We often hear about crazy names people give to their babies, or names they were gifted by their very creative parents. But it turns out that pets too can have names that lift eyebrows—if not of their fellow animals, then surely their vets’. Well, according to this viral Twitter thread, at least.

It all started when Brittany Means, a writer and editor from Albuquerque, NM, shared this tweet: “One of my greatest joys in life is when Jeff calls the vet to make an appointment and they ask for his name, and he says, Jeff. Then, they ask for our cat's name, and I watch him gather his strength before he tells them, Baby Jeff.”

This hit all too close to home to many pet owners out there who took the thread as an opportunity to share the ensued hilarity behind their furballs’ names. Especially when it’s time for a vet’s appointment.

Bored Panda spoke with Molly DeVoss, a certified feline training and behavior specialist with a vision to reduce the number of cats euthanized in shelters, who runs the Cat Behavior Solutions agency. We asked Molly how important, in her opinion, the name we give to our cat is and she said that a cat’s name is more important to you than others.

“So pick something you love – or something that makes you giggle,” Molly suggested. She also added that the cat doesn’t speak English so he has no idea of the meaning behind his name. “Cats will learn their names fairly quickly and it is an opportunity for you to get their attention on cue.”

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Junebugjump!
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my heavens. I wish my cats loved each other like this.

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For those who are wondering if cats actually recognize their names, and Molly confirmed that cats indeed do recognize them. For that reason, “if you ever decide to change it, try to pick something that has the same number of syllables and ends in the same sound,” the cat behavior specialist explained.

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ERIN W.
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother had a kitten wonder up that he kept and named him "Thomas Jesus Rodriguez"! 😀

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Moreover, cat names, just like human names, have their trends. “I see cat names trending with popular movie characters, TV shows and heartthrobs. Timon and Pumba (the warthog and meerkat) from Lion King are cute for siblings,” Molly told us.

“Working with a lot of shelter cats, I see a lot of names – and have the opportunity to name a lot of cats. Food themes are popular; we have candy cats with names like Skittles, Jelly Bean, and Pez. I typically adopt red cats and name them in a spicy theme: Tabasco, Salsa, and Pico de Gato.”

When it comes to the names you don’t want to give your furball, Molly reminds everyone to not name their cat anything that might offend someone else. “Name your cat something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside,” she concluded.

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glowworm2
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it’s because it’s a perfect name for a ginger cat.

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Junebugjump!
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen (and most are lovely!)!

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#18

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glowworm2
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my gosh, she’s adorable. I love her big green eyes.

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#22

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Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son has a cat named Frank Sinatra. But he's Siamese with blue eyes and we call him old blue eyes!

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glowworm2
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“It’s time for God’s checkup and Satan needs to be neutered.”

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Joolee
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep, gotta check for the microchip. I've lost my Murray cat and I wish whoever has him would check. My heart is broken.

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J. Grey
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tortis and calicos are as talkative as they are adorable❤️

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#48

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LinkTheHylian
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fattie Harris was a footballer. Not as famous as Fatty Foulke, but he was a solid 'keeper in his own right.

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#49

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Michaela
Community Member
1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why I hyphenate my cats last names.

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