Let me introduce to you, the one and only Honey cat...

[gwyn]

A few months ago, I saw this cat on PAWS' web site named Pinky. I fell madly in love with her. When I checked back on Friday, she was still there. I told myself that it would be bad, and that I was only looking because I missed kitties and everyone in town has unfriendly or psycho cats, so I can't even go placate myself by making stops at my friends' houses and pestering their kittehs. But Pinky was speaking to me. She was saying with her gorgeous blue eyes, come get me. So Friday night I got there as soon as I could, but she was gone, probably adopted in the past few days. I was sad. They had many cute cats and I thought about them all. But I figured that since I would be up north the next day, I'd stop in at the main shelter just to see if Pinky might have been there and they put the wrong info in.

Anyways, long story short, I met a cat named Honey. I know, I don't like it either. It borders on Fluffy or Buttons territory as a name. I think she fixed her eyes on me and said "I am for you, James T. Kirk." So I asked if I could meet her and we seemed to hit it off. She is four years old, and her owner had to give her up because she became homeless. I believe she picked Honey up from a shelter in Yakima, where they had rescued her from a house with 43 other animals. So I guess it won't be too hard to bring another animal into the house after the remodel is over.

She is a buff tabby, toward the ginger side, and every orange/ginger/buff tabby I've ever seen is totally mellow, and she seems no exception. She's even come out for my dad, which thrilled him, as Emma didn't do that. Her eyes are a very brilliant gold, and it's clear she has had some attentive, but not entirely quality care for a while. So far, she seems wary, and kind tries to avoid being held, but when I sit down, she wants on my lap or to get lots of head rubs, and she isn't nearly as averse to brushing as I was told. It'll take some time for her to warm up to me. Her one ear has a big chunk missing, but she seems otherwise healthy. The staff were thrilled that I was taking her -- none of them could figure out why she had been there for over two months, because she was so sweet. Every single person of the seven I met there said, "You're taking Honey!!! Oh, that's so great!!!" She was like Most Popular at the shelter class. I did the paperwork yesterday, went to a bash feeling happy for the first time in years, and then picked her up today after getting the house ready.

So, I don't really like the name Honey, even though I'll no doubt call her that all the time along with tens of thousands of other pet names. But some think I should keep it, and others think it's as bad as I do.

[Poll #1004965]





Oh hai



I has a new mommy



I has a rm with a vu





Belleh!



Already tie-tie, and we just got home

Comments

[umbo.livejournal.com]

She looks like a total sweetheart--congrats!

[sandy-s.livejournal.com]

She is beautiful! :o) I like her name...honey is good stuffs and has all kinds of anti-oxidents and healing properties. And it's not nearly as bad as Fluffy.

I showed Meagan, and she votes for Honey...

[leela-cat.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful. Congratulations.

[feochadn.livejournal.com]

OMG! She's totally gorgeous -- and Roland-colored in reverse!

I think Olive is an adorable name.

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

She looks like a Honey :D Pretty!

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful. And she looks so calm and content.

I tend to think you should name her Olive because it's your first choice, and what reason do you need beyond that? But I do like Honey, personally, because it makes me think of slow, thick sweetness, comforting in the mouth and throat and chest; my associations with it aren’t the "Fluffy" and "Buttons" kind. Although if I had a cat named Honey, I'd probably accuse her of being buckwheat honey, which I don't like, when she did something annoying, because that would amuse me.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Oh! She's beautiful! And a female ginger tabby, too, which are fairly rare!

We're going to be looking for a new cat sometime later this summer, checking out some of the local shelters. We've absolutely loved Zoë, who was a rescue cat... just the most friendly, loving cat you could hope for. We're really hoping for a repeat experience, especially since she's really lonely without another cat around (even though all Polly ever did was hiss at her, it was apparently enough to count as "socializing").

YAY!

[rattlecatcher.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful! I said to go with Honey, because hey, it's tasty and yes, full of snark potential.

At the same time, Olive - never a bad name.

But you know, my cat's name is probably the last thing I call him. Leaving aside the things I yell when he shreds things or bites me, he has acquired nicknames that make Honey sound like a rational handle. Hell, I think Sweet Pete AKA Handsome Joe would kill to be called Honey.

[dine.livejournal.com]

I voted for Olive, but Maxine appealed to me greatly for some reason. whatever she ends up called most often, she looks like a real sweetie - enjoy getting to know your new fur person!

[batdina.livejournal.com]

she is beautiful. Call her what you will, that's not going to change.

[kirbyfest.livejournal.com]

Oh, she is gorgeous. Congratulations.

I think you get to know her over the next day or three, and her name will work itself out. :)

[molly_may]

What a beauty she is! And like someone else commented, I've always been led to believe that female gingers are a bit rare. Congratulations on your new kitty!

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's GORGEOUS! :->

I kinda like Honey, but I didn't vote because I'm crap with telling people what to do with names. The only reason we changed Gabby's name was that it was Gertie when we got her. I mean, really. Gertie!!1!

[movies-michelle.livejournal.com]

Aw, what a sweet looking putty! Also, I do like Olive. I will be thrilled to meet her soon.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! Name her whatever you like. She will respond to your tone more than her name -- at first, anyhow. I'm so glad she chose you.

[black-bird-777.livejournal.com]

She's *much* more beautiful than in the PAWS pictures - she's gorgeous!! Yay! I'm so happy for you. She'll come around in no time!

Me thinks

[cattraine.livejournal.com]

you should ask Madame herself if she wishes a new name...LOL

Honey cat

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I'm delighted to hear you sound so happy - it's long overdue!

And I'm delighted that a rescue cat has found a wonderful home. It sounds like she's already warmed up to you if she's approaching you for attention and affection. That she's already comfortable enough to come out to meet your dad is a great sign for the future.

She's gorgeous - I particularly like the "new mommy" and the first "I has a rm with a vu" photos. Just lovely.

As to names, I say give it a bit. If she responds well to "Honey" (calls for food, getting her attention, etc.) then I'd probably keept it just to make things easier. But if she largely ignores the name, pick something you like better. Though like several other folks, my associations for honey are positive and not so much with the cutesy.

[lordshiva.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, those eyes! She's very pretty. A long time ago when I was a wee impressionable child there was a cool spy on TV named Honey and she had a pet ocelot! And she dressed in tawny gold clothes and wore catsuits. She was cool Honey Wells? I used to play her. (You know, pretend to be her, walking my pet ocelot, with my teased boufant honey colored flip hairdo and skin tight cat suit.)

Honey isn't such a bad name really.

[gattagrigia.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's very pretty! Here's hoping she and you will be content!

Unfortunately Olive only makes me think of Olive Oil - to which I prefer Honey 1000%. And Maxine to me is the name of a waitress at a '50s diner - beehive hair, chews gum, very abrupt - and she just doesn't look like that. (weird the associations names can have in our heads!)

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

What a beauty! Since she came from a place with 43 animals, I wonder if they notched her ear when they spayed her to keep track of who was fixed and who still needed to be fixed.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Cats tend to respond tot he name they prefer, so I tend to think of it as the cat naming themselves. She look slike she's so happy in the pix, she *knows* she's got a good home with folks who love her.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

She's beautiful!

I'm so happy for you -- and for her.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Awww, she's beautiful, and looks like such a sweetie. The belleh pic is adorable. Hee.

I actually like the name Honey, and think it suits her. I always end up calling animals silly names, so I'd probably call her Honey Bunny. ;)

Congrats!

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[minim_calibre]

Oh, she's such a pretty thing!

[keiko-kirin.livejournal.com]

Awww! She's gorgeous!

I voted for Honey, only because I swore I'd change Sidney's name, but I never did, and now he is *such* a Sidney, I can't imagine him any other way. But I think you'll know if you need to change her name: she looks like the kind of cat who'll let you know.

[ixchel55.livejournal.com]

She looks like a sweetie. Congratulations! And you're right, every single tabby or ginger cat I've ever known was really mellow, but stinky. *G* There's something about the pigmentaion that makes their shit stink just a little more than others. But a wonderful personality is so worth a little extra stink.

I wish I could offer name suggestions, but I usually have to be around a cat (even my own new cats) for a few days before a name comes to me. At one point I had a house full of kitties with Gaelic names - Murphy, Quinn, Duncan, Caitlin (Caity), Sion, Heather, Finnegan (Ninny) & Angus (Goose). Of course there was also Max, Maya, Mr. Bones and Rat. *G*

I'm glad you have a new friend. A cat person shouldn't be cat-less. It's unnatural.

[blue-larkspur.livejournal.com]

she has such big eyes! I think she's adorable. I'd say give it a few days and you'll know if she's a Honey, Olive, Maxine or some other name.

She's really very pretty.

YAY!!!

[mystic-savage.livejournal.com]

Yay for being happy! I think you should give her a very long formal name like Olive Maxine McHonersons. Then you can call her just about anything you like. :)

[avidrosette.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy for both of you.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's *beautiful*! I'm so happy for you.

[singer-d.livejournal.com]

What a sweetie! I think Honey fits her better than Olive.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's so beautiful! And she looks very calm. Congratulations on adopting her.

I have to admit, I think Honey suits her, and Olive doesn't seem to... but you should name her whatever you want. I doubt she'll mind either way! (And regardless of her official name you can always make up millions of silly nicknames.)

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

You know, it's so interesting that you mentioned that, because I had no idea that female gingers were so rare until this post, and then today, the vet said the same thing. So I looked it up and apparently it's 3:1 against females, and male torties/calicos are even rarer (and always sterile).

So, you learn something every day! Which makes me feel like she's even more of a special girl. They had lots of frendly pusses at PAWS, so I've no doubt you'll be able to find someone wonderful for Zoe.

Re: YAY!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she definitely doesn't seem to care what I call her... as long as I call her for dinner, as the old joke goes. So far, the only thing that gets her attention is "kittykitty" and the sound of a can being opened!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I never knew how rare they were till I got her -- even the vet today mentioned it. I found something online that explains it, but they say that the color has nothing to do with the temperament. Which I say, bah, to, because I have never yet met a high-strung ginger tabby.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

That IS rather undignified, isn't it?

Re: Honey cat

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

She is definitely turning out to be a handful, and I had forgotten what it was like to have such a rambunctious cat. I realize more each day that she hasn't been as ... I don't know, maybe the word is cuddled, or something, as my pets have always been. I don't even really think she knows the name, so starting over with a fresh one probably isn't going to perturb her in her new life!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Honey West! Yes, totally! She and Emma Peel definitely helped shape my belief system. ;-)

I think in some ways I want to give her a new name because she's getting a new life, and one that will hopefully be more stable, comfy, and happy than it has been for her in the past. Poor kid's been through an awful lot for a 4-year-old.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what Maxine should conjure up!!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

A couple people mentioned that, and the vet today said it's a "professional" cut, which just... I don't know, I find it kind of heartbreaking. To cut pieces off an animal just for that... why not use a plastic tag or collar or something? So sad. Poor Puddies!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I think i'm also kind of focused on the new life, new name thing. She's had such a tough life for such a young kitty, and so I want her to have a totally new life where she's spoiled rotten and nothing else will change on her, so new name for a new life kind of thing. Which, of couse, she doesn't care about one whit!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Boy, have you turned out to be right... about the stinky part! I'd certainly managed to forget that about my ex's cat Spike, and our old kitty Linus, but yeah...

But she's still settling in, so maybe it'll get better when her tummy's less upset. she's a girl, I can hope, right?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I don't think any pet I've ever had got called by its own name very often -- I always end up with a thousand stupid names for them that, if they were aware of them, they would disdain. And the funny thing is, I always call kitties honey when something's wrong. "Aww, honey, here..." So it's not like it would go away!

Re: Honey cat

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a new name won't bother her and it would appeal to you, so go for it!

I have known strays and rescue cats that are incredibly people oriented and touchy-feely. But it's rare that abandoned or feral cats ever get as fully socialized as those reared from birth as pets. You can successfully socialize many such cats, but it takes more time and patience than many rescue groups can provide. Sadly, many humane societies do one socialization evaluation, then destroy feral or abandoned cats that fail because they don't have socialization volunteers or facilities.