(no subject)

[some_stars]

Do cats carry an otherwise-symptomless disease that makes you unable to use their actual names? I swear I used to actually call him "Rupert" out loud, many years ago, and also I feel like "dollface" is a semi-recent acquisition, so clearly the condition is worsening. (However, "Mr. Cat" is simply a term of respect.) (I don't know where "sugarbutt" came from.)

Comments

[sohotrightnow]

You may be onto something here. Cats do seem to collect nicknames impressively, don't they? Mine are Fatty Cat and Tiny Cat, which actually line up well with their actual names, Fry and Tonks. Fry's nicknames are often variations on "Fry", however (Fry-Face, Fry-Fry, and Fry-Man), so maybe he doesn't have as advanced a case. Tonks is also frequently Baby (or more accurately, BAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYYYYYY) and Miss Nymphadora. Just as data points.

in conclusion, CATS.

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[needled_ink_1975]

Hi

I know whereof you speak:

Actual name– Sox.
Aka...
~ Sox-cat/Sox-man
~ The Man
~ Woxl
~ Moxie
~ Lord Moxie
~ Lord Muck-on-Toast (when he's in a mood)
~ Kiss-cat (cos he kisses, a lot)
~ Felis Alleycattus Superbus (what our vet calls him [usually accompanied by threats to steal him])
~ ...some I forget

...and most recently, he's been called Old Man, cos he's getting along (nearly 13).

But the 'symptomless disease' is not restricted to felids. I won't list the dog's several names. Thing is, Sox is seven years older than Badger, so perhaps the disease is communicable...

–Nic

[derryderrydown]

This would explain a lot.

[lilacsigil]

Missy, Mister Blister, Mr B and Helper Cat (aka Aeon, the late Ajax, Baggins and Chewbacca) would think so!

[brooms]

aw, my cat doesn't have this one. his name is orion and i've been calling him just orion for 15 years.

[petra]

I have never had a cat who was consistently referred to by their given name. Never. Fuzzbutt Furface, that kind of thing, but not Actual Name very often.

[vass]

I'm able to call Beatrice by her proper name, which is the only thing she answers to, but she also gets called B, BB, Bea, Beast, Catface, and Princess, among other pet names. Biterice when she bites me. Also I find myself saying things like "You seem to be a cat!" and "There's a cat on my lap. Beatrice, do you know anything about that?" and so on. Also I regularly try to eat her. She doesn't see to mind.

[phosfate]

I recently met a cat called Lindor. In the three days we shared a house, I addressed him as Furball, Pinhead, Captain Hissy, Mr Hiss, Jerko, What Is Your Damn Problem, Gorgeous, Dickweed, and Hey.

As a corollary, all squirrels are called Kenny. Try it.

[lizbee]

Yes! Technically, our cat is Harvey S. Bumblehud Esq, but he's also known as:

- Nomcat
- Fatty
- Pooh-head
- Mr Prettyface
- The Lion of Lannister
- Smellyface
- The Jerk

[azurelunatic]

My most catlike hen, CoCoCo, had that. She was such an excellent old girl.

[pearwaldorf]

It is totally a cat thing. I come in contact with a lot of dogs at work and I never feel the impulse to call them anything other than their names. Zoey is variously referred to as:

Zozo
Admiral/Captain Fuzzypants
Booga
Old Lady (because she is 12 at this point)