What's in a name?

The naming of cats is a difficult matter. It isn't just one of your holiday games. You may think at first I'm mad as a hatter. When I tell you a cat must have three different names... - T.S. Eliot

The Fab Five + Nala the queen cat:

Nala, my queen cat - my son was 2 years when Nala came into the family, his favorite movie was The Lion King, Nala is Simba's (The Lion King) mate in the movie, I also found out this was a Swahili word that meant gift & it was perfect for her.

King Tutankhamen - I have always had a love for history & ancient Egypt is a favorite. I also remember reading the Marmaduke comic strip as a kid & there was a Siamese Cat that would make appearances from time to time & his name was King Tut & I thought that was cute. Plus, he really is a king, so the name fits!

Phoebe - Also in my love for history, Greek mythology is an interest. Phoebe is a big calico with a round white face. In Greek mythology Phoebe was one of the original Titan goddesses and is associated with the moon. Plus I was heavy into my geneaology research at the time and the name Phoebe makes several appearances in my family tree.

Gypsy Lady - Well this little Maine Coon popped into our garage almost 3 years ago to give birth & has never left. I found good homes for all the kittens & she found her home here. Gypsy from the Cher song Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, and then I added the Lady because there is a Brooks & Dunn song called My Maria and there is one verse "Gypsy Lady" & the way he sings it, well I just love it!!!

Darby O'Gill - This gent belonged to the previous owner of our house, who was left by them. He was an outside cat at that time, we have since brought him in and made him an inside kitty. So Darby was his original name and the O'Gill came from my mom because she remembered the old fairy tales about the Irishman of the same name.

Kiara - Nala, who was a beautiful blue-gray and white dsh, passed away on Sept 16th, 2008. We buried her at the end of my herb garden next to a big flat rock. The week she passed this little bit of dark striped gray & white Maine Coon cat showed up on my front porch and her favorite place to lay was on the rock next to Nala's grave. Kiara then became our 3rd Maine Coon adoption. Nala being named after the Lion King movie, it seemed fitting the one sent in her place also be named from the movie, Kiara was Nala's daughter in the movie, so we now have our Kiara who is my little fairy kitty.