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“He’s Had This Name For A Decade?”: Sister Wants To Name Her Son, Freaks Out Over Family Cat
Owning a cat gives you a lifetime of joy, and most cat owners wouldn’t trade their felines for the world. In fact, recent studies have found that many people even think of their pets as children, and one in four cat owners sees their felines as children.
This person loved their cat, too, so when their sister asked them to rehome or rename their cat because she chose the same name for her baby, the sibling understandably refused. Even when the sister claimed she wouldn’t visit as long as the cat kept his name, the sibling didn’t give in to the manipulations.
RELATED:
A woman named her baby the same name as her sibling’s cat and asked them to rename or rehome the pet
Image credits: wirestock / freepik (not the actual photo)
“She can never be over at our house with a cat named after her son,” according to the sibling
Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: y_seleznev / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: gorgonzoila
A cat learns to recognize its name, just not as well as a dog would
To some, the cat owner’s stubbornness might seem misplaced. Cats don’t even know their names, whatever… But that’s probably what non-cat owners would say. True pet feline lovers know that a cat knows its name, perhaps just not as immediately as a dog does.
This fact is backed up by scientific research. A 2019 study conducted in Japanese cat cafés showed that cats react to their names being called by owners and even by strangers. The researchers theorize that cats learn to associate the sound of their names with rewards like petting, yummy snacks, and food.
It’s not just their names that cats are reacting to, either. Most felines can expertly tell their owners’ voices apart from strangers. In a 2013 study, cats reacted to their owners’ voices by tilting their heads and directing their gaze at their owners. Strangers, in turn, were ignored.
Some researchers even suggest that cats are able to understand certain words. Veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta, DACVB, told PetMD that some cats associate words like “dinner” and “treat” with food. For that reason, she also doesn’t recommend picking a name that sounds like a possible stressor, like “vet,” “car,” or “carrier.”
Other experts suggest that two-syllable names are best for cats and are the easiest to understand. Some breeds are also able to recognize names more easily than others. Maine Coons, Siamese, and Abyssinian cats are said to show a clearer response to being called than other breeds.
Image credits: Super Tseng / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Experts say that it’s possible to change a cat’s name, but it might take some time for them to get used to it
Changing a cat’s name would understandably confuse them, at least for some time. Still, most experts agree that there’s nothing life-changingly dramatic about changing a cat’s name. In fact, many owners do so after they adopt a cat from a shelter or find one who had previous owners on the streets.
As pet behaviorist Dr. Kersti Seksel told Australia’s ABC News, a name change likely won’t cause a cat to have an identity crisis. “Most people have nicknames for their animals and the animals respond,” she explained. “I think it’s our tone of voice, our body language, what we do using gestures with our hands, the way we smile at them. I think they respond to that just as much as their name.”
Aimee Gilbreath, the executive director of the Los Angeles-based Michelson Found Animals Foundation, says that many new cat owners change their pets’ names after adopting them, especially when they’re still kittens.
However, she’s also not against renaming pets after they’ve become adults. If you dislike the name, change it, is Gilbreath’s opinion. “If the name is going to interfere with your relationship with the pet then by all means rename it.”
Still, owners should be aware that the transitional period will be confusing for the cat. Patience, persistence, and positive reinforcement are the best strategies in this case. At the end of the day, cats get used to the sound of their name more than the name itself. So, using a positive tone and pitch, treats and playtime, and avoiding punishment are key. It may take days, but it may also take weeks or months for the cat to learn their new name.
Most commenters sided with the cat owner, saying that it’s ridiculous to rename an 11-year-old cat in this situation: “Rehome the sister”
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What do you think ?
moggiemoo 4 days ago
Tell sister to f**k off and, any time she sees her nephew, call him catboy.
The Other Guest 4 days ago
Or "Human Dio" just to clarify that she's not talking to/about the cat.
Load More Replies...
Beak Hookage 4 days ago
Mio dio, the woman's out of her mind! Well and obviously this is just a really stupid power-play to absolutely no purpose. I laughed at the "Dio's Domicile" comment.
Binky Melnik 4 days ago (edited)
If I went after everyone who called their cat or dog or pacifier “Binky,” it’d have been at less a part-time job. Now that I think about it, I frequently mishear “thanks,” “Cindy,” and “think” as my name and my head whips around. Henceforth, no one may say “thanks,” “Cindy,” or “think” because it’s too confusing for this old lady, and I’m gonna sue every single аsshole who says any of them out loud! What on earth is wrong with people who feel they own a name and that no one else can use it? Have they never met Bob Jr, Bob III, or Bob IV? Have they never met Trey? Lotsa people use the same name on PURPOSE, which is why there are so many dogs and cats named after me, as they’re honoring me, obviously! If I ever hear of a family member making such an idiotic request, they’ll automatically be dеad to me, as I don’t want anyone knowing I share genes with such a nimrod!
Load More Replies...
Littlemiss 4 days ago
My brother wanted to name me Cindy after someone's dog. I think I'd have been a good Cindy.
Load More Replies...
Kelly Scott 4 days ago
"Researchers suggest cats can learn certain words"? I ask my cat if he wants to go out and he runs to the door. I ask him if he wants to take a walk and he runs down the driveway in front of me. I ask him if he's hungry and he goes to where I feed him his wet cat food. I ask him if he wants a treat and his ears go up like a dog's. I ask him if he wants to be pet and he comes over and starts kneading. I ask him if he wants to come next door (I water the lawn of my neighbors in summer when they're gone and he loves going over there when their dogs aren't there) and he runs up their driveway. He knows his name (even if he doesn't always respond to it), knows the sound of my car engine, knows the sound of my walker on the driveway. Cats can be d**n smart along with being d**n independent.
JB 4 days ago (edited)
It gets better! I ‘trained’ one of my late girls to come give me a nose boop kiss whenever she wanted something. In response, I would stand up, say, “show me” and she’d head off to whatever she wanted. Food… stand next to food bowl, cleaner litter box required… she’d stand next to that, wants to go outside… stand next to the specific door to go out. ‘Trained’ is in quotes as I’m not entirely certain who trained whom. See, I wanted kisses, which she wasn’t fully onboard with at first but after mere weeks of rewarding the behaviour I wanted by giving treats that I kept on hand, she upped the ante by ignoring the proffered treat to sit at my feet staring intently. Confused, I stood up and said, “What? Show me”. Off she trotted to the back door (enclosed yard before the North Americans start hyperventilating) and sat there expectantly. Within short order, she entirely stopped any form of verbal communication while sitting next to whatever she wanted, sometimes I ignored it. Oh, no! She had figured out that by offering me the treat of a kiss, I felt obliged to repay her kindness by doing what she wanted.
Load More Replies...
Zoe Vokes 4 days ago
Why can’t they have the same name? It’s not the end of the world. Call them cat Dio and human Dio. Sister is going to be very upset if they meet another person or family member called Dio.
Binky Melnik 4 days ago (edited)
I think Dio’s mom needs to conspire with a few friends and coworkers to pretend that their names are “Dio,” and invite them over when she’s expecting the аsshole and then the passel of Dios needs to keep using the name over and over.”Dio, would you please pass me the Grey Poupon?” “But of course, Dio! Hey, Dio: I love your new deck shoes!” “Why thank you, Dio! Hey! Is that the kid who was named after me?” “He wasn’t named after YOU, Dio, but rather Dio!” “No, he wasn’t; he was obviously named after me!” And I’d make sure it kept up until mommy аsshole ran from the room in hysterics, grabbing Baby Dio and running to the courthouse to change his name to Hamilton Throckmorton. (I didn’t make that up; I usta know someone named that. He was a Junior, too.)
Load More Replies...
Cpt. Christan "Panda Bombero" 4 days ago
Sister, her donor boyfriend, and donor boyfriend's intrusive friend, can all just SIERRA-TANGO-FOXTROT-UNIFORM, GOLF-FOXTROT-YANKEE, KILO-MIKE-ALPHA, and go pound sand. The lot of them wackadoodle muck fuppets.
Robyn Hill 4 days ago
Demanding she rename the cat is bad enough, but ALREADY FINDING A HOME FOR IT and demanding it be re-homed if not renamed? That’s psychotic. Sister would no longer be welcome at my house after that.
KatSaidThat 20 hours ago
Tell your sister, the baby daddy and his entire family to f**k right off.
Laura Lawson 3 days ago
Bindi Irwin was named after her father's favourite dog & she's done pretty well for herself!!
Chris the Bobcat 3 days ago
Dio means ‘God’ in Italian. Sis is aiming a bit too high. But as cats were once worshipped as gods (and never forgot this), the name is entirely fitting.
Paul Rabit 3 days ago
I swear some of the things people feel the need to ask AITA.... You couldn't have figured this out on your own?
Alli Marston 4 days ago
I kinda lived this! My bro and his pregnant wife came to visit just after I had my kid. She was about 6 months, and we asked if they had picked out any names. They didn't want to tell us; said people were making fun of it. But they caved and finally told. I looked at them and said "You know, that's the name of my cat." No, wasn't making fun of them; it WAS the name of my cat. Fortunately she wasn't so insane as to insist I change my cat's name. They did drop the subject quickly tho LOL
Crystalwitch60 4 days ago
Hilarious totally , sister is taking pregnancy brain to a whole new level , n op has me wanting to go visit ,she rescues my all time fave non breed cos they aren’t a breed , that is a pitbull ❤️❤️❤️pretty sure they would have something to say if anyone tried to take em , I’d have taken the p I s s outta the sister n say why you wanna name your kids after a PIZZA 🤦♀️,I’d love an update, hope the sister had a girl 😂
Upstaged75 4 days ago
I hope you finally stop posting here you ridiculous illiterate psycho.
Load More Replies...
moggiemoo 4 days ago
Tell sister to f**k off and, any time she sees her nephew, call him catboy.
The Other Guest 4 days ago
Or "Human Dio" just to clarify that she's not talking to/about the cat.
Load More Replies... Beak Hookage 4 days ago
Mio dio, the woman's out of her mind! Well and obviously this is just a really stupid power-play to absolutely no purpose. I laughed at the "Dio's Domicile" comment.
Binky Melnik 4 days ago (edited)
If I went after everyone who called their cat or dog or pacifier “Binky,” it’d have been at less a part-time job. Now that I think about it, I frequently mishear “thanks,” “Cindy,” and “think” as my name and my head whips around. Henceforth, no one may say “thanks,” “Cindy,” or “think” because it’s too confusing for this old lady, and I’m gonna sue every single аsshole who says any of them out loud! What on earth is wrong with people who feel they own a name and that no one else can use it? Have they never met Bob Jr, Bob III, or Bob IV? Have they never met Trey? Lotsa people use the same name on PURPOSE, which is why there are so many dogs and cats named after me, as they’re honoring me, obviously! If I ever hear of a family member making such an idiotic request, they’ll automatically be dеad to me, as I don’t want anyone knowing I share genes with such a nimrod!
Load More Replies... Littlemiss 4 days ago
My brother wanted to name me Cindy after someone's dog. I think I'd have been a good Cindy.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 4 days ago
"Researchers suggest cats can learn certain words"? I ask my cat if he wants to go out and he runs to the door. I ask him if he wants to take a walk and he runs down the driveway in front of me. I ask him if he's hungry and he goes to where I feed him his wet cat food. I ask him if he wants a treat and his ears go up like a dog's. I ask him if he wants to be pet and he comes over and starts kneading. I ask him if he wants to come next door (I water the lawn of my neighbors in summer when they're gone and he loves going over there when their dogs aren't there) and he runs up their driveway. He knows his name (even if he doesn't always respond to it), knows the sound of my car engine, knows the sound of my walker on the driveway. Cats can be d**n smart along with being d**n independent.
JB 4 days ago (edited)
It gets better! I ‘trained’ one of my late girls to come give me a nose boop kiss whenever she wanted something. In response, I would stand up, say, “show me” and she’d head off to whatever she wanted. Food… stand next to food bowl, cleaner litter box required… she’d stand next to that, wants to go outside… stand next to the specific door to go out. ‘Trained’ is in quotes as I’m not entirely certain who trained whom. See, I wanted kisses, which she wasn’t fully onboard with at first but after mere weeks of rewarding the behaviour I wanted by giving treats that I kept on hand, she upped the ante by ignoring the proffered treat to sit at my feet staring intently. Confused, I stood up and said, “What? Show me”. Off she trotted to the back door (enclosed yard before the North Americans start hyperventilating) and sat there expectantly. Within short order, she entirely stopped any form of verbal communication while sitting next to whatever she wanted, sometimes I ignored it. Oh, no! She had figured out that by offering me the treat of a kiss, I felt obliged to repay her kindness by doing what she wanted.
Load More Replies... Zoe Vokes 4 days ago
Why can’t they have the same name? It’s not the end of the world. Call them cat Dio and human Dio. Sister is going to be very upset if they meet another person or family member called Dio.
Binky Melnik 4 days ago (edited)
I think Dio’s mom needs to conspire with a few friends and coworkers to pretend that their names are “Dio,” and invite them over when she’s expecting the аsshole and then the passel of Dios needs to keep using the name over and over.”Dio, would you please pass me the Grey Poupon?” “But of course, Dio! Hey, Dio: I love your new deck shoes!” “Why thank you, Dio! Hey! Is that the kid who was named after me?” “He wasn’t named after YOU, Dio, but rather Dio!” “No, he wasn’t; he was obviously named after me!” And I’d make sure it kept up until mommy аsshole ran from the room in hysterics, grabbing Baby Dio and running to the courthouse to change his name to Hamilton Throckmorton. (I didn’t make that up; I usta know someone named that. He was a Junior, too.)
Load More Replies... Cpt. Christan "Panda Bombero" 4 days ago
Sister, her donor boyfriend, and donor boyfriend's intrusive friend, can all just SIERRA-TANGO-FOXTROT-UNIFORM, GOLF-FOXTROT-YANKEE, KILO-MIKE-ALPHA, and go pound sand. The lot of them wackadoodle muck fuppets.
Robyn Hill 4 days ago
Demanding she rename the cat is bad enough, but ALREADY FINDING A HOME FOR IT and demanding it be re-homed if not renamed? That’s psychotic. Sister would no longer be welcome at my house after that.
KatSaidThat 20 hours ago
Tell your sister, the baby daddy and his entire family to f**k right off.
Laura Lawson 3 days ago
Bindi Irwin was named after her father's favourite dog & she's done pretty well for herself!!
Chris the Bobcat 3 days ago
Dio means ‘God’ in Italian. Sis is aiming a bit too high. But as cats were once worshipped as gods (and never forgot this), the name is entirely fitting.
Paul Rabit 3 days ago
I swear some of the things people feel the need to ask AITA.... You couldn't have figured this out on your own?
Alli Marston 4 days ago
I kinda lived this! My bro and his pregnant wife came to visit just after I had my kid. She was about 6 months, and we asked if they had picked out any names. They didn't want to tell us; said people were making fun of it. But they caved and finally told. I looked at them and said "You know, that's the name of my cat." No, wasn't making fun of them; it WAS the name of my cat. Fortunately she wasn't so insane as to insist I change my cat's name. They did drop the subject quickly tho LOL
Crystalwitch60 4 days ago
Hilarious totally , sister is taking pregnancy brain to a whole new level , n op has me wanting to go visit ,she rescues my all time fave non breed cos they aren’t a breed , that is a pitbull ❤️❤️❤️pretty sure they would have something to say if anyone tried to take em , I’d have taken the p I s s outta the sister n say why you wanna name your kids after a PIZZA 🤦♀️,I’d love an update, hope the sister had a girl 😂
Upstaged75 4 days ago
I hope you finally stop posting here you ridiculous illiterate psycho.
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