Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

He really is that stupid.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

We will not go back.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Name This Kitty

Name This Kitty

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Since it has been another slow, uneventful news day, I thought I would share some pictures of one of the kittens that Seth (Boghan sort of made the call, really) is going to keep. He needs a name, and despite my offering up the choice “Gary,” Seth told me no and that I am an idiot and I should ask my readers.

Throw your suggestions in the comments. Although I think Gary would be a great name.

Reader Interactions

152Comments

  10. 10.

    MaryRC

    He looks like a Pookie to me. I had a cat who looked just like him named Pookie, a long time ago. Gary — no offense to the Garys out there, who I’m sure are all wonderful people — sounds like a car salesman, not a kitten.

  14. 14.

    sphouch

    You can’t go full CATS with a name, of course, but in the spirit of T.S. Eliot, Prufrock seems like the right name.

  16. 16.

    NotMax

    Take it that it is a male.

    Montague.
    Gandalf.
    Xander.
    Haimish.
    Prospurro.

    Or, in keeping with the Irish theme (Boghan), either Peader, Seamus or Cillian.

  26. 26.

    Gustopher

    I don’t think one name is going to be enough for that regal beastlet. How about Charlemagne Chutney Chaplin Chirptopher?

  27. 27.

    NotMax

    Trying it again.

    Take it that it is a male.

    Montague.
    Gandalf.
    Xander.
    Prospurro.

    Or in keeping with the Irish theme of the pooch’s monicker, either Peader, Seamus or Cillian.

  33. 33.

    CaseyL

    That face! Those ear tufts! (Good lord, does he have some Maine Coon in his bloodline?)

    If he’s Bogham’s cat, shouldn’t Boghan name him?

    There’s a great suspense novel by Thomas Perry, “Metzgar’s Dog.” Metzgar is a cat, and the dog is a fierce junkyard dog his humans have kidnapped/rescued. Metzgar decides the dog is his, and the dog agrees.

    So how about “Metzgar”?

  35. 35.

    brendancalling

    Mr. Pickles is a good name for a cat, because then you can call him Mr. PICKLEton, Pickles Mcgee, Scratchlby McSkronkles, the Pickler, Tinkle Tonk, Mr. Bonkles and all the other names you call cats because they don’t answer when called anyway (despite being wonderful).

  39. 39.

    JCJ

    My daughter has a gray kitty she named Cinereous. Definition: (especially of hair or feathers) ash-gray.

    He is called Cinna for short.

  41. 41.

    Another Scott

    “BoGHAN, bò”-han, n.m. the calf of the leg the ham.”

    Obviously, the kittens name should be “Uibheacha” because nothing goes together better than ham and eggs. Right?

    ;-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  42. 42.

    Anne Laurie

    Since he’s Boghan’s personal kitten, Proinsias. When he’s being annoying / petty, the humans in the household can yell DAMMIT FRANCIS at him (for all the good that will do). And it sounds / reads vaguely ‘elvish’, which will most certainly be appropriate for a cat with the ‘Maine Coon’ genes.

  45. 45.

    Anne Laurie

    @MaryRC:

    He looks like a Pookie to me.

    Only if you claim he’s a pooka — which might be true!

    When I was a teenager, I named a little black rescued kitten Puck, after the hockey version. Only problem was when he got out of the apartment, once… it’s not optimal to be hanging around a Bronx street corner calling ‘Puck! Puck!’…

  51. 51.

    JWR

    I read somewheres that cats and dogs respond more quickly to names that begin with a consonant, or something sharp to their ears. Like T-Bone! I dunno, I always had cats even though I’m extremely allergic to both cats and horses. Dogs, no problem. And when I say allergic, I’m talking about eyes and lips swelling shut. It’s very uncomfortable.

    Now back to your regular kitty post.

    ETA No, I can’t adopt a cat. Sorry.

  52. 52.

    RepubAnon

    How about Calvin? As in Calvin and Hobbes? Of course, an orange kitty would need to be added to the family.

  53. 53.

    Mary G

    Ohh, John said on Twitter that Boghann and the cat-to-be-named-later get along like peas and carrots, and now I think the kitty should be called Peas.

  54. 54.

    Steeplejack

    @Wapiti:

    I like Spike! It has a slightly pugnacious simplicity that goes well with the little cat and with the slightly more formal name Boghan.

  59. 59.

    Mnemosyne

    Also, too, since this is Ye Olde Open Thread, I want to say that my CPAP seems to be working quite nicely so far. The nasal pillows have made my nose hurt the last two nights, but I’m not sure why. I’m still figuring out how to (carefully) sleep on my stomach without dislodging the mask and have done pretty well so far.

    The one adjustment I had to make was turning on the heater on the built-in humidifier. Once I did that, my API went from 5 to 1 (lower is better).

  60. 60.

    sfinny

    @thruppence: I did not consider the calling after my new cat when I named her. So now I am left calling “Boo” down the hallway when she gets out. Have scared a couple of my neighbors already.

  61. 61.

    Steeplejack

    @Mnemosyne:

    That’s good to hear. My “sleep hygiene” (wretched phrase) spontaneously improved a bit since I came back from Las Vegas last week, and I’ve been trying to build on that.

  63. 63.

    Jager

    My girls love cats, their kid cats were Hilliard, Puffin, and Beau. I have no idea where they came up with the names. They still have cats as adults, I can’t remember the names, but one lets my kid’s German Shepherd hold it’s head in the dog’s mouth.

  65. 65.

    prostratedragon

    @Mnemosyne: CPAP does tend to dry one out, something I didn’t notice for several months in the first rush of relief at being able to sleep. Saline spray and a little dab of vaseline can help.

  70. 70.

    cain

    I like Alexander, if you want an Indian one:
    Laxman – “he who has the signs of fortune”
    Or of course, you go norse:
    Baldur
    hopes that helps

  74. 74.

    Ann Marie

    With my kitten Harley now at the teenage stage, I suggest something that sounds good in front of “Stop it!!!” Harley’s at the scratching and biting everything stage.

  83. 83.

    Chris T.

    @Mnemosyne: Excellent!

    I set my humidity thing to 4 or so, most of the time. Am in Humidland at the moment though so I’ve turned it all the way off.

  91. 91.

    Mnemosyne

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    Yeah, I realized earlier today that I think I’ve been pulling it tighter the last two nights. I have to take the strap off in order to wash the whole apparatus (it’s the Phillips Dreamwear that’s mostly hollow, so it has to be washed every day) and I was re-fastening the strap to where I thought it ought to be rather than actually putting it on my head before tightening the straps. Live and learn!

  92. 92.

    SectionH

    Um, my Pickles was female so that doesn’t work for me. At all. I like Kindness’s suggestion of Pippin – name goes back long before LotR – but he has a wide-eyed sweet face that Pippin fits. And Peregrin (Pippin’s full name) fits if Seth needs a “you’re in trouble now” name.
    Or, maybe Perry – that would work for him.

    It’s not just the white blaze on his nose, it’s the incredible white accents around his eyes. He is beautiful, and doesn’t look remotely like a Gary.

    Wth, call him Beau – because he is, and don’t insist on how it’s spelled.

  93. 93.

    Beeb

    JC, you said not-Gary is one of the kittens Seth and Boghan are keeping. So how many are staying, and what sex(es) are they?

  96. 96.

    CapnMubbers

    Snippet from a thread in January:

    different-church-lady: OK, this is really getting my goat.
    Omnes Omnibus: You have a goat? Does it have a name?
    d-c-l: William.
    OO: Excellent. Traditional and yet dignified.
    d-c-l: His friends call him Butthead.

  99. 99.

    JWR

    Wonder if Colbert’s gonna open his show tonight lounging on the stairs, smokin’ a cigarrette? I could dig it.

  100. 100.

    Amir Khalid

    @Eric Schneider:
    Gary is all right as a human’s name. But a cat needs a name out of the ordinary, and a kitten needs a name that hints at the cat he will grow up to be.

  101. 101.

    NotMax

    @Amir Khalid

    Not even a good name for a guitar.

    A bassoon, maybe…

    (Of course in this household any feline would be named Gone, because that is what it would be, lickety-split.)

    ;)

  102. 102.

    Mnemosyne

    @Steeplejack:

    Interesting thing I read in a book by Michael Breus MD (aka the Sleep Doctor): having a consistent wake-up time is more important than having a consistent bedtime. That’s why trying to sleep in on the weekend almost always backfires and makes you even more tired during the week.

  104. 104.

    Mel

    @zeecube: Good choice! I was going to suggest Gawain.

    Whatever the name, he looks like a kitty that is worthy of a ballad about his bravery and handsomeness!

  105. 105.

    Cathie Fonz (formerly Cathie from Canada)

    What a sweetheart — love the little flame on the nose.
    I just looked up the Boghan crest and it has 7 lions on it. Since Boghan picked the kitten, maybe something lion-ish, like Gruff or Growler, or something from the Lion King, like Simba.

  106. 106.

    NotMax

    @Mnemosyne

    That’s why trying to sleep in on the weekend almost always backfires

    Prefacing it by saying that while it may well be so for some people, my own experience labels that a hill of horse puckey (for me). Sleeping in is one of the cheapest and most delicious pleasures there is.

  108. 108.

    NotMax

    @NotMax

    Will add (again, personal) that one of the pure joys of retirement is being able to sleep in on any day of the week, as well as is being able to sleep on a non-regimented schedule. Finally nodded off around 5:30 a,m. yesterday and didn’t wake up until 3:30 in the afternoon. ‘Twas wonderful, and a tonic for the 2½ hours of sleep had been barely managing to get for a few nights beforehand.

    Never having been in any way, shape or form a morning person, the ‘standard’ hours between which one ‘should’ sleep has never worked for me.

  114. 114.

    terben

    I once had a cat whose name was taken from a piece of construction equipment that I happened across. The spelling was changed and the 2 words became one, but the pronunciation was the same. From Ditch Witch to Dychwych.

  120. 120.

    Juju

    Lionel would be my first choice, although Iggy is kind of cute.
    I’ve always thought Otis is a cute name too.

  121. 121.

    MomSense

    Seguin. Seguin Island Light Station is one of the oldest in the country. Seguin Island is not far from Wiscasset, which is where the Maine Coon Cat lore places their origin. It’s a beautiful place and it’s in the process of being converted to solar power. It may also be haunted by an axe murderer which in a way is perfect for a cat.

  124. 124.

    Spanky

    My one and only true Maine Coon was named Spike. There can be no other, so I will recuse myself on that name, though it obviously has its appeal.

    One of our now 2yo kittens earned the name Jesuschrist Godammit, though that name has fallen in to disuse as he’s become (slightly) less hyper.

  125. 125.

    SealDeal

    Gary is a perfectly fine name.
    So is Phil.

    He should name him Phil. Because, that too is a perfectly fine name.

    Or maybe Perfectly Fine. PF for short…or just ‘pfffff’

    Or maybe I should go get some coffee and wake up completely.

  130. 130.

    CCL

    Another vote for Finn…just seems right.

    Though, this comment is coming from someone who just recently named a female rescue….Handsome Henry Thud.

  131. 131.

    Ohio Mom

    I’m skipping to the end of the line because I don’t have much time right now — has anyone suggested White Stripe?

  134. 134.

    Kattails

    Went downstairs for some coffee and brain delivered: Tiernan: “Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic O Tighearnain “descendant of Tighearnan”, a diminutive of Tighearna, a byname meaning ‘lord’, ‘master’.” (Ancestry.com) (ps sorry to Gaelic speakers, didn’t bother with the proper accents not enuf coffee.
    I suspect he will be a little lord.

  135. 135.

    pamela miller

    oliver. because that face makes me think of oliver twist saying, “please sir, may I have some more”

  139. 139.

    suezboo

    @NotMax:
    Tell me about it, NotMax. I have become almost entirely nocturnal, unless one counts those naps I just fall into when sitting in my chair which can last up to three or four hours. This seems to be the optimal sleep pattern and length for me which is cool.

  147. 147.

    LeftCoastYankee

    I’m late but kittens always have bat ears. A good vampire name maybe?

    Nandor the Relentless.

  148. 148.

    Seth Cole

    This is Seth. Thanks for all the great suggestions. Several were names I considered (Iggy, Victor, Finn, and several others but not Gary). Right now I’m leaning towards Bodhi with a long O but I’m I’m still considering.

    As far as the sexes of the kittens there are three males (White Stripe, Grey Feet, and Black Star now Kweli) and one female (White Feet).

    As of now I’m planning on keeping Kweli and White Stripe as they like Boghan and me the most. Momma is not very happy here and spends most of her time under the bed. She’s sweet and will come out for some loving at times but quickly goes back under. She is not a fan of Boghan at all. I think she is going to need a very calm home where she is possibly the only pet.

    I don’t know how easy it will be too find homes through the rescue I am working with so if anyone is interested in any of them I will have John (JG to me) share the link when they are ready to be adopted. I know I would be very pleased to have a juicer adopt them as I know you all love animals and will treat them well. I am not going to give them up easily.

  149. 149.

    suezboo

    My late cat was called Zinzi after Mandela’s daughter. I think it’s a fine Xhosa name. Rolls off the tongue. Maybe?

  152. 152.

    WaterGirl

    So many great kitty names in this thread! Maybe I should save this one in case I ever get a new kitty.

    Mostly, though, I am just so happy to know that they are keeping this little one. From the very first photo, this little guy and Boghan have been so clearly bonded that they are meant to be together.

    *I wrote this on the morning of the 24th and only just now noticed that I had never pressed post comment.

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