Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Peak wingnut was a lie.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

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

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Hey hey, RFK, how many kids did you kill today?

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

I desperately hope that, yet again, i am wrong.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Books are my comfort food!

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

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Blessed Increase!

Blessed Increase!

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He’s here!Blessed Increase! 3

 

He hasn’t told us his papal name yet. (Leo has some obvious resonance, but current events–plus the fact that it’s my brother’s name–suggest that we might want to avoid that one.)

He’s a sweetie. He’s kinda just walked in and taken over.  He is relentless–and a pretty good cat-footie player. (The metal cap from a champagne bottle held him fascinated for quite a while.) And then he just goes boneless and ends up like this:

Blessed Increase! 2

He and Champ haven’t met yet. I think Champ figures something is going on, as she usually joins me when I cook dinner, and she’s remained firmly upstairs for the last few hours. But that negotiation is for another day.

But the name!?  I’ve usually found that cats tell you who they are, but it can take a day or so.  My spouse is partial to Felis or Felix–which isn’t too far off, but doesn’t seem right.  Sherlock crossed my mind, as Increase is definitely observant, but, again, it doesn’t quite slip on him like a glove.  We’ll see. (Suggestions gratefully received and almost certainly ignored.

Here’s one more.

Blessed Increase! 1

He’s hard to photograph in action–that boy moves fast. But he already is taking charge, which I need and love.

Open thread, y’all.

Reader Interactions

130Comments

  2. 2.

    Snarki, child of Loki

    Shenanigans

    Mischief

    (the cuter they are, the more trouble they can get away with…)

  6. 6.

    WaterGirl

    Also, too, I have unconsciously thought of Champ all these years as a boy kitty.   Not that it matters, of course.

  9. 9.

    Anne Laurie

    As a traditional New England kitty, maybe he’s Increase!

    (Inky for daily use, to improve comic potential.)

  10. 10.

    NotMax

    Name? Scamp.

    (He looks like an Otto, but IMHO that’s not a good name to saddle a pet with.)

  12. 12.

    Suzanne

    Oh my GOOOOODDDDDDD.

    I think he looks like LARRY, personally.

    ETA: Possibly RUFUS.

  13. 13.

    Central Planning

    Stripes

    Chaos

    Tumble

    Umbra

    Neutron

    No hard feelings if none are the right name.

  16. 16.

    khead

    @Suzanne:

    Yes on Rufus. I have two cats that look a LOT like this little one.  The boy is nicknamed Rufus because he got loose at the vet when we took him in to be fixed and climbed above the ceiling tiles.  Also, that is one adorable kitteh.

  19. 19.

    JoyceH

    There have been a number of Pope Leos and also Pope Felixes, so that tracks. Maybe you should just get a list of the pope names and see if something springs out at you. In the earlier years, there were some names that sound a tad eccentric to us, like Gelasius and Hormisdas, but I guess you’d have to always be explaining them. But there was a Pope Zachary, does he strike you as a Zack?

  22. 22.

    Ramalama

    Zephyr

    Hubie

    I’m pining for another dog (since I can no longer breathe around cats). But that kitteh makes me gleeful.

  25. 25.

    satby

    He’s going to be a lovebug. My tabby boy climbs onto the arm of my chair and just melts into my side as I read on my Kindle. This little guy is showing the same signs.

    No suggestions on names. After 50 years of rescues, I’m out of creative name ideas. The perfect one will arrive just like he did.

  26. 26.

    stinger

    Aww!  No name suggestions from me, as Totes Adorbs probably wouldn’t work. The name will come of its own accord.

  28. 28.

    toine

    @Suzanne: Rufus is a great cat name! My 2 told me they were Rufus and Nigel. Very British of them for some reason… :-)

  31. 31.

    JoyceH

    @toine:

     

    My 2 told me they were Rufus and Nigel.

    Years ago I left the cat rescue with two kittens that I thought were a Jack and a Bella. But after I’d had them for a while, I realized they were actually Liam and Sage.

  32. 32.

    PDXBob

    Possible names to ignore:

    Barry or Wally

    Both are the “real” names of The Flash (Barry Allen and Wally West)

    Or, just Flash

  33. 33.

    kindness

    I’ve been feeding a feral kitten who lives near the park where I run my dog every day.  My current cat is 15 although she isn’t creaky yet.  She doesn’t get along well with other cats.  When my other cat died (year and a half ago), Lanie was so relieved as she hated Suki.  Suki admittedly was a major butthead and I’m the only one in the house who liked her.  I figure I’ll bring the new guy home tomorrow.  Hoping I can coax Lanie to get along as this kitty seems a whole lot more passive and nicer.  I’m thinking of naming him Freddie.  Why?  Well after Fat Freddy’s cat (the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers/Zap Comix).  And I’m not going to call him Fat Freddy’s Cat.  Just Freddie.

  34. 34.

    toine

    @JoyceH: Awesome! They really do teach us their names. I’ve always thought that we end up naming them something that is close to their actual names, spoken with a terrible accent. They accept it as a sign that they accept us.

  38. 38.

    Joy in FL

    He is adorable. Thanks for the photos. You can share more photos often; Increase has a BJ fan club (like an every other BJ pet).

  39. 39.

    SFBayAreaGal

    Names my parents, my siblings, and I have given our cats over the years.

    Honey

    Snickel Fritz

    Chandar

    Anna

    Puddin

    Copper and Penny

    Halitosis (named by mom, because the cat had bad breath)

    Pumpkin

    Dunkin and Donut

    Inky

    Peewee

  40. 40.

    Tim C

    I LOVE HIM ALREADY!  ALL HAIL OUR NEW FELINE OVERLORD! ALL HAIL FELIX (or whatever) THE FIRST, RIGHT HAND OF STEVE AND HEIR TO THE THRONE OF TUNCH!

  47. 47.

    opiejeanne

    Our current kitty Annie and her predecessor, Vickie,  both looked a lot like your toy kitty and were/are wonderful cats. He will keep you busy, and if Champ behaves like other older girl kitties, she will adore him. Look at that face! Pure mischief with an angelic countenance. Mischief might be a good name.

    I’m currently in Brussels, having arrived here on Friday, nursing a broken right ankle and a broken right wrist. I tell you, we do have adventures when we travel but this is the most exciting one and I’m starting to think maybe i’m too fragile to travel like this. I mean, first full day here and I trip on the “sidewalk” (mostly dirt path). I’m missing our Dear Beast and considering going home in a few days.  Just abandoning all of our reservations between now and June 1. I have trip insurance on almost all of the hotel rooms. We’re having a used wheelchair delivered to our hotel today, and everyone has been very nice, the head nurse working in kidney failure who helped me get an ambulance, the cops who showed up and helped guide the ambulance driver to us, the two guys in the ambulance, the doctors, nurses, and the social worker. (The latter helped us find a wheelchair we could buy because renting one for 3 weeks wasn’t working out.)  I got to ride in an ambulance but didn’t think to ask them to use the siren, and because I was lying flat on the dirt path my clothing picked up lots of dead leaves and other detritus, that included a hitchhiker on my jeans, a little black beetle that reminded us of a ladybug.

    This is my 3rd day here and I haven’t had any Belgian chocolate, waffle, or Belgian fries yet.

  50. 50.

    BeautifulPlumage

    SQEEEE! He’s gorgeous! Thank you for sharing pics so soon. Best wishes for the household, and may Champ find a worthy companion in him .

  52. 52.

    Memory Pallas

    The dark marking on his forehead looks like an “M” so maybe Mycroft fits. Or in keeping with the British literary theme, Marvell or Milton.

  53. 53.

    Miss Bianca

    OMG, teh cutenss!! I am deaded.

    I still like Blessed Increase, but that is kind of a lengthy and puritanical moniker for such a little guy.

  54. 54.

    opiejeanne

    @toine: If any of ours had told us their names, we would have had a multitude of STOP THAT!s and PUT THAT BIRD DOWN RIGHT NOW!

  56. 56.

    They Call Me Noni

    He looks like my sweet Gizzy kitty, whose given name was Gizmo.  He was such a smart boy.

    Enjoy the new furball of joy and energy the cat distribution system has blessed your household with!

  59. 59.

    toine

    @opiejeanne: Get Off The Counter as well, I imagine… :-

    ps: I hope the rest of the vacation goes better! Hang in there! Brussels is a beautiful city.

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    @opiejeanne

    From the film Merrily We Live:

    How do you do? I’d like you to meet my dogs.

    This dog’s name is “get off the rug.”

    His name is “you too.”
    ;)

  63. 63.

    greenergood

    When I lost my first cat I thought I needed a mourning period and felt unfaithful to my former feline overlord that I’d adopted a new felid within 4-5 months.
    now I’m exactly the opposite: the little cat room in your heart has now been vacated and needs to filled again – and former droids will look on w approval. Your new feline overlord is magnificent in its youthful exuberance!

    maybe after Indian food-cat name Tikka, perhaps Raita? 😉 Happy cat-trails!!

  65. 65.

    Chacal Charles Calthrop

    @eclare: I knew someone whose cat was named Watson. She explained that she wanted to call her cat Sherlock, but after it became apparent that he had only one brain cell even when he was trying to use it, she changed it to  Watson.
    The cat will let you know his name. I knew another cat who became Nimrod the Mighty Hunter after he caught three mice in his first week in the house.

  66. 66.

    SFBayAreaGal

    @eclare: Yup. I was a child at the time when my mom named the family cat Halitosis.

    We all loved her very much. She was a great mouse catcher and would proudly show us her hunting prowess.

  68. 68.

    eclare

    @opiejeanne:

    Oh no!  If travel insurance covers the lost reservations, I would go home.  Europe doesn’t have the ADA, and I don’t see how injured or disabled people get around there.

    YMMV

    Eta> I remember seeing two people physically carry a stroller up steps in the Tube because no elevators, no escalators.  It was a long staircase.

  71. 71.

    Sure Lurkalot

    I adopted a female kitten whom I pre-named Stella. Two days in, she was so not Stella so she was renamed Clio, after the muse of history. It fit her well for almost 19 years.

  73. 73.

    cain

    Awww..

    My daughter picked up a stray on the street, took him to the vet but her boyfriend is totally besotted with him and is determined to adopt him. haha. My daugther’s boyfriend is one of the sweetest men I know. A total gem. Can’t wait to him in our family (we know it’s going to happen) but I think he started crying after they gave him up, and I’m pretty sure he plans on visiting the shelter every day. haha.. great kid.

  74. 74.

    BigJimSlade

    @eclare: I was thinking of naming a cat Butch, and that reminded me and my friend of Hutch, as in Starsky & Hutch. And that’s how I ended up with a cat named Starsky.

  75. 75.

    SiubhanDuinne

    He looks like a Bartholomew (Mew!) in the first picture, and in the second (boneless) photo, he’s definitely an Oobleck.

    He is just as cute as can be, and will grow up to be a very handsome beast indeed. But right now, he is just small. So very small.

  76. 76.

    opiejeanne

    @SFBayAreaGal: I have a list of cat names from childhood on:

    Tiny (she was) gray and brown striped tabby

    Tony, her kitten.

    Sandy (named by Mom for Mr Koufax)  orange cat

    Peanut, a benighted  pale orange creature that my sister picked out

    Daniel, My wonderful stripey boy cat. He was our first cat after we got married.

    Tinker (found starving outside Davis, CA & named for a storybook cat who goes on a long journey) Pretty calico, mostly white with black and orange spots

    Mama Cat,  white long hair

    Snowball (no white on her anywhere, named by our youngest)

    Vickie, looked just slike your Blessed Increase

    Tommy, a very large cat, probably at least half Maine  coon, gray striped

    Joe, beautiful flame point siamese

    Annie, who also looked like your newest addition. She came with that name.

    And Henry, a tuxedo who belonged to our middle child but came to live with us because she traveled so much that he was already spending half his time with us. He died last spring age 19, and since then Annie has been very clingy with us despite telling us at every turn how much she hated him. She’s 13 now.

  78. 78.

    Tenar Arha

    @Anne Laurie:

    @MagdaInBlack:

    That’s a very New England good idea. However his white toes and stripes and ear tufts remind me of Cotton. Could name him after Cotton Mather or Oneismus in honor of the new book So Very Small?

  80. 80.

    opiejeanne

    @eclare: I know that station! Thankfully we aren’t visiting England.

    The way I got to our hotel room from the taxi was by riding on a luggage cart. Yes, you could call me an old baggage, but lovingly ad with humor.

  81. 81.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @opiejeanne:

    I’m really sorry about your accident. Hope you heal thoroughly and fast, and as comfortably as possible.

    Your long list of cat names reminded me of our cat Dinah’s successive litters of two, three, and four kittens respectively, all named after Lewis Carroll words and characters.

    The first two were Jabberwocky and Jub-jub. The next three were Mimsey, Momerath, and Bandersnatch. And the final lot were Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.

  82. 82.

    opiejeanne

    @SiubhanDuinne: Thanks. The last time I was in Paris I tripped because someone had removed a single cobblestone, but I just scraped and bruised my knee. Walked away from that thanks to rubber ankles, but there’s a limit to how far those can twist. s

    Excellent cat names.

    I don’t know the origin of the name but in the movie,  “Bell, Book, and Candle” the “witch” had a cat named Piewacket.

  83. 83.

    Another Scott

    He looks like a little wise old man to me in that first shot.  His brown eyes are amazing.

    Hmm… WARNING – TImesink Alert! TVTropes.org – OldMaster / Literature:

    Kaa in The Jungle Book. The oldest creature in the jungle, Kaa offers sage advice to those who seek it, and painful, suffocating death to those who cross him. Or happen to be near him when he is hungry. He doesn’t discriminate that much.

    [ rofl! ]

    Have a great time, and good luck, together!

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  87. 87.

    Mel

    He is perfect!!!! Don’t worry about having a family name- our kitty  lad Leonard (second of his name) is named after my grandfather.

    Your sweet new baby reminds me so much of our handsome rescue kitty Fergus. He looks like he could definitely carry off a dashing, heroic name. Gawain? Fionn? Mukasa? Arthur? Roland? Ekeko?

  88. 88.

    RaflW

    I really like the name Felice. It has different gender sense in different countries and languages, but I gather that it’s equivalent to Felix in Italian (and more of a male name there).

    There was a complicated female character named Felice in the Swedish drama Young Royals, I quite liked how Swedes say Felice (I eschew dubbed Netflix, so bad! Plus I get to test my very poor Swedish).

    But whatever name finds it’s way, Tom, you seem to have attached yourselves to a delightful feline. How fortunate for all!

  90. 90.

    Mai Naem mobile

    Adorable kitten. Since your new book is about germs Alex(ander), Fleming, Xander. Also if you want some connection to Leo you could Augustine, August, Gus or Auggie.

  91. 91.

    Soprano2

    He’s so cute! I’ve seen the look in that last pic from my current gray tabby Lewis. He’s into everything! That one looks like he’ll be the same. Congrats on the new family member.

  92. 92.

    JCJ

    He looks so much like our cat my daughter named Cinerious

    Definition:

    (especially of hair or feathers) ash-gray

     

    The cat is called Cinna for short, but I often call him Cinerious Q Cat

  94. 94.

    Pauline

    Awww, he’s too adorable for words! He very much reminds me of our Captain Hook, so named because he had a bend at the end of his tail.

  97. 97.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    CUUUUUTEEEEEEZ!!!!!!

    Get him in with the other one asap to let them work out shit.

    We’ve had tons of adopted/rescued kittehs over the years back in Central Misery and getting kittens in with adults sooner rather than later, despite whatever early fireworks, works best in the long run.

  99. 99.

    hitchhiker

    Isaac. (could you stand to do that, lol?)

    or

    Tobias (because I think adult cats need 3-syllable names for times when they’re feeling elegant)

  107. 107.

    satby

    @opiejeanne: oh, rotten luck! If trip insurance will cover it and you would feel better at home, go home after you’ve at least had your waffles, fries, and chocolate! Or, if you think you can manage a less hectic, strenuous trip and want to try to soldier through, I hope you can. I’ll be keeping good thoughts for you.

  108. 108.

    Betty Cracker

    Sweet kitty! Mazel tov!

    Here’s another name suggestion to ignore. Since you’re calling him Increase for now, you could name him Increase Mather after the prominent Puritan clergyman (and father of Cotton Mather) and call him “Mather.” He is a New Englander, after all! 😸

  110. 110.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    Another name suggestion to ignore is Simba, meaning lion in Swahili. He is the cutest! I’m sure he and Champ will love each other after a short time. A male and female cat is a good combo with less social order disagreements than 2 females or 2 males (but of course they can work too). Congratulations!

  111. 111.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @opiejeanne: So sorry for your accident! I broke my right wrist a couple of years ago so do have lots of empathy and sympathy for your situation. I had to take sleeping pills the first two weeks in order to sleep, but all eventually healed.

  115. 115.

    lowtechcyclist

    Congrats on your new feline overlord, Tom! He’s absolutely adorable. How could anyone resist that kitty? Maybe you weren’t expecting to take in a new one so soon after Tikka’s passing, but when it’s right, it’s right.

  117. 117.

    lowtechcyclist

    @kindness: ​
     

    I figure I’ll bring the new guy home tomorrow. Hoping I can coax Lanie to get along as this kitty seems a whole lot more passive and nicer. I’m thinking of naming him Freddie. Why? Well after Fat Freddy’s cat (the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers/Zap Comix). And I’m not going to call him Fat Freddy’s Cat. Just Freddie.

    Congrats on the soon-to-be new member of your household! And I’m sure I’m far from the only one here who remembers the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and Fat Freddie’s Cat. Loved those comix, when I could get hold of them out in my ‘burb.

  118. 118.

    J.

    OMG. I am in love! What a cutie! I second Loki, and I cannot believe no one suggested Gandalf (the Grey), though I believe there is at least one Juicer with a cat with that name. Still, I think Gandalf would be a great name for your little boy. Or perhaps Trouble.

  119. 119.

    sab

    @J.: A front pager has or had a Gandalf.

    I hope he stays shorthaired. Catfur maintenance is a chore, work for humans, barfed up hairballs for cats.

  120. 120.

    DFH

    I’m so happy you found (or were found by!) a kitten. This Sunday morning I’m telling my three felines that we are here for a short time and it’s good to pay attention and love each other. They are all 8 years old this spring.

  121. 121.

    Bex

    If he seems to be inquisitive, you could name him Kyrylo after Ukraine’s spy chief.

  124. 124.

    Mike E

    I tend to call each cat I meet “Frisky” or kitty…every dog, Pup as in “wassup pup.” He looks like a Leo Messi to me with the soccer skills.

  125. 125.

    Chat Noir

    What a little beauty! I’m partial to human names for critters. He looks like a Norbie (short for Norbert) or maybe Albie (short for Albert).

    Mazel tov on the new little one!

  126. 126.

    Maxim

    Congratulations on your adorable new family member! Maybe Atticus … but whatever he tells you, I’m glad he’s taking charge, as all the best feline overlords do.

  127. 127.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @opiejeanne: moved by the story of all the kindness and care and help that showed up for you around  getting injured. It certainly changes the flavor of your trip..

    sorry for your injuries, and the pain and hassles it created, but glad for the amazing support.

  128. 128.

    Gloria DryGarden

    This kitten is so sweet, one could almost be simple (KISS) and call it Sweetie.

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