BEIGATTI MAINE COONS

I am finding myself in the position of having to name a cat again.  I may be getting a new female to add to my brood, and one would think that naming kittens would be fun, but I over-analyze and get all tied up in knots when naming cats.  Consider this...I had 9 months to name my 3 human children, and yet none of them were named until I had a baby in my arms, ready to leave the hospital, and some impatient bureaucrat was tapping her foot saying, "this baby needs a name before you go home!"

So, back to kitten names.  Many breeders have a "theme."  Some name their kittens after songs, others after tv shows, another after Native-American names.  My "theme" is to give each kitten an Italian name, simply because "Beigatti" means beautiful cats in Italian, my heritage is Italian, and it seemed like a good idea when I started out.

Oh but there are rules...

The breeder's cattery name must go first, then the kitten name, then the owner of the kitten's cattery name.  You end up with things like "Hockinghairballs Lucinda of Poopybottom" - except one is only allowed 35 characters in the cat's name.  Also, there is a "call name" - what you will actually call the cat.  So many decisions.

Additionally, it is common to "honor" the breeder of the cat by selecting a name which combines their theme and yours.  For example, if their theme is famous movies and your cats all have a wild west theme going on, the cat might be named "Midnight Cowboy."

My breeding cats have been named "America" (a good Italian name), "Biscotta," "Divina Comedia," "Nata di Marzo," and "Dolcetta Nera."  I am now looking for another name.

Oh I have some names in mind for future cats.  I'd love to have a cat named "Spaghetti Western," and "Leave the gun, take the cannoli."  But right now I need a name for a female, no more than thirteen characters.  It can be an Italian wine, a movie, a song title, an expression.

Send me your suggestions, before "whatshername" comes to live with us.

Beigatti Tiramisu ca. 2005