The Naming of Cats
I live in a flat/apartment. Sometimes I feel the need to go down and walk around the buildings.
I see very interesting stuff.
As I said before, I really love animals. Near here there is a group of shy cats. I think people like them around since i'm not the only one that feeds them (yeah, I know that I shouldn't do that...But hey, don't judge me...They are nice cats!)
Today I went to give them a little "proteiny" treat (aka meat, cats need loads of protein in their diets! lul). I usually visit a smaller group that lives right beneath my building but they weren't there so I went a little further. Well, it was amazing how they smelled the food right away. A group of about 6 cats appeared. I think they enjoyed the meal.
You might think that talking about this is lame (i live alone with a lovebird okay?), but animals are a huge part of my life: soon i will become a vet! hooray! (not that soon...unfortunately...still 2 years from that...)
One of those cats made me recall this poem by T. S. Elliot - The Naming of Cats
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey -
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter -
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum -
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover -
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
This is why I am naming those cats!