Can I rename my newly purchased cat?

Question

I just got a cat and it's previous owner named it Obi (wtf?). I honestly HATE that name. Please please please tell me that I can change my cat's name without it getting confused!

Answer 1

yes. i don't think cats have a name recognition element to their existence. they respond to tongue clicks and the sound of cat food being opened!

Answer 2

try a name ending in eeee if it is still young if it is old it eill not catch on to its new name

Answer 3

just keep calling it what ever you want it to be called a week or so later it will known its called blah blah blah (wat ever its called) hope all goes well bye!!!

Answer 4

Well, I suppose it depends on the age of the cat. If it's younger and you keep calling him/her by that name, eventually it will respond to it. However, if it's an old cat then it may already be used to it

Answer 5

Hey Alex Awesome.

You might want to reconsider re-naming your cat Obi, who may have been named after Obi Wan Kenobi, the dedicated and legendary Jedi Knight who helped shape the fate of an entire galaxy in the "Star Wars" series. If this is so, your cat has been given the name of the revered warrior and your cat may consider it to be an insult!

Seriously, though  if you really hate the name, You can re-name your cat with little difficulty. Just keep using the name you choose repeatedly when calling him for his meals, and speak his new name to him while he is eating. He will soon learn to associate it with food, and come running. Just reward him liberally when he comes to you, by petting him a lot and fussing over him delightedly.

Hope this helps and good luck with your kitty,

Troublesniffer

Owned by cats for over 40 years

Free Lance writer and blogger for  http://www/petside.com

Answer 6

Or, end it's name with a Sssss sound.  Like Alice, or something like that.  Cats react well to sssss sounds.

Answer 7

Sure, Cats know when you are calling them so eventually he or she will understand that the new name means him or her.

P.S: I hate the name OBI too, jeezz what taste!

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

My friend did that with a cat I gave her she changed its name from Tigger to Gizmo so he should catch on or not even notice really.

Answer 10

Of course you can rename the cat. Cats aren't like people when it comes to their name. It's the tone of voice you use when calling them. Choose a really good name and use it exclusively. You never know, the cat may love you more because it really hates Obi for a name to.

Answer 11

yes you should the cat formally know as "obi"

Answer 12

Sure, cats don't come when you call them anyway

Answer 13

Umm yeah.. cats will respond to anything it seems.

Answer 14

Obi... is the waste band that goes around a kimono... Japanese.

You can change the name...

Just start saying the name every time you pet/ feed / talk to her.

good luck ..>^..^<

Answer 15

why not. i adopted a 3 month old cat named Pepper and changed the name the day I took him home. name it whatever you want!

Answer 16

Of course you can!  Shelter cats often come in without the shelter knowing the name of the cat so they just give it one to personalize it while it's there.  Since cats respond more to the tone of the way you say something than an actually word it doesn't take them very long at all to get used to a new name.  It may not have had this name a very long time, anyway.  I have three shelter cats that were adopted at 2 1/2, 3 and 4 years and I changed all of them.  Sylvester to Percy, Tana to Penelope and Jezebel to Mocha Valencia.

And FYI contrary to what others are saying the age of the cat DOES NOT matter.  At the shelter I volunteer with we've adopted out 10 year old cats and I've always encouraged people to name them whatever they want to name them.  It makes the cat YOUR cat when you're the one deciding it's name.  Just say the name often and the cat will quickly learn to respond to it.

Answer 17

Guess the prior owner liked Star Wars.  It would be no problem to rename the cat, but you will definitely need to give it lots of time to adjust.  Most people get their cats to come by saying here kitty and they don't know their names anyway.  Change it, but make it a simple one syllable word to keep confusion at a minimum.

Answer 18

Clemence is right. Pick a name that has a similar sound. Our cat's legal name is James Alexander Malcolm McKenzie Frazier, and we called it Jamie (any Outlander fans out there?)

Now he is called "Scooty Wooty" and the cat responds every time he is called! We even adopted a feral starving kitten and named him Houdini because he disappears. When you call his name he will stop and look at you, but will not come or allow you to pet him.

Hint: Say his name often while feeding him-this will make him respond to his name.

Answer 19

You can do what ever you want! Name it Alien  

Answer 20

sure i dont think cats care about their names like dogs, they are smart it will catch on. obi... from that stupid kid show? or obi 1 kanobi from star wars?

Answer 21

lmao Obi is a really gross name, but it depends how old the cat is... if more than 3 years, dont rename it unless it's stupid and dosn't even know it has a name.

Answer 22

Some animals get confused by it and others wont. If the cat is younger, it will adapt to a new name better.

Answer 23

OF COURSE! Just think of a new name. Then just get your cat and keep saying the new name over, and over, and over. Soon it will understand and start answering to it's new name.

Below are some suggestions for new names:

Twister

Storm

Twist

Shadow

Twinkie

Snickers

Fluffin

Muffin

Fluffy

Boots

Mittens

Socks

Enjoy finding a new name! Hope I helped!

Answer 24

yeah why not.

i got my dog when it was like 6 weeks old. i named it stuart, it responds to anything loud or high-pitched

Answer 25

cat's don't usually pay much attention to their names until they've been used for AGES...you should have no trouble renaming it.

Answer 26

only really really old cats kno their name so most likely u can

Answer 27

Uh, yah!!!! Anyways....the cat won't mind. He is only using you for food anyways.....

Answer 28

Obi actually sounds like a pretty nice name wat if som1 adopted u n didnt like your name so they renamed u? would u like that?

Answer 29

yea of course.  

Answer 30

sure, monty a good name

Answer 31

sure, try to find a name that ends in eee.. like.. woody or... billy..