Has anyone adopted a pet & then changed the pet's name?

[youcansmellit]

When I was 15 we got a cat named Joey. That was the name of an old boyfriend of my mothers so I changed the name to Cow. its a cat, its not like you call them and they come running. To them their name is " here kitty" or the sound of the cat food opening.

 

[TaraPA]

I'm SO glad to read all these positive responses!!! Our current cat is 13 & totally responds to her name, so I was worried that changing the new cat's name would be a problem. Sounds like it won't make a difference - so now we can debate what we want to re-name her!

 

[AKL_Megs]

When we adopted our old dog, he was named Dipsy. Why you would name ANYTHING that is beyond me.

He was quickly renamed Cooper.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

When I was 15 we got a cat named Joey. That was the name of an old boyfriend of my mothers so I changed the name to Cow. its a cat, its not like you call them and they come running. To them their name is " here kitty" or the sound of the cat food opening.

I've had my cat Smokey for nine years and I don't believe she knows her name. She was a stray when we adopted her and my niece named her. My dog, on the other hand, truly believes our cat's name is "Our Cat" because I constantly tell him not to bark at "our cat"! When I mention our cat, he starts looking for her.

 

[Clio]

I've got 3 cats and they all know their names. Guido , yes Guido came from the Humane Society and we could never think of a better name for him. Midnight was given to my daughter by her boyfriend. Lastly, Bandit who's name used to be Coffee but we didn't like it so we changed it. We only call them by their names and never kitty. Theat's probably why they learned their names. My Mom has a cat named K.C. but she only calls her kitty so she thinks her name is kitty.
Liz

 

[courtneylauren]

Yep. We changed our cat's name (a girl) from Charlie to Thumper (gotta be Disney!)
Who names a girl Charlie?!?

 

[mking624]

We adopted our dog from the local humane society. She had been named "Bunny" by the previous owners, but she never really responded to it (she was a few years old when we got her). We changed her name to Jiko.

 

[maelstrom]

My cat's name was Alex at the shelter and at her foster home. When we adopted her, we changed her name to Chloe. She was just a kitten and I don't think she minded. She definitely knows now that her name is Chloe.

 

[Kit'smommy]

We adopted a former show kitty (silver Maine Coon) named Sterling. DH renamed him Samwise and DS has called him cat-kitty since he learned to talk. Sam comes when we call him either name or rattle the food bag, so he isn't picky about what we call him.

 

[maelstrom]

We adopted a former show kitty (silver Maine Coon) named Sterling.

Beautiful! I used to have a Maine Coon named Toby. My aunt also has a Maine Coon named Lynx.

My Chloe is an Egyptian Mau mix.

 

[Kath2003]

We changed both our cats' names when we got them as kittens. One was named after one of the boys from HSM One of them knows his name but the other still has no clue.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I picked something that was similar
1. dog named Stella became Bella which was eventually Belle
2. dog named Lily we changed to Emily as we already had a Lily
3. dog named Ozzie became Disney

 

[maxiesmom]

My Lab Emma was named Nessa when we adopted her. I didn't care for that, so she became Emma. She had no problem adjusting to her new name, as it is so similar to her old one.

 

[GraysMom]

Can't wait to see pictures Tara! We'll have to stop in YC and visit one of these days. I haven't seen you in ages.

 

[youcansmellit]

I've had my cat Smokey for nine years and I don't believe she knows her name. She was a stray when we adopted her and my niece named her. My dog, on the other hand, truly believes our cat's name is "Our Cat" because I constantly tell him not to bark at "our cat"! When I mention our cat, he starts looking for her.

"Our Cat" is a great name for a cat. It almost makes we want to get a cat, But I had "Cow" for about 16 years. That was enough cats for me.

 

[jrmasm]

3 of my 4 dogs are rescues. We changed all their names.

At least with dogs, if you never call them by their old name making a change is easy.

 

[Luvchefmic]

This is going to sound sooo ridiculous you will think I'm making it up But I promise you it is true. Years ago when I was with a Pointer Rescue group a rep. from pitbull rescue called me frantically telling me that a Pointer was in a town shelter and was on the "short list". We had to get him out of there
F A S T Well I call the director assure him (sight unseen) that I will come for him and PLEASE hold him. It was extremely rare to have a Pointer in that area so I doubted it but went anyway...it was near Christmas .. would could we do? Going over the paperwork the file reads dogs name "Over There" at 1st I didn't get it....Over There....the Director tells me, "Well he's a Pointer isn't he ??" Can you imagine????

Well long story short. he became "Rudy" on the long trip from NY to CT to a foster home and then the final forever family kept his name because they loved the story...I named him that for the Christmas song Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer because he kept "smiling" in the car when the song came on

The family keeps in touch with updated pics all the time

 

[Robinrs]

I've changed the names of all of my cats except the last two. Probably because their names MATCHED them so well.

My boy cat's name was Sydney... SYDNEY??? It didn't match him at all. I changed it to Max and he was two years old! He's been Max for 8 years now.

One of my girl's name was Merrie Ann... ugh. Didn't match her at all. I changed it to Aaliyah after the singer since she got her on the week she died.

 

[Deb in IA]

We adopted our cat from the shelter. He was known as "Jerry Lee" there.

He was a runaway, since he came in with a rhinestone collar - but no one knew what his name was at his former home.

We call him "Buddy" now. But I'm not sure he reponds to any of his names - he's a cat, you know.

 

[Pakey]

My male Crested came with the name, Anakan Skywalker. No way, sorry. Not happening. We call him Andy.

My female Crested came with the name Paris Hairless Hilton and we love that name so kept it.