Friday 28 August 2009

The naming of cats is a difficult matter.

So far Napoleon and Josephine, Plato or Zeus for him, Davina for her or maybe Aphrodite and Apollo? She's the one with the ticked coat, he's with the spots. I can't write more, he's all over the keyboard..... but see the TS Elliot verse at the bottom.





Pepper Cory found this for me
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.
T S Elliot

8 comments:

  1. Looks like the pair of them are settling in well! Choosing two names at the same time... we didn't have that problem, as ours are mum & son. What are their personalities like? We gave all the kittens descriptive baby names for their first few weeks - Takenoko was originally Pink Paws.

    Good luck with the naming of cats!

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  2. oh your cats are very cute
    here are 2 names for you King Solomon and Queen Sheba
    to royal names for 2 special babies
    hugs Beth

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  3. I had a similar problem about a month and half ago. I posted it on my blog and asked the readers for their opinion for a name. Lots of responses and some terrific names. In the end our newest kitten ended up with a name that no one had thought of except my daughter. His new name is Pavi. So have now fear, a name will come.

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  4. they are adorable Sally. Take your time, get to know their little personalities...they will tell you their names if you listen.

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  5. Oh Sally - I am so glad you have decided to have two cats - they are so much more fun than one. Names? we had no trouble finding a name for one of our cats - he was only 4 weeks old when he came to us and my DH said he wasn't a cat yet - he was only 'arf-a-cat' so he became known as Arfur!

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