So I’ve noticed a lot of people seem to rename their cats after adopting them…
For example, if a shelter lists a cat as “Opal,” someone might adopt it and rename it “Mittens” because they like that name better. I’m wondering if that’s normal and if it might confuse the cat?
I’ve seen cats with names I’d probably never choose, but I feel like it might throw them off if you just start calling Opal something else like Mittens. Thoughts?
Shelters often just pick random names unless the cat came with one. I renamed mine to what his foster parent was calling him, as the shelter name was from a book I don’t like.
Cats usually don’t mind. Mine answers to a bunch of nicknames anyway!
It’s a bit different if the cat had a long-term name or if it’s just a random one the shelter gave them. If I adopted an older cat, I’d probably keep their name or choose something that sounds similar. But for kittens, I don’t mind changing their shelter names at all.
@Vance
Older cats don’t care about name changes. I adopted a senior cat named “Yoda” and changed it to Frank. He was fine with it and lived another decade as Frank!
Bennet said: @Vance
Older cats don’t care about name changes. I adopted a senior cat named “Yoda” and changed it to Frank. He was fine with it and lived another decade as Frank!
Yep, I adopted a 15-year-old cat the shelter called Almond, and I changed it to Lucy. She was just as responsive to her new name, especially when food was involved.
Bennet said: @Vance
Older cats don’t care about name changes. I adopted a senior cat named “Yoda” and changed it to Frank. He was fine with it and lived another decade as Frank!
Cats probably don’t see names as their identity, more like a signal we use. So a new home, new name seems totally fine to them.
Completely normal. Shelters often pick random names, especially if the animals come in nameless.
My guinea pig had three names before I adopted him! He went through “Splat,” “Spot,” and “Bubbles” in just six months. I settled on Theodore, and that was his name for the next ten years.
My pets have like 47 names anyway. My cat’s formal name is Minerva, but she also goes by Mini, Floof, Bigfoot, and several others. They catch on eventually!