The kitten-naming process is not an easy one. With each litter, I spend hours looking for names in old census reports, year books, movie credits, album liner notes and phone books. I read signs and employee name tags. I'll search wikipedia for topics like "romantic composers" or "depression era bankers". I take it quite seriously, and always hope to find the perfect name for every kitten.
So,, after days and days of thinking about the new kitties,, I decided that "Josephine" was a good fit for the only little girl in the litter. Then Craig, who rarely puts his two cents in on the subject informs me her name is "Bunny".
I laughed at him at first, and then it sunk in, and I realized it made complete sense. She is a Bunny.
The next morning, I called Sue and told her about Craig's suggestion. She had a similar initial reaction, but after it sunk in, it made complete sense to her too.
So meet Josephine "Bunny" Ashby. She'll answer to either names, but at this stage in her life, prefers to be called "Bunny".
Oh Laurie. Once again the suspense was just long enough to keep us hooked. The way you do that is part of the fun of being an IBKC addict.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Bunny! So glad to know ye! Charmed, I'm sure.
Yay for Bunny! That's my nickname too!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great name! I love when cats have people names. Plus she is so cute!
ReplyDeleteWill she be attending the races at Ascot? She sounds rather high society. And rightly so.
ReplyDeleteWell, of course her name is Bunny. It makes perfect sense to me as I often Tell Potter and Beatrix (and both dogs) that they are my little bunny rabbits. She'll need to keep Josephine as well because it is also perfect for her.
ReplyDeleteI'm all about loving the Ashby family.
she is so lovely. i seem to always look at kittens with the idea of what they will look like as grown cats, and i think bunny is going to be a gorgeous adult kitty.
ReplyDeletethe pink lips! beautiful, so amazingly clean!
she looks so little and petite.
how much do the kittens weigh?
yeah for Josephine 'Bunny' Ashby!
I am reading "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahir and much is said about the Bengali practice of giving a child a 'pet name' that they are called by the family and the 'good name' which they go by the world at large.It is an interesting and compelling practice. Clearly, Josephine Ashby is a force to be recognized, but we also need to accept that she is also "Bunny" to those who love her.
ReplyDeleteHello Bunny! You look like my ideal cat, all black and white and pink and cute. I like Josephine as your Sunday name but I think Bunny is perfect. Love to your brothers!
ReplyDeleteAaaah! I see that Josephine is going to have a bit of trouble keeping that spray of white that spans her from forehead to belly under control - as it floofs out everywhere! What an adorable little Bunny!
ReplyDeleteOK - I've lost my heart to this little one, so will be moving to Seattle!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Josephine Bunny! Both names suit you very, very well.
Little Miss Josephine Bunny Ashby you are a beauty!
ReplyDeleteAwww! Precious girl!
ReplyDeleteWelcome little Bunny Ashby. I think you're going to like it here. And in a few days you'll get to meet your foster kitty mama. Butterbean can't wait to meet you. She'll love you more if you roll around in your kitten food first.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little tuxie kitten she is... ;)
ReplyDeleteHello little Jo Bunny!!
Josephine Bunny is a perfect little lady with a perfect little name.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Jim would notice that she's not really a bunny. Do you think she could live happily with Lofa Bun in his cage with lots of hop-around time? If we keep it a secret, it just might work! I'm on my way to steal her!
Oh that beautiful pink nose and pouty little pink mouth...so cute and lovable and kissable!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of IBKC little gorgeous Bunny!
honey bunny
ReplyDeleteOooo ... Josephine! The most famous Josephine I can think of was Josephine Baker.
ReplyDeleteBunny fits this little love perfectly.
Awen, I came to think about the same Josephine. Bunny is definitely dressed for a party in her fluffy tux...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful portrait, lovely name. I also like the last name--I had a very beloved professor in college whose last name was Ashby.
ReplyDeleteBunny, honey, you've made my day. :) *very delicate ear skritches*
Hello Sweetie! Josephine Bunny is a perfect name for a perfect kitty. We are so lucky to meet you.
ReplyDeleteLittle Bunny Foo Foo!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty, pretty girl!
Little Bunny Foo Foo!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty, pretty girl!
I love her! She is a little Bunny.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to what Anonymous said, in Thailand there is a similar practice to give children formal "Sunday" names but call them by their "pet" or nicknames. The practice holds until they grow up. For instance, my father's name is Surapon (which strangers or colleagues would call him) but nears and dears would call him Ott (which means Frog).
ReplyDeleteSo it just makes perfect sense for this little lady to be Bunny, but she gets introduced as Josephine.
Getting excited about the birthday party and introductions!
Sunday can't come soon enough. Beware the Ides of March!
ReplyDeleteNow we know what our Tilly looked like as a kitten! Definitely a Josephine Bunny, this little lady.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get so many kitties in the house, I guess you will get out of names... Bunny is a funny nickname.
ReplyDeleteShe's darling. She looks like a Josie to me, although all her names are good.
ReplyDeleteHellooo Josephine!
ReplyDeleteI named a cat Josephine once. She was a very elegant, long legged, friendly grey cat with a weird skin disease who would visit my backyard in college. She had the air of a jazz dancer, hence the name. We eventually sent her off to the ASPCA and were happy to hear that it was a treatable fungal skin thing, but not sure what happened to her from there. She was a real charmer so I have no doubt she found a fantastic forever-home.
Chanter –
ReplyDeleteMiss Josephine has such an adorable pouty, pink nose and mouth with her incredibly white collar of floof forming an adorable peak between her solemn eyes, around her neck (mostly) and disappearing on what promises to be an adorable, rubbable kitten belly.
Accenting her black fur is a luscious set of WHITE whiskers and eyebrows. Maybe even a tuft in each ear and many guard hairs along her front paws, leading to a pair of white spats on her front paws.
She is determined to project an air of innocence…but we all expect otherwise…don’t we?
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On a different note - I knew a cat named rabbit who crossed the rainbow bridge last year. A sweet ticked tabby...
ReplyDeleteWElcome to the IBKC, Miss Bunny!
Wow. I knew the naming process was done thoughtfully, I just didn't realize *how* thoughtfully. No wonder you get the perfect names for these darlings.
ReplyDeleteIs this how Charlene Butterbean was named, too?
What a charmer this sweet little Hunny Bunny is.
Why, oh why, do I not live close enough to take that fabulous, beautiful kitteh??
ReplyDeleteSomething is not right with the world if I cannot have that cuteness.
whiksers
I was wondering how you picked the names Laurie. I think this one fits!
ReplyDeleteIf's she's half as sweet natured as my dear departed Josephine (AKA Joe C. Feeny), she's a fluffylump of sugar! Welcome, Bunny Josephine!
ReplyDeleteI know I start about half my comments (if not more) this way, but... awww! Hi there pretty little Josephine Bunny! You sound absolutely adorable. *scritchies*
ReplyDeleteIf it means anything, the only bunny rabbit I've known personally was a huuuuge lovebug called Checkers. He was seriously loved on as a teeny thing, and when he got older he started giving affection back; I never thought bunnies were kissy and cuddly before I knew him! *spreads the love by sending a few more scritches to Bunny-kitten*
ALL the very most sophisticated entertainers have nicknames which can be used by their BEST friends....somehow I'm sure that WE will be allowed to call her "Bunny". For my part? If I'm talking to the press I'll only refer to her as "Josephine" or even "Miss Ashby"
ReplyDeleteIt's not just in Bengal areas or Thailand that you have "face names" and "family names"--the practice was, and is, still really common in a lot of Native American communities too.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, she DOES definitely read "bunny". :D
Nice to meet you bunny!
ReplyDeleteBunny cats are very special creatures, and I should know because I've shared my home with one for 12 years. If this Bunny is anything like my Bunny, she will grow up to be a very pretty and sweet girl (with just the right amount of sass).
ReplyDeleteI have a cat named The Bunny, and he and I both approve. ;)
ReplyDeleteOMG! I have a cute little dilute calico cat named Bunny! I didn't know it at the time but she named herself. I am certain of that every time she goes hopping and jumping through the living room....and don't even get me started on the goofy mid-air twists and sproings. May your bunny find the shear joy of mid-air sproings as my bunny does.
ReplyDeleteEr, that comment with the bunny called Checkers story in it was me. I'm on a computer that eats letters every now and again.
ReplyDeleteI AM MEEEELLLLTINNNG.... - Jeanne
ReplyDelete