I’ve never been a fan of baby talk. I’ve never been a goo-goo ga-ga type. My son would often look at me and babble away. I would simply look at him and return the conversation with, “Oh really? That’s an interesting theory. I’ve never heard it proposed that way.” It was funny to me but now that his vocabulary just about exceeds mine and his mouth never stops moving, I’m not so sure.
Yet when it comes to my pets, I become a babbling idiot with drool down my chin. I make up the silliest names. This time I wonder if it’s them looking at me saying, “Really, master? Must you resort to such juvenile speech patterns?”
I’ve always grown up with lots and lots of animals. But I think my pet names got worse once I became an adult with my own fur family. I know you think it’s impossible as I tend to be wordy or, as I prefer to say it, articulate. But without further ado, let me show you how and when my IQ drops about 50 points.
My dog Emma
Emma is a toy poodle that has been with us for a little over a year. She has a cataract in one eye and no teeth (she was a survivor of a puppy mill). Despite her shyness and fearfulness of men, she’s perfect. Except for a few “accidents.”
My names for Emma:
- Eminem (not meant to emulate the singer; I’m thinking more of the candies M&M)
- Eminator
- Emination (my husband thought of this one)
- Em
- Baby Girl
- Emmamamamama
- Emmylou
If you survived that list, you’re ready for more.
My dog Holden
Holden was a totally amazing Lhasa Apso that we lost last December. Full of personality and joy and attitude (also known as lhasatude). Holden was originally known as Horace and was a retired showdog who was surrendered when his owner went into a nursing home.
My names for Holden:
- Holdencakes
- Holdycakes
- Cakes
- Cakeys
- H
- H-cakes
- Horace (when we were mad at him)
- Blondie (he was a bit of a ditz)
- Garbage Truck Mouth (boy, that breath of his)
I’m not sure where the cake connection came in but it stuck.
My dog Einstein
Einstein was another Lhasa Apso who had quite a different life than Holden. He started his life named Steeler. We think he was from the Pittsburgh area but the name was more suited for his appetite. He would steal any food he could. He ate an entire plate of unguarded French toast. He took a swipe at my dinner plate and swallowed a sharp object. That was an expensive trip to the emergency vet. He was beatean, starved, and abused. But we loved him.
My names for Einstein:
- Einey
- Steiner
- E-man
- Frank-einstein (his scar from his emergency surgery was prominent!)
- Junkyard Dog
- Mu Shu Pork (don’t ask me)
Finally, we get to the kitties. I have two cats, Arnie and Josie. Both are striped tabbies. I don’t come up with as many ridiculous names. I think because cats always have the look of just being so far above whatever is coming out of your mouth. You could put a steak in front of them and they would wait to eat it until they were good and ready. But I still torture them anyway.
My cat Arnie
Arnie was a second chance kitty. I got him when he was 6 years old. He’s been with me from my single years living in an apartment to my married years with a full house. He’s been my companion through the years. He’s more like the anti-cat as he’s calm, cool, and affectionate. My husband says he’s more like a dog. I think he’s a mutant alien transmitting information to the mother ship through his gigantic eyes.
My names for Arnie:
- Arnie Barney
- Arniecat
- Ahhhhhnie
- Arnie, Arnie, Bo, Barney
- Arn
And then there was one.
My cat Josie
Josie is probably my least interesting pet. She’s an overweight cat who likes to lay around. She mostly hides and when she comes out of hiding, she’s looking for food. However, if you pull out a cat toy, especially a laser pointer, you will see that she is always close by. Watching. Waiting.
My names for Josie
- Jo Jo
- Josie Bear
- Jose
- Pretty Girl
- Fat Cat (I’m a little worried about this one giving her a complex)
And that wraps up my fur family. When it comes to my human family, I’m not so much about nicknames. I’m not as soft and squishy as I am with animals. Maybe it’s because I know they can’t and won’t ridicule me for sounding so foolish. Now don’t you do it.
18 comments
lol! i do the same thing! i have 2 cats Casey and Lucy….but they usually are
casey case, biggie, biggie smalls, casey jones, case man, and lucy is loo loo, pretty, lucy loose, girl girl to name a few! they are so smart that they know all their different names and come when called!
I do the same thing with my dog. Ruby is our dog and I often call her Rubydoo or Rubes. Don't do that as much with our 2 cats, but I'm constantly asking them “What are you doing?” in a high pitched voice. Thankfully, my husband loves me anyway.
I am in LOVE with all your pets. And as I read through their nicknames, I was doing it in my head in the same voice I reserve to talk to my two guys.
GUILTY! Dasher our dog becomes dasher-doo, dasher-boiiii, dasherdoodle. Shimmer the cat is ofter shimmer-shake,shimmyshimmycocopuff. Paprika the cat is poh-pika, pikagirrl. Just terrible! But I can't help myself!
GUILTY! Dasher our dog becomes dasher-doo, dasher-boiiii, dasherdoodle. Shimmer the cat is ofter shimmer-shake,shimmyshimmycocopuff. Paprika the cat is poh-pika, pikagirrl. Just terrible! But I can't help myself!
Your dogs are SOOOO cute!! I just want to smoosh their little faces.
And while I am not a cat person, they are cute too.
Your dogs are SOOOO cute!! I just want to smoosh their little faces.
And while I am not a cat person, they are cute too.
So true!! And my family is from europe, where every name gets lengthened to make the named sound smaller. Go figure. Our dog Gypsy became Gypson, Gypsonel, and from there it transfromed into Neener. Don't ask me how.
Also: Your pets are sooooo cute.
I'm sure we confuse the heck out of our pets 🙂
You'll be glad to know I saved a dog today by using that high pitched voice. It can be used for good, you know.
Well, unfortunately Holden and Einstein are no longer with us but they were such a big part of our lives I couldn't leave them out!
I think Dasher must totally be into the nicknames. But Shimmer? Well, I would just watch your back while you're sleeping.
Only Emma is still with us 🙁 but my husband says he is ready to add to the furry brood again. Better start thinking of more ridiculous nicknames.
I can get that. My own family calls me Fadrissimo. We're not ethnic. I guess they just liked that 🙂
These puppies are precious! I want one! If only I could convince my husband that we need one!
Stopping by from SITS and TheGrasshoppa's post today. 🙂
Your pets are precious! I couldn't resist baby talking them either. The picture of Emma makes my heart melt. 🙂
Anna – so glad you found my blog and hope you stop by again. I think I'm going to have to start paying The Grasshoppa 🙂
Some of her behaviors wouldn't make your heart melt but she is a sweetie deep down inside. Thanks for stopping by!