Fmeep the Cat has left us

[Oldcarfan27]

If I may ask, how did he get the name Fmeep? Was that a noise he made?

[SfanGoch]

Cats respond, and are attracted to, odd and unique sounds. That's why choosing a name is important. When Raven was a kitten, I had a debate with my ex about this subject. I told her I could come up with an unusual nickname to which he would answer because the way it sounded would get his attention. She didn't believe me; so, I told her to think of a word and see what happens. She tried about a dozen or so words without any response from him.  "O.K. big shot, let's see what you can do." I said, "Watch this" and said, "Hey, Fmeep!" He turned to me and stared. I walked into another room and repeated. He walked into the room and sat there staring again. I told her to try it herself. She said, "Hey, Fmeep!" and he trotted back into the living room and stopped in front of her. "Smart_ass" was her response. From then, his official nickname was Fmeep.

When we were at the ASPCA in the process of adopting him for my son in 2008, Joseph, who was six, asked, "Why is his name Raven?" Mom replies, "That's because he's black." I looked at her and said, "You're black (actually Spanish on her father's side, West Indian and Irish on her mother's); but, I don't hear anyone calling you Raven." The ASPCA volunteer with us had a nervous expression on his face. His eyeballs darted back and forth to my ex and me, not knowing whether he should laugh or keep a straight face. She comes back with, "Ha ha. That's funny. Wanna know what else is funny?" and whacked my neck brace (I broke my neck in a trucking accident the year before). I hope nobody gets their shorts twisted by this anecdote. My ex and I had, and still do have, a great relationship where we would always bust each other's chops in good fun and not take anything said personally. We're weird like that.

[SfanGoch]

On 6/21/2022 at 12:31 PM, 1972coronet said:

Language barrier is the conclusion I've come to.

I dunno. Fmeep was fluent in English, Polish an Pig Latin.

[1972coronet]

6 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

I dunno. Fmeep was fluent in English, Polish an Pig Latin.

Which dialect of English? ? My companions had quite a few "pet" names:
- Molly Anne Mc Calico: Sugar Heart, Super Girl, Candy, Puma, Cougar, Multi-coloured Mountain Lion.
- Oliver Sabastian: Bratty Brit, Orange (pronounced "Oh-Ranj"), Nathanel Hawthorne, Moon Fruit.

"Fmeep" sounds like 'trilling' or 'chirping', I'd imagine. 

FWIW, I constantly make fun of my Celtic heritage, especially the dominate Cymræg (Welsh), and the famous "thrifty" nature therein.

[SfanGoch]

1 hour ago, 1972coronet said:

Which dialect of English?

Brooklynese, as in the original Greenpernt form, soitenly! Sorta like a feline version of Leo Gorcey.

[stavanzer]

Fmeep Racing!