What is the difference between fur and hair? What is hair?
What is fur?
Basically, the words hair and fur can be used interchangeably: both are comprised of keratin, a protein that also forms horns, nails, quills, claws, hooves and feathers. But why mammals, like cats, have fur while humans have hair, partly because fur covers the entire body, and hair doesn’t. So, cat hair gets on our clothes, and is from the fur on our cats.
Guard hairs comprise the outer coat. According to The Montana Trappers Association, these are long hairs that protect the skin from harmful UV rays and moisture. It’s also the main source of color, and patterns for those cats that have them.
Awn hair
The middle layer of fur is the awn hair. It’s thicker and usually shorter than guard hair. It displays less of the cat’s coat color and it protects the undercoat.
Down hair or undercoat
This layer is soft and barely visible. The down hair is closest to their skin and helps keep our cats warm by trapping heat. Breeds like the Sphynx cat has a single layer of down hair, which is why their fur is actually referred to as hair. If your cat’s fur gets matted, it’s this layer that does it and is often caused by insufficient brushing.
Whiskers, or Vibrissae
Whiskers are specialized hairs, found not only on both sides of a cat’s nose, but above their eyes, and even some on their lower legs. Whiskers have nerve endings as sensitive as our fingertips, enabling them to sense the width of an opening or passage. They also help them navigate in darkness.
And hair?
That’s what we have, and it’s a single layer. Although tiny hairs may cover our bodies, and patches of hair are prominent in specific areas, it’s all still a single layer. There’s nothing complicated or sensitive about our hair. We just don’t like loosing it on our heads.
Traveling with cats usually involves a cat carrier. If flying, as far as my kitty care is aware, all airlines require a soft carrier that can fit under the seat in front of you.
Sometimes cats may not completely pee on the pad, always unintentionally (we assume) so some pee may get on the carrier. The tell-tale smell will let you know if that happens. So what’s the best way of cleaning your cat carrier?
Use dish liquid
Use vinegar. It works!
Don’t use ammonia, because cat pee has a similar scent and will encourage your cat to pee in that spot.
My Kitty Care soaked the carrier, bottom tray and blanket in dish liquid and vinegar overnight. The smell is gone!
A little reminder: each airline has specifications about the size of your cat’s carrier, so always check with the airline you and your cat are flying with.
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
The holidays are a great time to share good food, cheer, laughter and Christmas cat movies with family, friends and cats. Although many Christmas movies are targeted for kids, not all are.
A Gift from Bob, 2021 (1 hr. 32 mins.)
also known as A Christmas Gift from Bob, is a British Christmas biographical drama film.
the synopsis Christmas gifts come in all shapes and sizes. For James (Luke Treadaway), a struggling street musician, a very special one arrives in the form of Bob, a strong-willed stray cat who wanders into James’s tiny flat. Bob enriches James’s life, giving him companionship, purpose, and a large, new audience. When Animal Welfare officers threaten to take Bob, the local community rallies to help James and Bob — sparking a journey that takes the pair to places they never imagined in this heartwarming, spirit-lifting movie for the whole family. from Rotten Tomatoes
Batman Returns, 1992 (2hrs. 6 mins.)
Batman Returns occurs during Gotham City’s Christmas celebration
the synopsis Directed by Tim Burton (Edward Scissor Hands, Beetlejuice, Charlie and the Chocolate Factor, with Johnny Depp). Batman Returns is a the popular superhero (Michael Keaton as Batman) in action, during the Christmas season in Gotham City. The creation of Catwoman (Michelle Pfeifffer) is depicted, and hence, cats are in the movie, too. This Batman is played by Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito as the Penguin, and villain wealthy businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) who considers himself The Santa Claus of Gotham. But Santa Shreck intends to take over the city. With MAX subscription.
Santa Claws, released December, 2015 (1 hr. 26 mins.)
Best for little, little kids: sparkling Christmas, adorable kittens and THEY TALK!
the synopsis Tommy, who is unable to celebrate Christmas because his mom says Santa isn’t real, leaves his kittens out for Santa to take back to the North Pole, but after a major allergic reaction Santa can’t fly the sleigh or deliver presents anymore, so the kittens have to deliver the rest of the presents to all the boys and girls before sunrise.
The Nine Lives of Christmas, The Hallmark Channel December 26, 8/7 pm
Christmas, hunky firefighter, romance and a stray cat…what could possibly happen?
the synopsis Zachary Stone (Brandon Routh/Superman) is a firefighter who’s life changes when he takes in a stray cat. Then he meets Marilee, a veterinary student who shows him how to take care of Ambrose, his new cat. Ambrose shows Zachary that companionship has its pluses as a relationship develops between Marilee and Zachary. Maybe, now, Zachary’s ready for commitment.
Based on the book by Florence McNicoll
Finally, My Kitty Care suggests The Aristocats, released December 24, 1970. The Disney movie has nothing in its story involving Christmas, but it’s included because many, many years ago, on Christmas Eve it was aired. Embedded in that memory is a crackling fire, red stockings hanging from the fireplace mantle, and a 6 foot tree decorated with lights, tinsel and ornaments prized as family heirlooms. When the Aristocats ended, embers in the fireplace glowed orange, and the scent of pine filled the room.
The synopsis: When a retired opera singer leaves her inheritance to her cat, Duchess (Eva Gabor), and three kittens, the woman’s butler drugs the cats and abandons them in the countryside in order to inherit the fortune himself. Lost in unfamiliar territory, Duchess and the kittens meet Thomas O’Malley (Phil Harris), an alley cat willing to help them return to their home in Paris. They meet several kooky characters along the way, including two English geese and an alley cat jazz band.
Whatever you do this time of year, Happy Holidays!
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
As much fun traveling is, or if your must travel for business or other reasons and can’t bring your cat, it’s a dilemma for cat parents. Even if you have a trusted cat sitter, there might be a time when they aren’t available. So then what?
a luxury cat hotel?
Cat boarding is an option for some and My Kitty Care researched cat boarding in 2015. Since then, there’s a new option: a luxury cat hotel. At this time, November 2023, the lone business claiming to be a luxury hotel for cats exists in Irvine, CA.
Club Cat is the name, and luxury hotels and resorts are the models. The difference between traditional boarding and a luxury cat hotel, beside the cost, are amenities.
Programs that cats like (which are not specified)
Webcams for cat parents to view their cat(s) 24/7
“CatChats” a cat parent’s opportunity to talk with their kitty.
The cats rooms are 8’ high and a minimum of 3.5’ wide, complete with enclosed balconies. They’re decorated with “whimsical cat portraiture” (that means?)
The Cat Club was opened by Shana Martin who hopes to franchise the business. Whether that happens or not, traveling cat parents who must leave their cat(s) behind want options.
If anyone has boarded their cat, or put them up in Club Cat, the luxury cat hotel, please let us know how it went. We always want the best for our cats, and having quality care in our absence can be particularly challenging.
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
This book Starter Villain, didn’t get my attention because of it’s prolific author, or that it’s sci-fi (not my favorite genre) but because — surprise, surprise, it features cats.
Starter Villain
In fact, cats are described as”hyper-intelligent, talking spy cats.”
“A light-hearted story with a likable fish-out-of-water protagonist and a lot of very smart cats.”
Rebecca Roanhorse, REview in Goodreads
Who could possibly resist such a premise?
The author is John Scalzi, who might be familiar to those who do have a steady diet of sci-fi. Mr. Scalzi is known for a series, Old Man’s War, debuted in 2005 which was a finalist for the Hugo Award, a sci-fi award presented annually since 1955.
If you want to delay the end of summer, this fun, beach-lounging book, Starter Villain might be a good read. To be released this month (September, 2023).
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
Bear was the sweetest cat ever. No, really. I know most will say that about their cats, but she really was. When she died of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) our hearts broke.
The fear of our other cats getting CKD has since haunted us.
This encouraged My Kitty Care to continuosly learn about Chronic Kidney Disease in cats and what NOT to do. The recent suggestions to help prevent CKD by cat-only veterinarian and nutrition expert Dr. Lisa Pierson, caught our attention. It fundamentally focused on two things:
Generally speaking, a good diet is desirable for maintaining a healthy cat. No different than us. But what is a healthy diet for a cat, particularly for helping prevent CKD? The main thing is to Limit dry food.
The reason is this, dry food is…dry. Wild cats get their moisture from their prey, and our cats naturally get theirs from food, too. Which means wet food. More and more cat food companies make products in cans or pouches that either include gravy in the flavor, or as a stand alone gravy product. We just add fresh, filtered water and mix it with the wet food.
Another reason dry food is not the ideal primary food for your cat, is how protein is processed. Most manufactures render the protein. What does render mean?
As of April, 2021, the FDA defined rendering as:
“Any Firm Or Individual That Processes Slaughter Byproducts; Animals Unfit For Human Consumption, Including Carcasses Of Dead Cattle; Or Meat Scraps.”
Gross. So dry food taxes your cats kidneys by being hard-to-digest, rendered, poor quality protein, and lacking moisture. Even if your cat is sadly diagnosed with CKD, some vets will recommend products designed for cats with CKD, including dry food products. Be wary of these products: they are dry food.
Next on the list is over vaccinating your cat with FVRCP. This is particularly relevant if your cat is an indoor cat. Based on our research, all three of the diseases the FVRCP vaccination addresses are highly contagious, and passed by contact with infected cats, or fecal matter, food bowls, etc. These diseases are serious, and most cats should be vaccinated. Kittens are particularly susceptible to serious illness from these same three diseases, which is why a series of vaccinations are typically administrated by your vet for kittens.
But how often? Dr, Lisa Pierson says, “It is very important to understand that the current guidelines state that the FVRCP combination vaccine should not be given more frequently than every 3 years. That is not the same as stating “these vaccines should be administered every 3 years.”
Once a kitten has received two doses of FVRCP (rather than the typically recommended four) plus once as an adult, the question becomes, is repeated vaccinations of FVRPC a risk or beneficial? Dr. Pierson’s view that even three years may be too often for an adult cat is because the vaccination has been proven to cause kidney inflammation. The prevalence of CKD in cats, unlike wild cats, makes kidney inflammation a damaging consequence of over vaccinating. Dr. Pierson observes CKD as the most common threat to cats, especially older ones. Unless you board your cat, take your cat to cat shows, or to any place where your cat has contact with cats of unknown health, that may influence the frequency of your cat receiving the FVRCP vaccination, meaning every 3 years, as appropriate. Some vets, however, suggest annually. Regardless, it’s your call.
Why is over vaccinating the FVRCP a potential risk for CKD in our cats?Again referring to Dr. Lisa Pierson: “The viruses used to make vaccines need to be grown in what is called a “cell culture.” The cells used to make the FVRCP vaccine are feline (cat) kidney cells. When these kidney cells are injected into the cat (along with the vaccine), his immune systems views them as foreign and makes antibodies against them. Unfortunately, those antibodies do not know the difference between the injected kidney cells and his own kidney tissue resulting in a potential autoimmune ‘attack’ on his kidneys. (‘Auto’ means ‘self.”)
Most people become veterinarians because they love animals and want to help them. But it is important, as a pet parent, to be informed about your cat’s health, and how to keep them healthy. That includes your cat’s diet, annual physicals, sufficient exercise, and vaccinations.
Thank you Dr. Pierson for great information.
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
Fortunately, recycling is a way of life. Here’s how we can participate when taking care of our cats.
Instead of throwing away all those plastic bags, look at them. Some of them make excellent bags when cleaning your cat’s kitty litter box.
This isn’t garbage! There’s certain types of bags that are particularly good to use: the right size, with an opening big enough for your litter scooper, and a strong enough plastic.
My favorite bags include: bread bags; chip/pretzel bags; supermarket produce bags (although doubling them up is safer since they can rip) and liner bags inside cereal boxes.
Once we repurpose these bags for disposing used kitty litter — then they’re garbage.
Greece continues to be a favorite tourist destination. It’s a beautiful country with lovely beaches, dramatic mountains and charming villages. Greece is also home to western civilizations most famous achievements from the ancient world. Throughout the country are fortresses, churches and mosques, museums, archeological sites, convents and castles. In the village of Nafplio lies Akronafplia Castle, perched on a bluff.
In October, My Kitty Care traipsed up the hill to Akronafplia Castle, where the view of the town of Nafplio spread out below. And, that’s where we saw the small, black castle cat.
Sitting a few feet away was Claude-Alexander. He’s a dog lover and always travels with dog food and treats. “It’s not that I don’t like cats,” he added, “I just don’t know much about them.”
From his home in Germany, Claude-Alexander drove south. En route to Greece he stopped along the way to enjoy Croatia’s coastline and sometimes ventured inland to hike mountains and explore villages. He continued to Greece, enjoying the magnificent vistas and history.
While in Greece he encountered stray cats and offered them dog treats. Greece has stray cats everywhere and although they look relatively healthy, they always need another meal. Soon enough, Claude-Alexander added cans of cat food and cat treats to his charitable supplies.
The sweet castle cat endeared herself to Claude-Alexander. He pet her and smiled, she purred.
A week later, in an email sent to My Kitty Care, Claude-Alexander said he regretted not bringing the castle cat home. He clearly researched traveling in Europe with a cat and found the following requirements: a rabies vaccination, being microchipped and a pet passport. He also wanted advice about cats living in a small apartment, and other questions about cats — which My Kitty Care gladly addressed.
If your cat scratches furniture, curtains or anything you DON’T want your otherwise sweet fantastic kitty cat to ruin, it’s helpful to understand why they do it. They’re not deliberately trying to piss us off, they have a reason. Read why my cat scratches furniture to help you understand your cat’s behavior.
solutions for cats scratching furniture
Get scratchings posts and pads. Lots of them. The goal is to offer your cat as many options as possible. Get different styles, textures, and sizes.
In nature, cats use trees to stretch and scratch, which is why it’s one of several materials used on scratching posts. Similar surfaces that have scratching appeal are sisal, hemp and carpeting.
Your cat might prefer one material over another, and letting them sample scratching posts with different textures is how to find out what your cat likes. Maybe all of them.
If your cat is reluctant to use your newly purchased post/pad, sprinkle catnip on it. Watch what happens. Catnip often works to entice your cat to using the pad/post. (Although not all cats respond to catnip.)
Another technique is this: if you see your cat scratching your sofa, for example, gently pick them up and carry them to a scratching pad/post. Never yell at your cat, you’ll only upset and confuse them. They are, after all, doing what’s natural to them. This shouldn’t need to be said —NEVER hit your cat, unless you want them terrified and possibly never trust you again. Instead, after you bring your cat to their scratching pad/post, place them or their paws on it and with a soothing tone, pet them and tell them yes my most loved kitty, here it is okay to scratch. Maybe this sounds silly, and although cats can’t be trained in the manner dogs can, my kitty care believes cats can be guided. Suddenly, your cat is happily scratching away on their pad/post. Take this opportunity to reinforce and reward your cat with their favorite treat. Cats understand that good behavior gets them good stuff.
Scratching post & hemp door hanger awaits Marnie
Remember, your cat isn’t deliberately disobeying you or trying to be bad, they’re just drawn to places which appeal to them because of their instinctive need to scratch, groom and stretch. It’s our job to provide them with alternatives that work for them and protect our furniture. You don’t have to get rid of your cat to eliminate the scratching problem, you just need to understand why your cat scratches, and make the effort to provide solutions that work for you and your cat.
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
For some people, my cat scratches furniture is why they bring or return their cat to a shelter. But are there other options? Yes, if you’re willing to try different suggestions until you and your cat(s) find what works.
why cats like to scratch
In the natural world, wild cats instinctively scratch just like our cats we live with, because for all cats it’s equivalent to a manicure. By scratching (known as stropping) they shed the outer husk of their claws for the new claw beneath. It’s also how they keep their claws filed and clean. Plus they get a great full body stretch.
Another reason cats scratch is as a means of claiming territory. If your house is their territory, it’s their house too and they mark it. That includes your favorite sofa or upholstered chair, cause it’s yours and by scratching, it becomes your cat’s. Consider it a gesture of trust: you’ve created an environment which enables your cat to feel secure enough to want to stake out your house and furniture as their turf.
Okay, we like our cats to feel safe. So how do we save our furniture?
Make your furniture unappealing to your cat
Provide alternate scratching options
Use scratching surfaces that attracts your cat
Guide their behavior towards where you want them to scratch
Cats supposedly are repelled by citrus, which is why there are several products on the market specifically for this purpose. You can find these products at pet stores/online.
Or try tape. Tape? You must use sticky double-sided tape and place it where your cat scratches. Some people may suggest aluminum foil or plastic covering and although effective, it’s also quite ugly. Instead, double-sided sticky tape is much less intrusive.
My kitty care can attest to this particular option. A chair our beloved (and missed) Toby had declared as his had begun to show the ravages of his scratching, from the top of the armrest to the floor. We used the double-sided tape and he stopped. After a few years the tape peeled off, but Toby had accepted that area as a NO SCRATCH zone. It did remain, however, as his throne.
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
A group of 3 or more cats is called a “clowder.” Where did that come from?
According to Wiktionary, clowder was noted as being used in the English language in 1801. But it’s origin is much older. It began with the Old English word, clott (contemporary spelling: clot). Clott became clutter during the Middle English (1100-1500) period, which began because of the Norman Conquest in 1066. By 1167, Oxford University was founded and Cambridge followed in 1209. Both these institutions increased literacy and an expansion of the English language. Clutter became clowder, although currently, it’s not in common use.
These are also acceptable references to a group of 3 or more cats: Cluster of cats Clutter of cats Destruction of cats Dout of cats Glaring of cats Nuisance of cats Pounce of cats — my kitty care favorite
To My Kitty Care, whether it’s one, two or a clowder of cats, we love them.
Some cats, but not all, love to eat houseplants. But Valentina is different. She lives with Rodney and his partner Raymond. When Valentina is in their garden, Rodney smiles and says, “My cat eats flowers.”
This is new to My Kitty Care. Why flowers? According to Dr. Karyn Bischoff, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center in Ithaca, cats sense of smell is so much superior to humans; they have 14 – 20 times the smell receptors than we have. And since flowers smell wonderful to us, we can imagine how inviting they must be to cats.
Valentina enjoys Rodney & Raymond’s garden
These lovely flowers are considered safe for cats to eat
Lilacs
Roses (it’s the thorns that make roses problematic)
Sunflowers
Petunias
Camellias
Snapdragons
Daisies
For cats who eat houseplants, it’s important to know which ones you MUST NOT have in your home because they are toxic to cats. What about flowers? Some flowers are so toxic, the cat only needs to chew and not even swallow the flower or leaves of the flower.
Although these flowers are pretty — keep cats away from them!
True lilies and daylilies
Daffodils
Crocus
Hyacinths
Kalanchoe
Azalea
Hydrangeas
Tulips (are in the lily family)
Oleander
Lily of the valley
Chrysanthemums
The levels of toxicity of the above flowers range from a rash to death Lilies are particularly toxic — your cat only needs to eat a couple of leaves or just lick the pollen grains to ingest the poison.
Want to know how serious the consequences are?
If your cat eats the leaf or pollen grains of a lily: your cat will vomit for 2 to 4 hours. Within 12 – 24 hours your cat will urine frequently. If your cat stops urinating, he/she may have kidney failure. If you do nothing, your cat will die 4 – 7 days from nibbling on a lily.
About flower arrangements
Giving or getting a lovely flower arrangement is always welcomed. But what about we lucky households with cats — my cat (getting an arrangement) or your cat (receiving an arrangement)? The website 1st in flowers focuses on those flowers used in typical floral arrangements which are toxic to cats. The site categorizes flowers based on the symptomatic reaction cats have to them.
If you have any reason to suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24 hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
Why is declawing a legal issue? Let’s start with what declawing is. Except for extreme situations, My Kitty Care considers it a cruel practice, and the desire to protect cats is why it’s become a legal debate. In the USA, New York was the first state to ban declawing with some cities fiollowing suit. In Canada, seven provinces have banned declawing. Hopefully, another state may ban declawing in the near future.
Currently, seven states are considering the ban, but MARYLAND is actually awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives. Senate bill sponsor Cheryl C Kagan expects it to be on the governor’s desk soon, and if it’s signed, Maryland will be the 2nd state to ban declawing. Included in the bill is a fine of $5000 for any vet who performs the procedure.
But nothing is black and white. As abhorrent as My Kitty Care views declawing, absolute outlawing can be problematic. Case in point: elderly woman must move to assisted living but is denied bringing her two older cats due to management worry of damage to furniture,carpets, etc. If the cats are declawed, they can continue to be together, otherwise, the cats will be sent to a shelter and most likely be euthanized (older cats are especially difficult to find homes for). The source of this scenario is from the BBC. My Kitty Care advocates banning declawing, but allowing for severely limited flexibility.
Toby happily making muffins, another instinctive cat behavior requiring use of their claws
The following countries already banned or view the practice as extremely inhuman and performed only under extreme circumstances:
England Scotland Wales Italy Austria Switzerland Norway Sweden Ireland Denmark Finland Slovenia Brazil Australia New Zealand Serbia Montenegro Macedonia Slovenia France Germany Bosnia Malta Netherlands Northern Ireland Portugal
Time for the USA to take action. Best of all, create a federal law which would simplify things and most importantly, protect cats.
It’s time to check-out the most popular cat names for this year. Okay, let’s start with some popular Italian names from Daily Italian Words. This is lo svago — fun!
Pallina (female) Pallino (male) means small ball, like a toy, in Italian
Luna, or moon in Italian. Like the moon, cats are mysterious, beautiful and nocturnal.
Birba is perfect for your mischievous kitten. Italian adults call mischievous or naughty children birba.
Trilly (also spelled Trilli) is the Italian name for Tinkerbell, the beloved character in Peter Pan. Oddly enough, it’s very popular in Italy. Guess Tinkerbell in any language is just so cute.
Bella, Italian for beautiful and popular in Italy and around the world.
My favorite is this one: Briciolina (female ) Bricionlino (male). They are affectionate derivatives from briciola, meaning crumb (usually said of bread or a cookie) or a small amount of something. Really cute.
STUPENDO!
Some more popular 2021 cat names
One of the sources for the list of the most popular cat names is from the Cat Fanciers Association, an organization with the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats. Then there’s an actual site called FindCatNames.com, plus other random searches. But the consensus seems pretty consistent.
To conclude the Italian favorites, Rocky is a diminutive of the Italian name Rocco for your wise guy cat.
Oliver is on just about every list of the most popular cat names. And, Oliver just happens to be the #3 most popular male baby name in the United States.
Simba is Swahili forlion, made famous from The Lion King. Nala is another popular name from The Lion King, for a girl cat.
Chloe has been a popular female kitty name for several years. Cute yet sophisticated.
Max is a name that remains on the list year after year. Our friend and cat sitter of many many years had a beloved cat Max. Max continues to be a cool and favorite name.
Girl cat names like Lucy and Lily continue to be popular. They’re cute and sweet, and are perfect for cute, sweet kittens.
Sophia is really popular for both babies and cats. It’s a pretty and elegant name.
The 1986 Japanese film The Adventures of Milo and Otis introduced the world to the now popular name Milo. In the movie, Milo was an orange tabby, his pal Otis was a pug.
Tiger is obvious for your striped orange tabby. According to the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) breed registry, Tiger is the 5th most popular cat name in China. I prefer Tigger, from Winnie-the-Pooh. It’s goofier — although no cat would ever admit to being goofy, some are endearingly so.
Coco is big in the USA, but even bigger in…China, where, according to the CFA, it is the third most popular name for cats registered with the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association.)
Charlie had been a very popular name in the United States for late 19th century human parents. Then it lost favor. However, Charlie has been revived as a popular cat name.
Smokey is used for grey cats, and that’s about it. Unless you’re a Highway Patrol guy.
It’s popular for some people to name their grey cat Shadow because he/she follows them around. I don’t get it — wouldn’t it be better for a black cat who follows you around?
Mia is like a little meow.
Jack is a name like Max: determined, confident, as if ready to pounce. People once used Jack as a diminutive of John, but eventually it gained ground on its own. Over the centuries (it’s an old name) it continually went in and out of favor. As for your cat, Jack is a name of choice for cat parents.
Those who have an inclination to baby talk to your cat may lapse into “precious Angel,” “sweet Angel” or something like that. Hence Angel is popular. Not a criticism, in fact, totally acceptable.
Oreo is popular with people who live with black & white cats. A delectable name. Another food related name popular for cats is Biscuit. Not really sure why.
Once, Felix was a popular name for boys. It’s Latin meaning lucky, happy, successful. The name isn’t common anymore, but for cats, it has been for over a century. Thanks to the cartoon character Felix the Cat, created by Pat Sullivan, Otto Messmer and Joe Oriolo. Felix the Cat was first seen in 1919, in Feline Follies. Since then, Felix is a popular and loved name full of fun, smarts and pizazz. My Kitty Care loves Felix!
Felix the Cat, the wonderful wonderful cat…
A relatively new popular name is Willow. If I had a Ragdoll cat, I’d consider naming him/her Willow — droopy, like a Willow tree.
Names like Molly, Sammy or Gracie are both popular and personable.
Gizmo is something undefinable, but has a presence. Possibly inspired from the 1980s movie, Gremlins. This name makes me think of a cat who runs around a lot — not for any particular reason, you just know your cat Gizmo is around.
I like the name Jasper, and apparently so do many others. It has a friendly authority to it. Some cat parents may name their cat Jasper because the gemstone Jasper, is a spotted gemstone that might remind you of your cat’s coat or eyes.
Bailey is popular as a drink, and now as a cat name. If your cat is the color of the Irish cream beverage, Bailey may come to mind.
Loki is a rascally demigod from Norse mythology, known for making trouble. Absolutely applicable to many a cat.
Sasha is a Russian nickname for girls named Aleksandra, If your cat’s furry brow always looks Dostoevsky serious, perhaps Sasha is a good choice.
Simon and Toby aren’t as popular for people anymore, but are for cats. Toby is derived from the original Tobias, going back to the Old Testament. One of my cats is a Toby. He’s such a Toby. He just is.
Cloe is a classic reference to Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, a culture known to revere cats. Cleo is great for a dignified, royal cat. And just about any cat can be viewed as royal.
Peanut is popular but ought to be reserved for a small, so adorable you want-to-eat-them cats. Especially if they have a nutty personality.
Finally, there’s Leo. It’s Latin for lion, is the fifth sign of the Zodiac, and even has it’s own Leo the Lion constellation. It’s such a loaded name, of course it’s understandable that it’s popular, even in China.
Found this list from 2018. And guess what, it looks mighty familiar.
Luna
Oliver
Bella
Lucy
Charlie
Chloe
Leo
Max
Lily
Milo
And look at this one: popular cat names from 2016 All great names, but I think we need to add new fun ones…2022?
At the end of February of this year, the band The Nearly Deads released, Punk Rock Kitty Cat. Like all things about cats, the title of this song Punk Rock Kitty Cat caught my eye.
I’d never heard of the band The Nearly Deads.
The Nashville rock band The Nearly Dead’s have been around nearly a decade. They are: vocalist Theresa Jeane, Steven Tobi (guitar), Javier Garza Jr. (guitar) and Josh Perrone (drums) and known for, in their own words
“…powerful pop vocals and aggressive alternative rock music combined with their love of all things geek and messages of positivity and empowerment…”
My musical taste are quite eclectic and does include punk rock. Of course I had to give it a listen: it’s got the simplicity of punk, a driving beat, it’s funny, and, oddly enough for a punk band, CUTE!
The Nearly Deads
lyrics for Punk Rock Kitty Cat
Look at mee-OW! Cause I’m a punk rock kitty cat Looking fierce and acting frisky Punk Rock Kitty Cat Taking naps and lapping whiskey Punk Rock Kitty Cat Gettin’ faded, catnip wasted
Punk Rock Kitty Cat” is a fun song about being yourself and finding your place. I was very influenced by The Ramones and the Sex Pistols and wanted it to have that goofy lo-fi punk rock sound.
click on The Nearly Dead’s to find out more about the band and their music
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
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