved that! Eliot understood cats,didn't he?

[angieh]

Yes, he did. The unusual name, I find is always easier than the everyday one!

[dinahsmum]

Ours have at least 3 names but sadly they are all similar - no particulars here. Lak of imagination I guess - or maybe they are just too young for a grand name

So
Bentley, Binlee, Bents, Benters, Bentley Boy, Blue Boy

Chester, Ches, Chester Drawers, Chesty Poos, F***ing (as Father Ted; the watered down rather than the totally profane) Eejit. Poor Ches - but he is brainless; I think maybe he was dropped on his head when he was a baby!

Time for another "What are your cat's nicknames/" session?

Feel free - if you wish

[dandysmom]

Originally Posted by dinahsmum

Time for another "What are your cat's nicknames/" session?

Feel free - if you wish

Not terribly original or clever, I'm afraid ...

Leia is Princess, LayLay and Girl Cat .....

[Kazz]

Bear with me on the travel back in time...here...
Oscar was Oscar, Oz, Old Man....Or calling him in (worked for Cleo too) Oscarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Cleo was Cleo, Cleat, Little 'en, and towards the end Daisy Mae....go figure...