Does your kitty friend have “star” power? (Copr. Missy/Flickr
How does the kitty do this? Aw c’mon, you have to KNOW that a cat could outwit, out-maneuver, out-do any bad guy on the planet, right? This lovely kitty, though, also has been trained by the animal behaviorist main character. You never know when a kitty “trick” can be turned to your advantage. 🙂
My blog followers, Facebook friends, nonfiction book readers and pet writing colleagues have been so much a part of this fiction journey, I want to include YOU in the book, too. This Maine Coon kitty has a major role in the book but there’s also a second feline mentioned as well as a number of other dog mentions.
I’d like to give y’all the opportunity to name those kitty characters–name them after YOUR furry wonder, for instance, or a beloved pet that has passed on, or a friend’s dog or even a human relative–your choice. Many of y’all already subscribe to my Pet Peeves newsletter, which hasn’t gone out in a while due to other deadlines 
Those who win the naming opportunity will also receive a free copy of the book, and a mention in the acknowledgements. Oh, and let me know in the comments–does your cat do tricks? My kitty hero in the book will sit, sit up, wave, walk on leash, leaps to the top of the refrigerator on command, and will “kill it” (a toy…or bad guy!). The cat was clicker trained.
So please suggest names. Tell me why YOUR cat should be the “hero” feline, or describe what makes your kitty name the purrr-fect choice?
UPDATE
Here’s how I’ve decided to choose the winner(s). Depending on the response, I will select (random drawing) 10-15 dog names and 10-15 cat names, and YOU WILL VOTE (get your friends to campaign for you!) to select the final names to appear in the book.
Those who win the naming will not only get furry bragging rights, and an ADVANCE FREE COPY of the book, but also an acknowledgement in the book itself with a tidbit about your pet who shares that name. Sound good? Be sure to post your suggested name asap–I’ll need to send final edits to my editor probably by the end of July!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly PUPPY CARE must knows, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter for your chance to NAME THAT DOG character in the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND, and pet book give-aways!
You could also name the cat “Chandler.”
I like that! Added.
I like the name “Noir” for a cat in a thriller. (I also am the Brenda who suggested Midnight for dear Midnight and Nuit for my former boss’s cat.)
I know Lucky is a common name but our dear late cat Lucky — not a black one — was REALLY Lucky and a cat in a thriller might need luck and have many escapes.
A friend has a Maine Coon named Muffin.
Daniel Boone was a childhood cat and that name (or some other historical personage’s name) could provoke occasional historical chats in the books.
Thanks! Will add to the list.
My cat is named Stella after that famous Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire. I love calling her, “STELLAAAAAAAAAAA”
Karen, of course–STELLAAAAAA! is a great kitty name!
I always thought Chaos and kittens or cats makes sense. A cat named Chaos would be fun. Of course my own Punky and Poppi would not want left out of the contest.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Scout, a gray tabby with gorgeous, penetrating eyes – you know, the kind that bore into your soul! Scout (a female) is an adoptable cat at the Cat Adoption Team where I volunteer. I don’t know the reason for her name, but I like to think she was named for Scout in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Scout would be a good name for a sidekick cat who quietly makes important discoveries.
PrancingOtter, I love your suggestion–Scout, the kitty of all things investigative. Thanks! Added to the list. Those penetrating, all-knowing eyes seem to say, “I have secrets to share…”
My cats are named stephan and cassie i think you should put them in your book. They were rescues and deserve it.
Thanks Donna! Added to the list.
A very sweet former boss of mine had a black cat whose name was Black in Hindu. It sounded like “Nuit.” Sorry I cannot remember how it was spelled.
In honor of a darling juvenile we knew who died young of unknown causes and who looked like a younger version of our own darling indoor cat, I will mention “Midnight.” (If this is the second suggestion of this I apologize. I haven’t fully read all of the previous messages but at a glimpse I didn’t see Midnight.)
I’ve not yet had a “Midnight” suggested yet. And “Nuit” (I think that’s the spelling” is also French for “night” so that also would be a cool name. Thanks for the suggestions.
When I was a child I owned a cat who looked a lot like the one in your picture. I named him Skunky. Skunky was a great cat for his entire life.
Hi Patricia–“Skunky” sure would fit a black and white cat. I remember the old Pepe Le Pew cartoons with the skunk who fell in love with the cat, LOL!
Why can’t common, ordinary people be trained to do spay/neuter procedures themselves? I’d love to have that knowledge, set up a “surgical” area in my house and advertise spay/neuter for 10 bucks.
Hi Victoria,
Well–the surgery (especially for the girl kitties) is major abdominal surgery that requires anesthesia that must be dosed according to the cat’s age, weight, and health conditions. The mechanical aspect of the surgery can certainly be trained. I’ve anesthetized and performed castrations and assisted with ovariohysterectomies under the supervision of a veterinarian when I still worked as a vet tech, and in some shelters the technicians are trained and have more responsibility than in some other circumstances. Some of these drugs, though, are controlled substances and may not be available ‘over the counter.’
Gas anesthesia machines, injectable sedation (often combos of drugs), heart monitors, IV set ups, “crash carts” to revive pets that have bad reactions, and more are pricy. A $10 spay would be quite a deal! but there are few folks able to afford price surgery so low when the procedures are done the correct, humane way with sterile conditions, proper training and equipment.
Hopefully in the future less invasive means of sterilization may be available. There already are some oral medications used with wildlife to sterilize feral populations. And there’s lots of research being done in cats and dogs for population control.
My Maine Coon is named Grizzley. He doesn’t do much because he is scared of our other cats, and is usually the low one in the pecking order. He’s such a sweetie-pie. Someone dumped him in front of the psych hospital where I worked and I took him home after 2 days of sitting in one spot waiting for a home.
Hi Ramona–Grizzley is a cool cat name. MC cats do resemble small bears sometimes. Bless your heart for taking him home. They always seem to show their gratitude, too, don’t they? Thanks for visiting and commenting!
I have a Facebook friend named Little Bear – a Maine Coon who was rescued and named for his appearance sitting up on his back legs. LB is a great hunter, much to his Mom’s occasional dismay. But he’s also a great cuddler. I love cat names that come in pairs: Funk and Wagnalls is a favorite.
Some of those Maine Coon cats do look like little bears…very appropriate. The paired names are fun. A friend named cats Harley and Davidson. LOL!
Well, I guess they are on my mind because they’ve passed so recently but I think Rainbow and Twygal are great names (if I do say so myself).
Mewdy Blue does agility, has the trophy to prove it, and tricks such as sit-up, dance, jump where I point and stand up. He isn’t clicker trained because I am too uncoordinated to do it right. Instead he simply listens to my commands and/or follows my finger. Now if I could just convince him to come when I call him like his brother, Question (Q).
I can’t wait to see your books!
Andrea, the finger-follow is a great tool! I won a “click stick” at CWA one year that helps with that (you can use with or without clicking). Great names…and of course I feel like I know Mewdy Blue from your agility stories, too.
I’ll volunteer Misty. Misty died of old age about twenty years ago. She was a Calico/Blue Cream cross.
Misty could play the piano, chased dogs, once caught a bird by leaping on it as it flew under her (she was about ten feet up in the willow tree), woke my mom every morning right on schedule, had my high school friends so terrified that they wouldn’t sit on the same side of the room with her.
She was about twenty pounds of solid muscle. She also slept on my bed every night, and my wife still says that she was really accepted into the family when Misty settled down on her lap and purred.
Wonderful cat. I miss here.
Wayne
Misty sounds awesome, Wayne. She still has her paw prints on your heart…all the good ones do.
I have a black and white DSH much like the one in your picture. His name is Rocky because he’ll sit on his haunches and bat his paws at me like a prize fighter. If I don’t put food in his dish on command, he stares me down as if to say–feed me NOW, or else! He rolls over for treats and plays fetch with bottle caps.
Not nearly as talented as Debra’s Maine Coon, but darn cute.
I’ve got two 20-lb Maine Coon brothers. And yes, they open doors, fetch toys, walk at my side like dogs and clearly enunciate at least 15 words, including mouse, outside, hello, alright, chow and meh. Maine Coons “trill” so they can sound two syllables. Their names are Puck (from Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Leto (from Dune, General Atreides). My husband (once “not a cat person”) thinks they’re ensorcelled human boys. I like Sherlock or Poirot for a sleuthing Coon!
Debra, “talking” cats, I love that! My Seren always wants the last word, too–but she has trouble with pronunciation, LOL! You hamed Puck and Leto after two of my fav stories (I’ve read the Dune trilogy half a dozen times…the movie wasn’t so great though).
We’ve got a part-Maine-Coon that tries to repeat EVERYTHING we say, it’s funny. He understand an impressive number of English words and phrases, too. (he got the most horrified look in his face once when we told him all the treats in the world were gone)
LOVE Maine Coons. 🙂
ROTFL!!! All the treats gone…what a dirty trick. *eg*
Great idea, Amy! I don’t have any cats in my life these days but lots that live in memories in my heart. It will be great fun to see who wins the contest!
This is going to be a tough one to choose, Patricia, so many GREAT kitty names. Will have to do a column just on names.
Well as corny as it sounds I had a cat named BJ – he was black and white and the love of my life. One time he was about 10 years old and I took him to the vet to be groomed and the groomer wasn’t paying attention and he jumped out of his bath and hit the floor and broke his elbow. We had to take him to Dallas and they had to do surgery and pin it. From that day forward he walked with a limp. Even though the vet paid for the surgery, it didn’t restore my cat’s health. He lived another 9 1/2 years and died in my lap. I have 2 yellow tabbys now that are 7 years old and their names are Macy and Thomas after my soap opera characters on Bold and Beautiful.
Patricia, not corny at all. So sorry about the injury. I can truly say, a wet soapy cat is hard to keep in the tub/sink! So adding BJ, Macy and Thomas to the list. *scribbling*
Portland — for the Maine Coon.
Ohhh Sally, I like that!
Hm… kitties too, eh? I think Anubis could stop the bad guy… as long as said bad guy doesn’t have bananas. And he doesn’t have to walk on grass. LOL But considering he’s a kitty who knows how to lock a deadbolt and is currently working out just how to leverage enough weight to open the treat drawer…….
…Simba would just sleep on them, I think. Or watch Anubis, go “yeah k, you can handle it, I sleep now.” She is very talented at napping these days.
Well the hero cat is indoor-only so grass walking wouldn’t be a problem. *s* And yep, this kitty RULES in the kitchen opening/closing drawers and whatnot. Anubis is an awesome cat name, draws on history. Simba–well another great cat name. Perhaps in Simba’s dreams she’s a kick-butt kitty hero!
I had a solid black cat for over 13 years that I loved and adored and treasured. He quite literally slept on my head for all of those 13 years. He had such personality and style…what a cat!! We got him from a shelter and brought him home. He walked up the stairs with not a nerve or care in the world, flopped down to his side at the top of the stairs and looked at me like “what?!??! Pat me bitch!” LOL!! Never a worry or a care and happy to be home. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him….in his honor, I suggest:
Enigma
Natalie–I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE that name, “Enigma.” What a super name for a kitty. I have to figure out a fair way to choose the winner (fish bowl drawing? *s*) or maybe write another book with BUNCHES of cat names. Thanks so much. Enigma sounds like a true…enigma. 🙂
What a great idea! Unfortunately, I’ve already used Musetta (in my Theda Krakow books) and her various manifestations in other mysteries. Cannot wait to read this!
Musetta is already famous, Clea! And for those reading these comments GO GET CLEA’S BOOKS! You’ll love ’em. *s*