The Naming Of Cats...

I am starting the search for Sylvester's successor... actually, I hope to get two cats, to keep each other company during the day when I'm out at work. My mother suggested that I get two kittens, because they are cute, and I missed Sylvester's kittenhood because I "inherited" him from my sister when he was about four years old... However, kittens are hard work, especially on furniture, and my landlord might have something to say about it...

I mentioned to His Hermeneuticalness that I was gearing up for the new kitty search, and he immediately wanted to know what I would call my next cat, or cats... The poem by T.S. Eliot flitted through my mind at that point...

I opined that it rather depended on meeting the cat. Sylvester, for example, was not named for the feline in the Tweety-Pie cartoons, but for Pope St. Sylvester - I thought that the name suited him... I later discovered that Felis sylvestris is the Latin name for the wildcat, which merely confirmed my instinctive choice.

Fr. Tim disagreed, so we discussed possible names. I explained that I didn't want a name that could be mistaken for a real person, so "Benedict" isn't an option.

Working on the papal theme, Fr. Tim suggested that I name a cat for Blessed Pius IX - Mastai-Ferretti. I pointed out that it was a bit of a mouthful, but the idea of Mastai-"Furr"-etti did appeal. A little further research when I returned home revealed further possibilities: Meow-ro Cappellari (Gregory XVI) and Gioacchino Purr-chi (Leo XIII.)

Last night, someone suggested Cardinal Catzinger...

Anyway, while we're on the subject (it's a slow day for me blogwise) here is the famous poem by T.S. Eliot (I used to know it off by heart!)

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.

There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.

But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.

But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.

When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.