Naming a cat

 To name a cat

 To name a cat

Keren said that since she (our new cat), is white and a replacement for Meir, who died just a  few months prior, we should name her Penina like the one in the poem we all liked so much. It said something like “Meir met Penina next to the garbage pan…” I couldn’t remember the exact words because the book was left behind when we left our home in Israel together with all the books I used to read to the girls. Meir was a definite favorite, especially the poem about him falling from the third floor balcony, and his voice becoming fainter and fainter as he was getting closer to the ground and away from the balcony. But cats always fall on the paws and so he was good and ready to meet Penina in the next chapter of the book.

“I don’t think so, “I said, holding firm to my side of the discussion. “A cat from the garbage is one thing, but this old fashion name? “I looked at this beautiful female cat I just purchased with all my money and she looked at me with her clear blue eyes. No, this will not do! To give this lovely kitten a name that belongs to a wrinkly old lady.

So how about ‘Chatul’ Tal just had to bud-in, enjoying the growing tension. It is Hebrew for a male cat, and I knew she was using Chuck’s mother’s favorite story on how they named her favorite female Schnauzer ‘Kekev’ that is Hebrew for a male dog. But by the time the mistake was discovered it was too late to change the name and she remained ‘Kelev’ for the rest of her life.

“I don’t think this is funny,” I was getting irritated yet realizing everyone else is having fun on my account I kept my cool. Naming while some people find it easy is a constant hurdle in my family. Each one of the girls was at risk of remaining nameless or ‘the baby,’ if not for my parents and other concerned relatives pushing us to “be serious and name the baby.”

I was well aware of the danger of not naming the cat immediately as she stepped into our house. I am also a true believer in the power of names to make a statement, both about the one who names and the one who is being named. Often, so I heard, a change of a name can change one’s life; have a healing effect open the door to success, and so much more. 

At that point my husband stepped in, with one look assessed the situation and quick to act, as usual, declared “I don’t understand what the problem, she is white like snow, so snow is a perfect name for her, and in Hebrew ‘Sheleg’” and so it came to be that my beautiful white, blue eyed cat is carrying such a mundane name.

Fortunately, she does not mind. I did sneak a quick peek to the numerological meaning of her name which said in this exact words; “Represents high verbal expression, understanding and intuition gifted, charismatic and kindhearted. Have a tendency to innovate, dynamic, supportive and understanding. Often think about others and not about themselves. Kind, sympathetic, generous, support and help, direct, with confidence, may be too stubborn and dominance.”

I am not sure about the kindness, understanding and support, but when she nudges me in the middle of the night or trying to push her way into my space in the bed, I nod with resignation, she cannot avoid it, stubbornness and dominance is part of her naming.