New cat - name thread - Page 2

Are the names Ally and Alfie too similar?

I kind of like Alfie, and it seems to suit him.  I worry it's too similar.  Ally could always tell the difference between Ally and Ollie - I know that.  Ollie wasn't as good at it, but I could have called him "Catinator 5000" and he would have come over to me, so he pretty much responded to anything I'd say if he thought it was meant for him.

This new cat listens, and seems pretty smart.  I don't know how good his ear for human-speak will be as he grows up though.

I'm still searching for names.  Naming this cat is more difficult because some names like Ozzy make me think of Ollie and then make me sad, plus I feel like if Ollie is watching he might feel like it's an attempt to replace him (I know how ridiculous that may sound).

I've looked at a lot of names.  I also liked Cody, and Toby.  He seems like an Alfie though.  I don't know why.  It's an odd feeling considering I've never known an Alfie.  His shelter name was Fred though, so Fred -> Alfred -> Alfie also works.

Thanks.  For the moment, I've decided to call him Alfie.  That could change though.

Going wayyyy back (board membership-wise), Ally was originally called Socks.  She doesn't have any, but the idea was that my dog, Ribsy, was named after a Beverly Cleary novel character (dog), so at the time I wanted to name her after another character - this time a cat.  I had to change it though, because everybody who met her kept asking, "So I don't get it, she doesn't have any socks?"  So I figured Ally suited her better.

A photo of Ribsy and Socks while they still were Ribsy and Socks

Ribsy looks bad in that photo because he was starting to get old at that point.  He was about 16/17 then.  He made it to 19, but his quality of life had deteriorated due to age related issues that my family and I agreed that he was suffering more than enjoying life, so we euthanized him.  That was part of what made Ollie's death so horrible for me.  2 beloved pets were necessarily euthanized in only a few months plus Ollie was so young, and sweet as I could have ever asked for.

I already love Alfie.  Ally's finally coming around.  She's at the "I don't want to kill you, but I don't want to be around you either." stage.  Hopefully after this will come, "Ok, we can be friends, but I get dibs on the cat beds." and then "I love you new cat." <- pretty much how it went down the last time with Ally and Ollie as I remember it.