Can a kitten's name influence his personality?

colin

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I don't know, maybe naming him Jack was a mistake. Everytime he walks in the room, I say "Hi Jack" and true to his name, he's become quite a "terrorist" A few nights ago, he learned that he could jump onto the kitchen counter. Wow, a new trick, let's do it a lot! So what if the 'Big Cats' don't approve!? I guess we'll have to call him "HiJack, the (kitchen) Counter Terrorist"

Problem is, that when we're saying "Down" in a firm voice, poor Chloe (who'd being a good kitten) thinks we're scolding her! For those with multiple cats, how do you scold one and not the other?
 

satai

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I don't scold.

I would suggest that every time you catch Jack on the counter, grab him wordlessly (but not roughly, of course) and don't cuddle. Put him in a time out room for 10 minutes with nothing to do - maybe a small bathroom/closet? Give him a litter tray too, it sounds like you might need to do this a lot for a while.

That way Chloe isn't confused or upset and Jack isn't getting the attention he is possibly seeking.

Give him lots of attention when he's being good, and Chloe too.

edited to sound less bossy!
 

lookingglass

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I named one cat Scratch Fury Destroyer of Worlds. He only becomes that when we want to give him a bath. Other than that he's a calm mild mannered kitty.
 
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colin

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Well, we're not big scolders, I'd just like to think that he feels a "little" remorse for doing something he's not supposed to. At least with Bart, when he got scoldings, he'd run over to his scratching post and scratch that cause he knew that was a source of praise!
 

mauld

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It's funny, but I do think cats know when they've done something wrong. We have 3 females, and if we should come home and find something 'wrong' (ie. toilet paper all over the floor, newspapers scattered & ripped up, things knocked over etc), generally the culprit is no where to be found, whereas the other 2 will be calmly sitting, or will come over to welcome us home.
 

cheshirecat

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When I adopted my kitty from the shelter he was a 1 1/2 year old male with a sissy female name. He was also a very scared kitty. His paperwork said that he was afraid of just about everything.

I started calling him his new name before we left the shelter.

I think he is they way he is because his previous people did not treat him very well. Not only did they not socialize him I suspect that they yelled at him quite a bit and even hit him.

Getting back to the original question. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think it matters what you name a cat as long as you treat it with kindness and compassion.
 

satai

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Originally Posted by Colin

I'd just like to think that he feels a "little" remorse for doing something he's not supposed to.
I wouldn't hold out much hope


Some of them do this great, 'what, me? what did I do wrong?'
 
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colin

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A few minutes ago I was in the kitchen and Jack tried to jump up but failed. He fell backwards and landed in a rather undignified (and very uncatlike manner) on his butt. I laughed and mocked him as he walked away.


Of course my laughing was short lived, as he went straight to a dining room chair to put a few scratches on the fabric! So lesson learned, humiliating the cat may work at the expense of your furniture!
 

bab-ush-niik

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Normally I would say that a name doesn't matter, but we named our cat Puppy before we even saw him.

Once we got him, he decided to eat our shoes, chew on cardboard, and greet us at the door. Go figure.
 

ms_joshica

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Ahh well I think the name matter somewhat. My hubby and I name our cat MaxSheba, Max after his old cat and Sheba because that's what she reminded me of. However, max is a typical dog name, which of course she greets you at the door, meows at people walking down the side walk while she's looking out the window, is protective of my oldest son, but on the other hand is snotty as it comes and acts like she is the freakin' Queen Sheba while she lays on her butt looking like some darn Egyptian statue and doesn't want you to pet her, lol
 

betty ann

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Cheshire Cat - I think we may have the same cat!! lol!!

I got a 1 1/2 year old male at the vet who also had a sissy girl name. And he was pretty much scared of everything. The best part... guess what his name is now? It's CHESHIRE CAT!!

What a coincidence
 

cheshirecat

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Originally Posted by Betty Ann

Cheshire Cat - I think we may have the same cat!! lol!!

I got a 1 1/2 year old male at the vet who also had a sissy girl name. And he was pretty much scared of everything. The best part... guess what his name is now? It's CHESHIRE CAT!!

What a coincidence
That is funny! Actually the first cat I had (when I was a kid) was named Cheshire. The cat I have (or should I say has me) now is named Chester.

I make it a point to never use his former name but I must confess that sometimes I slip and call him Cheshire.
 

arlyn

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My boy, Trouble, is the mellowist, most lovey cat in the house, so I'd had to say no, name did not influence.
 
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