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Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

They spent the last eight months firing professionals and replacing them with ideologues.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

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The National Guard is not Batman.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

Our messy unity will be our strength.

Republicans do not trust women.

I really should read my own blog.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Names Open Thread

Names Open Thread

by | 352 Comments

This post is in: 

Four potentials so far:

Since he has ginormous whiskers and an extra finger, Rollie Fingers.

His head is kind of shaped funny, so maybe McGee after famous badball hitter Willie McGee.

Justin, after the large hairy Mountain Man and Steeler Justin Strzelczyk.

Or maybe Mongo, just because I like that name.

Reader Interactions

352Comments

  4. 4.

    Josie

    Well, you need to imagine yourself driving around the neighborhood, leaning out of the car, yelling his name at the top of your voice. Which one would you prefer to be shouting for all to hear?

    ETA: I must admit to liking Mongo.

  7. 7.

    AdamK

    It should be a flower name, like the girls. Just have to find a good macho flower name. Jack-in-the-pulpit? Deadly Nightshade? Trumpet Vine? Skunkweed?

    I’ll keep working on it.

  15. 15.

    Violet

    I like Mongo. But would also like to see another picture or two to get a better idea of what he looks like.

  17. 17.

    BGinCHI

    Do not name your fucking cat “Justin.” Christ.

    You might as well go with Murray.

  21. 21.

    Betty Cracker

    Hagrid after the big gamekeeper in Harry Potter. Mongo is great too. Both convey an imposing, furry presence.

  23. 23.

    khead

    If you wanted to name the cat anything other than Mongo, you wouldn’t have thrown it out there. See above comments.

    Plus, if Bugger has already punched you in the face? Well, that’s pretty much a lock.

  27. 27.

    Chat Noir

    @Tone in DC: Lol. When I was a little kid, my older brother used to play that I was Lydell Mitchell and he was Jack Lambert and he’d tackle me.

    Sherman is a good name.

  29. 29.

    Dee Loralei

    Prince Mongo was a Memphis restaurantuer and perpetual runner for Mayor. Was a real character. Very colorful. Dude could be a Mongo, but won’t he tell you his name?

  33. 33.

    BGinCHI

    Who wouldn’t want to be named after a mentally challenged psychopath in a mock spaghetti western?

  35. 35.

    Omnes Omnibus

    The more I think about it, the more obvious it seems. How can you not name something Mongo when the opportunity presents itself?

  38. 38.

    Comrade Mary

    Bruiser?

    For the big whiskers: Telstar? Sputnik? (Something ending in K or another hard consonant seems about right.)

    Something Roman with internal hard consonants, maybe? Marcus?

  42. 42.

    StringOnAStick

    He’ll let you know who he is and what he should be called. Our maybe-Maine might have came to us named “Jasmine”, but Chatty Cat is what she gets called a lot, other than “the Kitty”.

  47. 47.

    Linnaeus

    Anyone else still getting malware warnings? I’ve cleared my cache on Chrome multiple times. Still getting the warning.

  49. 49.

    MazeDancer

    An author or musician you admire is always a good choice. Or character. Thinking my favs of Austen or Darcy won’t apply, but something that has meaning for you. Or a town, mountain range, city, or river.

    Word of warning – Many trainers say any name that ends in “O” sounds like “no” and can confuse a pet. Not that cats listen to “no”, but it’s a consideration.

  52. 52.

    BGinCHI

    @Gex: I like it. He could use both.

    “Lebo, get in here…” sees shredded wallet and passport. “DUDE!”

  54. 54.

    Sparky

    How about your last name reversed: Eloc. Eloc the Terrible or something like that. (The “E” is long, the “o” is short.)

  57. 57.

    Suzanne

    Mongo? As in LOID?

    Actually, how about Lloyd?

    I agree with whomever said not to name your cat Justin. None of the popular boys’ names of the 80s.

    I always like Fred for a cat name.

  59. 59.

    ruemara

    Why not wait until he tells you? That being said, in keeping with the Japanese names in this household-Onisamakun. And when Onikun tells you his real name or if he accepts your name, you’ll know.

    So sayeth Otajamakushi Tifu and Kagebasho.

  63. 63.

    spudgun

    If he’s as big as you say he is, then maybe, oh, I don’t know…Moose?

    I’ve always fancied having a male cat named Moose…or George. I like George for a male cat name.

  67. 67.

    Skerry

    He looks just like a Maine coon that my grandmother had when I was a kid, paws and all. His name was Dragon.

    I do like Mongo though.

  70. 70.

    Quinerly

    If these are the choices then it should be Mongo…..but I still like Sid (as in Vicious…..when he swipes you with an extra claw). All boy tabbies rock….great pick!

  75. 75.

    Amir Khalid

    I’m with Hagrid. Or Rubeus Hagrid, after the character’s full name, if you’re still keen on a two-word name.

  77. 77.

    Eric S.

    @Linnaeus: yes, still getting the Malware warning in Chrome. I haven’t tried other broswers.

    And, Mongo! Definitely Mongo.

  78. 78.

    susan

    Cole’s Fiddler:

    cuz:

    Old King Cole was a merry old soul
    And a merry old soul was he;
    He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
    And he called for his fiddlers three.
    Every fiddler he had a fiddle,
    And a very fine fiddle had he;
    Oh there’s none so rare, as can compare
    With King Cole and his fiddlers three.

  81. 81.

    Mararama

    I second the motion for Mongo McGee. It sounds great, and is the kind of name a cat will answer to.

  86. 86.

    wasabi gasp

    When you say head is shaped funny, do you mean short-snouted pumpkin head? I ask because our Jezebelle has about thirty toes plus the aforementioned pumpkin head.

  88. 88.

    spudgun

    One person in the previous thread recommended Sherman and another said Sebastian – I like both of those names too, especially Sherman. You could name him after William T., wouldn’t that be cool!*

    *well, I think it would be…

  89. 89.

    Anne Laurie

    @Sparky: Maine Coons never pawn in game of life. Pawn in system, however, this guy has been. Old lag, as Brits would say.

  90. 90.

    Gravenstone

    If you’re going for polydactyl former MLB pitchers, then you want Antonio Alfonseca. Unfortunately, that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue…

  91. 91.

    SG

    Meh, maybe wait a day or two before making this decision. “Justin”? “Strzelczyk” would be better. Mongo sounds like a ’70s Blaxploitation movie.

    I’m telling you, name him Mose, which means deliverer or savior (details in my comment in the previous thread).

  93. 93.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I like to see their personality before naming them. (Which really makes me question how he got his existing name.)

    For instance, we got a kitten once that would just freak out at an imaginary something on the floor and jump three feet straight up in the air. So we named him Chopper, because he took off vertically.

  95. 95.

    Amir Khalid

    Isn’t Mongo the planet ruled by Ming the Merciless in the old Flash Gordon serials?

  105. 105.

    Mararama

    @Josie: I haven’t read that book in decades, but it strikes me as a good cat name, with the possibility for a myriad of nicknames and variations, which is what we do with all our cats anyway.

    And I wouldn’t worry about the “oh, sounds like No” thing, I think that mainly applies to dogs. We currently have a Hugo, a Bravo and a Tango, and they all know who they are.

  106. 106.

    SuperHrefna

    He’s gorgeous and he reminds me of my old cat Kel. Of your choices I like Mongo Manytoes the best, but why not go Scottish and name him Mungo?

  108. 108.

    gbear

    @John Cole:

    If this cat was a cowboy, he’d need a twelve gallon hat.

    Well then he should be named Taggart, not Mongo. Does he look like he got hit upside the head with a shovel?

  109. 109.

    Mike S

    We just got a tortoiseshell cat that is also polydactyl. We named her Pheobi. You should name your’s “The Fonz” since he can give a thumbs up.

  110. 110.

    Violet

    That cat looks like he’s going to be in charge of things pretty soon. Maybe you should call him Wall Street or J. P. Morgan.

  111. 111.

    Mike in NC

    Reagan. Because apparently you can never have enough things named after Reagan.

  112. 112.

    Anne Laurie

    Also, ‘Mongo’ probably comes from the Scottish St. Mungo, who also survived early tragedy to become beloved of a wide circle…

  119. 119.

    Chat Noir

    @spudgun: I suggested Sherman. I have a Tunch-lookalike named Sherman, who’s named after Col. Sherman T. Potter, CO of MASH 4077.

  125. 125.

    Pogonip

    Mongo or Slartibartfast. You would have to shorten the latter when yelling at him. By the time you yelled,”Slartibartfast, get off the table!” he’d have got bored and got down on his own.

  128. 128.

    PST

    Mongo. No one deserves a witty or punning name. Those wear out their welcome fast. Something you just plain like is best.

    My cat Tucker thinks the name Justin is just perfect for a cat, but then he would, wouldn’t he?

  129. 129.

    Bruce K

    If he’s going to be Mongo, then I vote for registering him as Mongo Santamaria, after the jazz player. It’s also good for when he misbehaves: “Mongo Santamaria, get your fuzzy butt in here right now before I shave you bald!”

    Rollie is also nice, and Rollie Fingers can be used the same way.

  136. 136.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    Though Mongo is a fun name, the ‘ending in “o”‘ warning above sounds reasonable. Don’t want to confuse the fellow…

    How about “Hank”? From Henry Aaron – a giant of baseball.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  137. 137.

    brendancalling

    Mongo. Gotta go with Mongo.

    Any tips, btw, to stop a cat from shitting on the rug? Mrs. Rocket started doing this a week or two ago. Not sure why.

  138. 138.

    Gravenstone

    @BGinCHI: Friend of mine from my old online gaming group had two giant cats (the breeds escape me). One was Ming the Merciless, the other was Vlad the Impaler (so named after skewering the owner’s thumb as a kitten). When they both passed within the last couple years, he went out and got himself a pair of Norwegian Forest cats. Dude has a serious fixation for giant felines.

  139. 139.

    mai naem

    @rammalamadingdong: He is not black, not a thug and not wearing a hoodie and, also too, so you want Zimmerman to SYG with this poor cat.

    My suggestion is Skullfuckah Kitten. I just haven’t figured out how the calling out to the cat at midnight on Halloween is going to go – “Skullfuckkkahhh! Skullfuckkkahhh! Skullfuckkkahhh! Skullfuckkkahhh!”

  143. 143.

    eclare

    Congratulations on your Hemingway cat! I wouldn’t worry about giving a cat a name with an “o” at the end, it works perfectly for my kitty, Neko (Japanese word for cat). Then again, I kind of like the suggestion above of “Dammit”.

  144. 144.

    Anne Laurie

    From everything I’ve read (& lived), an explosive “AA!” (atch) sound is a lot more of a pet-deterrent than a “No”. You know, the noise your mom or kindergarten teacher made when you went to touch something you shouldn’t. It’s the same noise mother cats & dogs make to warn off naughty weanlings, so it’s pretty hard-wired.

    Pet names that end in -o are fine.

  147. 147.

    max

    Mongo, although Hodor is good too.

    max
    [‘If you were going to play up the kool kat-stoner connection you should go with ‘Dude’.’]

  150. 150.

    dance around in your bones

    Rooster.

    Three reasons:

    1)I just watched True Grit again the other night (the one with Jeff Bridges) and Rooster Cogburn was a great character.

    2) He came to you unfixed, as a rooster should be.

    3) It would sound funny as hell when you drive around the neighborhood shouting “Rooster!”

    Or maybe Reuben, which was Rooster’s real name. (I also like just ‘Dude’, which also involves Jeff Bridges, and would sound a whole lot not weirder when you drive around the neighborhood, etc).

    P.S. I tend to call my cats and my grandkids ‘Buster Buster’. This confuses the grandkids, but what the hell.

  151. 151.

    Elizabelle

    What’s deal w scary looking Malware MSG? Does it turn out warning is old and there’d be no damage to my Mac?

    iPhone has no trouble.

  152. 152.

    Greystoke

    Ozymandias, King of Kings.

    Look upon his works, ye mighty, and despair.

    It seems the obvious choice for him. Ozzy (or Ozzie) for short.

  154. 154.

    wasabi gasp

    @John Cole: If Mongo is anything else like Jezebelle, he’ll be a real talker. (Unless that’s just a trait Jezee picked up from my girlfriend.)

  155. 155.

    Valdivia

    I like McGee. I see Mongo is super popular here but it somehow feels off to me. Probably the double O-O sound in it. Though somehow Hodor as @max: and others suggested seems cool.

  157. 157.

    Jebediah

    @Valdivia:
    I am one of the Mongo boosters, but the more I think about the less right it feels for this cat. I think I will go back to my earlier suggestion of waiting for him to reveal his name.

  159. 159.

    BGinCHI

    @Valdivia: Hi Val! Ordered some Mencia from WTSO today and it occurred to me I hadn’t seen you around in a while. I’ve been off and on though.

  160. 160.

    Marymuss

    I do like Mongo. Rollie Fingers is pretty cool too. BTW-Maine Coons like the water

  161. 161.

    Kdrtoona

    I vote for Justin Strzelczyk or just Strzelczyk for short. Justin was a friend of mine, a super nice guy, really fuzzy and a little zany. Hopefully your new pet is half as nice as Justin was.

  164. 164.

    Valdivia

    @Jebediah:

    yes I think it is good to wait and see what name fits. When I got our last kitten in April (a grey tabby with a white belly) he came to us with the name Tudor. And it suited him but it wasn’t a name you could really shorten for a little guy and say everyday. After a few days of trying a couple we stuck to Lumi which is the Finnish word for snow, and it just totally works with him and his personality. It also keeps the older boy Sissu company name wise (also a Finnish word for strength of spirit or the ability to survive a really long winter. A friend named him 16 years ago!)

  166. 166.

    West of the Cascades

    How about “Munch” (rhymes with Tunch, would be appropriate for many kittehs)?

    Or it could be pronounced as in Edvard Munch, the artist best known for “The Scream,” which seems appropriate for a cat owned by our genial blog host.

  167. 167.

    Valdivia

    @BGinCHI:

    Hi! I ordered that too :) I can never stop thanking you for that site rec! There was a Spanish a few months ago that was so spectacular I now have my eye open see if they have it again. It was the Lui one, a Toro I think.
    I have been off a lot too–just life getting in the way. Hope things are good your way.

  168. 168.

    Violet

    @Yatsuno:
    Papa, after Hemingway.
    Sloppy Joe after his favorite bar.
    Huckberry, after his house. Could be Huck for short. Apparently it was “a little slice of man heaven.” Heh. (There are some great photos at the link.) Edit: No, I read it wrong. Huckberry is a company that is using Hemingway to sell. But there are great photos at the link.

    Edit again: Here’s the link to the Hemingway Home: hemingwayhome.com/

  169. 169.

    googily

    @spudgun: We just named a new kitteh George! As in, “I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him….”

  170. 170.

    OzarkHillbilly

    OK, as a St Lou Cardinals fan, I favor “Willie McGee”. On the other hand, a buddy of mine in Arkansas, actually has a friend named Mongo… On the other hand… Mongo shot one of his balls off….

    You decide.

    Ps: I named one of my dogs “Willie Maybe”, because he was there… Catching the fly ball. And that dog was always there.

  176. 176.

    Mj_Oregon

    I like Mongo, but he might not like it.

    At the moment our crew is named as follows:
    Indoor kittehs:
    Punkin – because she’s a long-haired orange tabby and adopted us in October of 1996
    and Charley – because that seemed to be a good name for a tuxedo and slightly more formal than Buster who was his tuxedo brother from another mother. Buster died three months ago and is now our resident kitteh ghost.

    Outdoor rescues:
    Fuzz Butt – because, well, he has a fuzzy butt. He’s an orange and white medium-long hair tabby with a deformed tail. We have a recessive manx gene in our town’s feral population.
    Rocky – because he has a “rock” in the form of a BB lodged under the skin on top of his head between his ears. Another tuxedo, too.
    Mini – because she’s the tiniest full grown cat I’ve ever seen. She adopted us as a starved feral kitten who just showed up here one day and decided to stay. She’s all black and likes to be petted before she deigns to eat her meals.
    Blackie – because he’s black and I drew a blank when trying to think of a name. Suits him, though.
    Fred – because he sat 20′-30′ away from where I feed the rescues for about six months and I used to say to him “whenever you’re ready, Freddy!” And one day he was ready, demanded his own bowl and a share of the petting He’s been here ever since and is Tunch-esque in size now.

    A good name will suggest itself but I think you’ve decided already, haven’t you?

  178. 178.

    Richard Fox

    What a sweet looking feline. For some reason the name “Linus” immediately comes to my mind. I have absolutely no idea why, but there it is.

  181. 181.

    BGinCHI

    @Valdivia: All is well, if busy. I have gotten that Mencia before and it’s really solid. Great for the price! If you haven’t gotten any Tarima (100% Monastrell, from Jumilla) do so. Big flower on the label. Great value and delicious. Should be widely available.

  182. 182.

    Poopyman

    Mongo! Santa Maria!

    (Can you tell I just got here and haven’t caught up?)

    Yeah, Mongo fits a MC to a tee. I named a crazy little girl cat Abbie once, for Abbie Normal.

  184. 184.

    LanceThruster

    All I know is that your new little guy is thrilled that you’ve chosen to get right back on the horse even if he is oblivious to the backstory.

    Good on you, Cole.

  186. 186.

    Mystical Chick

    MONGO! Woot!

    I have a sweet rescue Maine Coon kitty (Sophia) and I love her to bitty pieces. YEY for getting a new addition to the house. Tunch would most likely NOT approve but that’s okay because he’s the Tunchinator!

    (So excited for you!)

  187. 187.

    Comrade Mary

    @TooManyJens: Fezzik! Yes! Big, kind and not as stupid as everyone thinks he is! (I was thinking of some name related to Andre the Giant, but didn’t make the connection.)

    Plus it’s a two syllable name that ends in a hard consonant.

    Plus you can sweet talk him in rhyme.

    Plus he can help you play the Dread Pirate Roberts in a pinch.

    Fezzik! Fezzik! Fezzik!

    EDIT: I love the SOUND of “Mongo” but it’s almost certainly derived from “Mongoloid”, plus the character fucking well punched a horse.

    In conclusion: Fezzik! (But don’t give him the last name Cole, unless you want Olivia Newton John flashbacks.)

  188. 188.

    raven

    Ha “Made in Paris” just started on TCM and Mongo Santamaria is in the film. Must be a sign!

  189. 189.

    Mudge

    Late to the party, being simplistic, I’d call it Digit. Mongo and Strleznyk are football players. Tunch could get away with that, this one looks more like Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. Rollie Fingers is fine, but it will be shortened to what? Our cat is Goose Gossage. Goose works fine, but not sure about Rollie. Fin? McGee reminds me more of the old John D. MacDonald character Travis McGee than Willie. Bill James said Willie McGee was the ugliest ballplayer of the 80s. Actually, if I remember, his wife handed out the ugly titles.

  190. 190.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    I am not a fan of Mongo because it is what people used to call Downs Syndrome people when I was a kid. I have no idea why.

    I very much like the idea of Mungo though and I certainly like Rollie.

  191. 191.

    Keith G

    A lot of hard thinking for an appellation that will have little consequence. My cats (two at a time, a few generations) answered to their given name, and also came to know their nicknames.

    Eg: Meredith = Merry = Thug Kitty (Thugger for short) = Goober = Goo (Goo Kitty).

    Izzy = Izz Kitty = Izz Butt…etc

  192. 192.

    MazeDancer

    @Comrade Mary:

    Something Roman with internal hard consonants, maybe? Marcus?

    Marcus could be an homage to MARC. Or, could just go with Marc.

    …maybe wait a day or two before making this decision. “Justin”? “Strzelczyk” would be better. Mongo sounds like a ’70s Blaxploitation movie.

    I’m telling you, name him Mose, which means deliverer or savior (details in my comment in the previous thread).

    All good advice. Give kitty a chance to show who he is.

    Also, just MHO, but that is one handsome kitty, and Mongo is not a handsome name. It sounds like a diss on Congo or 50’s deeply unfortunate Mongoloid terminology which Litlebritdifrnt noted as well. YMMV, of course.

    If waiting is out, Rollie is a happy name. And the whole fingers thing is an upbeat connection. And McGee which will shorten to Mac is also an excellent choice.

  193. 193.

    geg6

    You MUST name him after a Pittsburgh sports legend, preferably a Steeler or Penguin. The coolest Steeler ever was Jack Lambert. Either name would be good. Mario or Sid work for me, too. Or Mel, for Mel Blount. Although, I’m kinda partial to Fats, for Ernie “Fats” Holmes.

  200. 200.

    max

    @West of the Cascades: How about “Munch” (rhymes with Tunch, would be appropriate for many kittehs)?

    Except everyone’s going to think he’s named for Richard Belzer.

    But I got one (if Mongo isn’t cool enough, and ‘Dude’ is too generic and so on, and also because middle finger for Lush Rimjob): Shaft!

    Shaft!

    Who’s the black private dick
    That’s a sex machine to all the chicks?
    (Shaft!)
    You’re damn right

    Who is the man
    That would risk his neck for his brother man?
    (Shaft!)
    Can ya dig it?

    Who’s the cat that won’t cop out
    When there’s danger all about
    (Shaft!)
    Right on

    You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother–
    (Shut your mouth)
    But I’m talkin’ about Shaft
    (Then we can dig it)

    He’s a complicated man
    But no one understands him but his woman
    (John Shaft)

    max
    [‘Heh.’]

  201. 201.

    Valdivia

    @BGinCHI:

    will look for that. While in nyc a couple of months back I had a really dry Lambrusco and it was a revelation. If you can find the Cleto one I highly recommend it. Make sure it isn’t the highly sweet stuff. Really a perfect drink for summer.

  202. 202.

    dance around in your bones

    @raven: I happen to be watching ‘Made in Paris’ at this very moment!

    Still not a fan of Mongo, but of course, it’s John’s call. I have always been a fan of ‘the name will reveal itself in due time’ once you get to know the cat and vice versa.

    eta: also, per the last thread “Say hello to ?” John could name the cat Who and sound REALLY funny as he drove around the neighborhood. Maybe Dr. Who if he wanted to get fancy.

  205. 205.

    Gravenstone

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I am not a fan of Mongo because it is what people used to call Downs Syndrome people when I was a kid. I have no idea why.

    Because an old pejorative for Down sufferers was “Mongoloids”, because of the epicanthic folds common with the disorder..

  206. 206.

    Jebediah

    @raven:
    If they were calling Down’s kids that, I assume it was short for “mongoloid” – wasn’t that the term way back for Down’s Syndrome?

  207. 207.

    JR

    Thistle (goes with “Lily” and “Rosie”).
    Merrick (after the Elephant Man).
    LePage (in honor of another Maine beast with a giant head).

  210. 210.

    mere mortal

    Tom Thumb (tom cat, plus the extra finger?).

    Doesn’t matter too much, though. The cat that tolerates my presence has been “his majesty” almost from when he arrived, and John’s seems to have been “fat boy” more often than Tunch.

    Well done, Mr. Cole, I still haven’t gotten over my 12 year old puppy’s death two years ago enough to go again.

  211. 211.

    Valdivia

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I think this is probably what was bothering me too. It was setting off bad alarm bells in my head and I just couldn’t tell where they were coming from. Strange how some things are just there under your conscious mind.

  212. 212.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @Gravenstone:

    Thank you I thought that was it. We had a Downs kid on my street and the other kids used to refer to him as Mongo, I searched mongoloids and couldn’t see any connection. Still the name really has bad associations for me.

  214. 214.

    Tokyokie

    Brega, after Mario Brega, the hulking menace handcuffed to Eli Wallach in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly until the train comes along. Big body, big whiskers, sufficiently obscure. (Although consider the source: I’ve variously named cats after Ed Wood movies and character actor pals of Sam Fuller.)

  215. 215.

    YellowJournalism

    Because of all the “Blazing Saddles” references on this site (and the fact that it’s awesome), if you don’t name him Mongo, I will never forgive you.

  216. 216.

    MazeDancer

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    The terrible use of Mongoloid was double sided slurring. Connecting the slant of the eyes. At least some things have changed for the better.

    Though, owing to a dear friend very active in Downs Syndrome world and her fabulous son with Downs Syndrome I also wince at any use of “-tard”. So, yes, I could be overacting to “Mongo”, but I can’t hear it without thinking Mongoloid.

    The young man with Downs is grown now, and he is a huge sports fan, reads the sports section every day, has a girlfriend and two jobs. Many so-called normative brained don’t have his work ethic, upbeat personality, and polite manners.

    But on the name game front, just a thought, Steeler or Stiller can’t be overlooked.

    or

    Mr. Ilkin’s middle name is Ali. Which could also be homaging another impressive size standard bearer, Mr. Gore, as well as the area stray kitties often found – alley.

  220. 220.

    J R in WV

    What’s wrong with Bugger? Mongo is good, but if he’s already been named Bugger, well, that a great name for a giant cat.

  221. 221.

    YellowJournalism

    If this had been a fat female cat, I would have suggested Pussy Galore. Imagine John yelling that at 2 in the morning wearing only a bathrobe as he runs around the neighborhood.

  222. 222.

    YellowJournalism

    If he has extra fingers, though, you can’t go wrong with Count Rugen or Tyrone.

  225. 225.

    Tokyokie

    What am I thinking? Big. Whiskers. He must be WALTER SOBCAT! And if he’s like most cats, he doesn’t roll on the Shabbos. Or any other day.

  227. 227.

    Amir Khalid

    @J R in WV:
    Picture this: It’s dark. John Cole can’t find his new cat. So he goes driving around the neighbourhood shouting, “Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!”

    Do you now understand why Bugger is not a good choice?

  230. 230.

    dance around in your bones

    @SIA: I like Buster too. But you have to say Buster Buster unless you get tired of saying it two times.

    Also, Scott on the Say Hello to ? thread suggested Dexter, which I kinda like. Of course it remains to be seen if this cat is a serial killer with a code of ethics.

    My cats have always had a name, then a nickname, then a nickname of a nickname of a nickname…..you know how it goes.

  232. 232.

    Jennifer

    I can’t believe Levon didn’t make the cut. He looks very much like a Levon.

    As I suggested at the end of the last, now dead, thread, if he plays rough enough to draw blood, you might consider “Vlad”. I like the idea of a cat named Vlad.

    W/r/t Mongo: any Memphians here can fill in the details, but for years there was a joint on Front Street downtown called Prince Mongo’s Pizza Palace. The proprieter was nutso, called himself Prince Mongo and claimed to be from the planet Zambodia. I’m sure there’s more; this bit of lore was the better part of what filtered through to me 200 miles away. I think Mongo’s notoriety peaked in the 1970s/80s, so I’m sure there’s a Juicer who could fill in more. So if you’re leaning toward Mongo, there’s that. Or you might just go with Prince Mongo for extra flair.

  236. 236.

    MathInPA

    MONGO THE CONQUEROR!

    … cough.

    My wife likes themes, as does her sister. Our eldest gentleman cat was named for an archangel, specifically the version from the SJG version of In Nomine, but she evolved into a place where she preferred to go to mythology, so we have one Greek Goddess and one Valier. Of course, it broke down after that and the Valier lead to our fool of a Took, and past that, the last boy got named for his face, and the dogs came with their own names.

    But, honestly, we believe in themes, no, really, so I’m going to say Tulkas. Tulkas Astaldo was the last come of the mighty Valar, and their champion. Melkor fled before him, and his coming heralded the Spring of Arda.

    …

    Stop looking at me like that.

  237. 237.

    MathInPA

    MONGO THE CONQUEROR!

    … cough.

    My wife likes themes, as does her sister. Our eldest gentleman cat was named for an archangel, specifically the version from the SJG version of In Nomine, but she evolved into a place where she preferred to go to mythology, so we have one Greek Goddess and one Valier. Of course, it broke down after that and the Valier lead to our fool of a Took, and past that, the last boy got named for his face, and the dogs came with their own names.

    But, honestly, we believe in themes, no, really, so I’m going to say Tulkas. Tulkas Astaldo was the last come of the mighty Valar, and their champion. Melkor fled before him, and his coming heralded the Spring of Arda.

    …

    Stop looking at me like that.

  238. 238.

    Elizabeth

    I like Rooster, which someone suggested above.

    Other suggestions: Wolfgang, Ambrose, Widetrack (my dad had a 6 fingered kitty with that name).

  240. 240.

    CatHairEverywhere

    A Maine Coon who is also a polydactyl?? You have hit the cool kitty jackpot! My giant, fluffy tuxedo polydactyl is named Jones and our Maine Coon (rest his affectionate, quirky little soul) was named Otis. I think he needs a big name to go with his size, and what I am sure will be big personality.

  245. 245.

    Mustang Bobby

    The Hemingway House in Key West is rife with polydactyl cats, and this one looks bushy enough to be a reincarnation of Ernest Hemingway, so: Papa.

  247. 247.

    CatHairEverywhere

    I like Maximilian. I had a cat years ago named Maximilian Cat. (but I only used his full name when he was in trouble) I love Jasper, too. My fluffy brown mutt is named Jasper, and it lends itself to lots of nicknames

  251. 251.

    dance around in your bones

    @CaseyL:

    That was Scott, comment #136 0n the Say Hello to? thread. (Sorry, I borked the link and have never figured out how to fix on edit).

    The Rooster suggestion was me. Pretty much tongue in cheek, tho.

  253. 253.

    Yatsuno

    @max: Heh. I used to have a rooster named Shaft. He was a gawjuss male Australop who was definitely king of the backyard. He got eaten.

  254. 254.

    A Ghost To Most

    You could name him Bathtub. Then you could be ….

    Fat Man & The Bathtub

    Sorry John, I’m a Feats fan too.

  257. 257.

    Desert Rat

    It’s worth noting that Ernest Hemingway preferred polydactyl cats. May I suggest Hemingway.

  259. 259.

    pat

    I still like Mr. Manytoes. It sounds kind of cute, but the Mr. lends dignity.

    Rosie, Lily and Mr. Manytoes.

    Manny or Toesy for short.

  261. 261.

    Yatsuno

    @Valdivia: JC should go through every name given and see which one he responds to. The kitteh will make the final determination, though I’m holding out for Hemingway.

    BTW hi dear!

  264. 264.

    CatHairEverywhere

    I do think he looks like an Otis! I like Hemingway, but I think it is too long to easily yell out cars windows.

  266. 266.

    CatHairEverywhere

    But I really, really don’t like Mongo because of the bad connotations.

  269. 269.

    Turgidson

    HoJu. Short for Homer Junior.

    Unfortunately there is no readily available youtube clip to explain why this is the awesomest choice.

  270. 270.

    gbear

    So far my two favorites are Otis and Dexter, especially Dexter when you say it out loud.

    I’m drifting away from Mongo. Sounds good on paper but I don’t know if I’d want to live with it.

  271. 271.

    Garbo

    I loved the suggestion up thread (sorry can’t find now) of Mose. I was liking Mongo but I agree with the more reasoned reactions against.

  272. 272.

    Madeleine

    Few other suggestions:
    Genghis Khan (or either one of those solo).
    Titan.
    On the flower names (for theme purposes), I did a quick Google search and apparently Eric John is a flower. Other suggestions from there: Monkshood/Wolfsbane, Snapdragon.

    I do like Mongo or Fezzik for the name, probably Fezzik more.

    I have no doubt that whatever name is picked will be awesome. It took me a couple of tries to come up with names for my rescue kitties, so I’m sure I confused them by calling them different names at different times.

  273. 273.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    How about Mungo Jerry since you got the cat In The Summertime.

    (Not that I’ve given up hope for Roethlissbugger.)

  274. 274.

    Mary G

    Like them all except Justin. Too many obnoxious people by that name.

    Autofill suggested Justus; I kinds like that.

  279. 279.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    ifGex: “the Dude” – that’s what we call our Lebowski-like kitteh. Dude abides.

    I like Rollie Fingers but I love Mongo. I was chosen (literally) by a Maine Coon kitten 2 years ago after I lost my 18-yr-old cat who was to me as Lily is to you. I’ve had a number of cats in my life, but never one like this Maine Coon. Just a warning- he’s a feline JRT. Very busy, very tuned into to his person.

    When I say Loki chose me I mean it. I was at the rescue and had already selected
    ed 2 little calico kittens and was looking over the paper work when I felt a tap on my shoulder. This fuzzy little guy with a puffy tail was desperately trying to get my attention. Once I got him out & he won me over he started to try to break a puffy-tailed gray kitten out of his cage. Turns out they had fostered together & were very bonded. The Dude is not Maine coon (at least he doesnt look it, tho he is 17 lbs with but is also a longhair. Loki looks just like Mongo/Rollie (with only the normal # of toes)

  280. 280.

    JPL

    This is how you name an animal… go outside and shout the name. If it embarrasses you, move on… I’m still hoping for Brady because it would add excitement during football season..

  282. 282.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    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.

  283. 283.

    geg6

    @gbear:

    My sweet golden retriever is named Otis. It was also my John’s nickname among his frat brothers in college. Otis was rescued from the Humane Society solely because he was named Otis and John couldn’t bear to leave him there, not with that name. It was fate.

  285. 285.

    geg6

    @JPL:

    Cole would be banished forever from Steeler Nation if he named him Brady. I know I’d never speak to him again.

  286. 286.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    ifGex: “the Dude” – that’s what we call our Lebowski-like kitteh. Dude abides.

    I like Rollie Fingers but I love Mongo. I was chosen (literally) by a Maine Coon kitten 2 years ago after I lost my 18-yr-old cat who was to me as Lily is to you. I’ve had a number of cats in my life, but never one like this Maine Coon. Just a warning- he’s a feline JRT. Very busy, very tuned into to his person.

    When I say Loki chose me I mean it. I was at the rescue and had already selected 2 calico kittens and was looking over the paper work when I felt a tap on my shoulder. This fuzzy little guy with a puffy tail was desperately trying to get my attention. Once I got him out & he won me over he started to try to break a puffy-tailed gray kitten out of his cage. Turns out they had fostered together & were very bonded. The Dude is not Maine coon (at least he doesnt look it, tho he is 17 lbs with but is also a longhair. Loki looks just like Mongo/Rollie (with only the normal # of toes)

  289. 289.

    JPL

    @geg6: Isn’t he a tom cat… I was just trying to help…
    My little mutt, Miss Moxie was at the vet today and the animal before her was Blossom and I thought that was a cute name. It might not fit John’s cat though.

  290. 290.

    Jennifer

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Or Norm.

    There used to be a portly cream-colored long-haired cat in the neighborhood who got along with all the other cats, which doesn’t happen. Usually outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats will have a cat companion or two who they don’t mind having in their territory, and all other cats who are asshole deadly enemies. They figure this out just by looking at each other, apparently, but the point is, they’re selective. Tubby (as I called him) was unique in that all the other neighborhood cats were fine with him hanging out in their territory. He was really gregarious too – if I left a door open, he’d just walk in and make himself at home, and my cat would have no problem with it. I always said he was the “Norm” of the cat world, because I could just imagine all the other cats shouting “Norm!” whenever he showed up.

  291. 291.

    becca

    @becca: His full name could b e Mungo Bean, a name only to be yelled at the top of one’s lungs and at the height of exasperation.

  293. 293.

    Roxy

    I love Rollie Fingers. Brings back memories of the 70s with the A’s in the World Series 3 times in a row. I actually had a teacher that rolled a TV into our class room so we could watch the A’s in the World Series. Ahh the days of Catfish, Reggie, Vida, Rollie, Bert, Jesus… Fun and colorful team to watch at the time.

  294. 294.

    JPL

    nbc.com has breaking news that the Senate has reached a deal not to raise student loan rates… no link yet…

  297. 297.

    Jennifer

    @JPL: Yep. My tiny black kitty had an elf face and I wanted to name her Puck, then thought about what it would sound like I was yelling when I called her in. I named her Ella instead.

    As for Otis, I like it, but if you’re going to go down that road, you might as well go all the way and name him Cletus.

  303. 303.

    eclare

    @Jennifer: Joyce and Finnegan are very well known tax cases and you mentioned both in the prior thread. Guess I just outed myself!

  306. 306.

    Jell-OH Schott

    Last suggestion . . . Mister B . . . Short for Mr. Balloon Juice, the esteemed mascot of this blog.

  307. 307.

    Bex

    Rumi…or Roomy, because he already has a good start on that, and he has a poetic look.

  312. 312.

    Bobby Thomson

    Name him Malware. Or Malware the Magnificent if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.

  314. 314.

    TaMara (BHF)

    My cats all have people names. My choices:

    Jack (he really does look like a jack to me – then when he pisses you off you can call him jackass without much effort)
    Jake
    Whisky
    Mongo McGee (but not just mongo)
    And I’ve always loved Otis, but geg6 might object.

  318. 318.

    Emerald

    @Bobby Thomson: I like Mongo, but Malware is a great idea.

    And applause to MisterMix, who has solved the Malware problem (at least on Safari)! I can post comments again!

  319. 319.

    dance around in your bones

    @TBogg: Ohhhh – I like Sixto!

    Only if John is reduced to roaming the neighborhood yelling Sixto! he might get some….offers, if ya know what I’m sayin’.

  320. 320.

    opiejeanne

    @Roxy: My teacher in 5th and 6th grade always got the tv in her room for the World Series, both years. It didn’t matter who was in it, she thought we should watch. The school only had two tvs and she signed one out for the WS on her first day back every year..

  322. 322.

    gogol's wife

    WHOO-HOO! I can finally get here through Safari without scary warnings, although Firefox is still blocking me. It’s been driving me crazy all day, because I knew from Twitter that there’s a new kitteh. He is beautiful. I don’t care what you call him.

    You’re a better man than I am, John Cole, because I would not be able to face a new cat this soon. But I’m sure the kitteh is glad you can. He’s going to be great.

  323. 323.

    FlipYrWhig

    Keisel, after Brett Keisel of the giant beard. Rhymes with Diesel, too, I think, which would be appropriate.

  324. 324.

    melissaD

    @JPL: No way a Stiller fan chooses Brady! But someone’s suggestion of Rocky Bleier is great, Rocky the Cat’s extra toe balances out Rocky the player’s missing half foot lost in Vietnam. The Rooney family stood behind him through rehab and he returned to the team.

  328. 328.

    Josie

    @Just Some Fuckhead: OR………..

    T.S. Eliot: Mungojerrie And Rumpelteazer (English)

    Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer were a very notorious couple
    of cats.
    As knockabout clown, quick-change comedians, tight-rope
    walkers and acrobats
    They had extensive reputation. They made their home in
    Victoria Grove–
    That was merely their centre of operation, for they were
    incurably given to rove.
    They were very well know in Cornwall Gardens, in Launceston
    Place and in Kensington Square–
    They had really a little more reputation than a couple of
    cats can very well bear.

    If the area window was found ajar
    And the basement looked like a field of war,
    If a tile or two came loose on the roof,
    Which presently ceased to be waterproof,
    If the drawers were pulled out from the bedroom chests,
    And you couldn’t find one of your winter vests,
    Or after supper one of the girls
    Suddenly missed her Woolworth pearls:

    Then the family would say: “It’s that horrible cat!
    It was Mungojerrie–or Rumpelteazer!”– And most of the time
    they left it at that.

    Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had a very unusual gift of the
    gab.
    They were highly efficient cat-burglars as well, and
    remarkably smart at smash-and-grab.
    They made their home in Victoria Grove. They had no regular
    occupation.
    They were plausible fellows, and liked to engage a friendly
    policeman in conversation.

    When the family assembled for Sunday dinner,
    With their minds made up that they wouldn’t get thinner
    On Argentine joint, potatoes and greens,
    And the cook would appear from behind the scenes
    And say in a voice that was broken with sorrow:
    “I’m afraid you must wait and have dinner tomorrow!
    For the joint has gone from the oven-like that!”
    Then the family would say: “It’s that horrible cat!
    It was Mungojerrie–or Rumpelteazer!”– And most of the time
    they left it at that.

    Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had a wonderful way of working
    together.
    And some of the time you would say it was luck, and some of
    the time you would say it was weather.
    They would go through the house like a hurricane, and no sober
    person could take his oath
    Was it Mungojerrie–or Rumpelteazer? or could you have sworn
    that it mightn’t be both?

    And when you heard a dining-room smash
    Or up from the pantry there came a loud crash
    Or down from the library came a loud ping
    From a vase which was commonly said to be Ming–
    Then the family would say: “Now which was which cat?
    It was Mungojerrie! AND Rumpelteazer!”– And there’s nothing
    at all to be done about that!

  333. 333.

    Original Lee

    @Madeleine: I think just plain Khan would be awesome. I can hear Cole wandering the neighborhood bellowing “Khaaaan!” and it works.

    ETA: Otis Khan or Dexter Khan work, too.

  334. 334.

    Roxy

    We had a few different names for our cats.
    One was named Halitosis due to her bad breath (named by my mom)
    One was named Snickle Fritz just because my mom liked the name
    One was named Pumpkin because of his coloring and we got him on Halloween
    One was named Honey because she was such a sweetie,
    One was named Chandar (he had a beautiful gray coat and brilliant emerald green eyes) by my sister, who saw a Disney movie in the 70s called Chandar the Black Leopard of Ceylon (the leopard had a beautiful set of green eyes)
    Two cats, brother and sister were named Copper and Penny (white fur and copper color patches) We were very lucky, Penny lived to be 21 years old. She has been gone for a few years and I still miss her.
    One was named Puddin who had black patches the color of chocolate pudding. She was also nicknamed Ms Revlon, because her eyes looked like someone had put eyeliner around them. She lived to be 16 years old. I miss her also.

  335. 335.

    cckids

    I’m partial to Hagrid,mainly because our cats are all named after Potter names: Gryffindor, Olivander & Hermione. (That’s what happens when the kids get to name the kittens)

    Also, when we found them, we were reading the 5th HP book out loud, passing it around & taking turns. The kitten pile would follow the book & settle at the foot of whoever was reading. It was funny & sweet.

    At least I made them find more dignified names for the boys than Ron & Harry. Hermione fits our bossy, wicked smart tortie only too well.

  340. 340.

    p.a.

    @Higgs Boson’s Mate: kinda like the old Cosby skit where as a kid he thought his first name was ‘Goddamnit’?

    I like Mongo, or Dude. In the Mongo vein but more current, how about Gronk? Although I doubt John would name him after a Patriot.

  342. 342.

    PurpleGirl

    @spudgun: No, it’s after Sherman, the boy pet of the dog scientist (with the Way Back Machine) in Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. I don’t know this for sure, but I think it’s probably what the person who suggested Sherman meant. (Fingers crossed.)

  349. 349.

    MPNPhilly

    First off, condolences on Tunch.

    As for the new kitty, how about Chamberlain after the hero of Gettysburg? Or Boone after Daniel Boone of the coonskin cap?

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