New cat owner couple argues over new cat's name, "Opossum," internet assures them that changing a cat's name early on is okay: 'Most people have 10+ names for their cat'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Oct 6, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Our cat's names' do matter, as much as people say they don't. Sure, it's not like a person's name, or a dog, where they definitely won't respond to other names. A cat is a little more confused, and even I'm not sure my cat knows his name (but I'm pretty sure he does…). The point is that the name matters, but of course that doesn't mean one can't change it, like what happens to the couple in the story below. 

They get a new cat together who already has the name Opossum. Personally, I think Opossum is an adorable name, but I guess it's not for everyone, or maybe it doesn't fit the cat. But the girlfriend in the story wants to change his name, and her boyfriend disagrees, arguing that it's cruel to change the cat's name after it's already been given the name. But read the full story below, and comment whether you think Opossum is a keeper, or going to be changed. 

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  • 01

    AITAH for wanting to change the name of the cat my boyfriend and I adopted?

    Adopted cat
    via Inge Wallumrød from Pexels / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I'm going to try and keep this simple, my boyfriend and I just adopted a cat who is about 9 months old. She came with the
    via u/expiredducks
  • 03
    name Opossum. I want to change her name, I'm just not a huge fan of the name Opossum. My boyfriend thinks it's wrong to
    via u/expiredducks
  • 04
    take a living creatures name and change it just because. I argued she's had her name for about a month and doesn't even know
    via u/expiredducks
  • 05
    Couple disagreeing
    via Africa images / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    it/respond to it. He still thinks I'd be in the wrong. So I guess WOULD I be the a h le for changing her name?
    via u/expiredducks

  • I tried to do the same thing when I got my cat, Ty. He came with the name, and though I thought it was cute, I thought it could be something cuter and more special. I tried many things, but eventually nothing felt as right as “Ty” did. 

  • 07
    Edit: this has so many comments and thank you, I'm trying to read them all but probably won't respond to all. I didn't expect to
    via u/expiredducks
  • 08
    get this much attention about my cats name Imao. But reading the comments it sounds like most people have 10+ names for their
    via u/expiredducks
  • 09
    cat. And tbh the cat we've had for almost two years now, his name is Gon but we call him Groan, Groanka, Gonster, Stinky, etc. so I
    via u/expiredducks
  • 10
    think we'll probably just end up going the route of multiple names because that's ultimately what happens to kitties. But to
    via u/expiredducks
  • 11
    whoever said that we're just giving them names that bond with us because they already have their own name that we'll
    via u/expiredducks
  • 12
    never understand, I've never thought of it that way but I love it. Thanks for everyone's input, Opossum will probably have many names in her life :)
    via u/expiredducks
  • 13
    H. NTA, I've changed the names of all my rescues.
    via u/H
  • 14
    And yes, they all adjusted to their new names easily and respond to those names.
    via u/H
  • 15
    They also respond to the million silly nicknames derived from the new names.
    via u/H
  • 16
    Danny_Mc_71 Change it. The cat doesn't give a flying f call it. what you
    via u/Danny_Mc_71
  • 17
    ImAnNPCsoWhat NTA. The shelter made up her name most likely. Also names of pets evolve over
    via u/ImAnNPCsoWhat
  • 18
    Cat adoption
    via FatCamera / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    time. My cat had about 6 names in her first year of life.
    via u/ImAnNPCsoWhat
  • 20
    Dan12211954 Cat's don't care what you call them as long as you feed them, keep the litter box clean and do what they say.
    via u/Dan12211954
  • 21
    Embarrassed-Lan... NTA The cats I adopted last year were Jay Z and J Lo.
    via u/Embarrassed-Land-222
  • 22
    No way I was keeping those names.
    via u/Embarrassed-Land-222
  • 23
    They are now Lucifer and Lilith.
    via u/Embarrassed-Land-222

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