There are several benefits to getting a pet, including companionship, increased physical activity and an improvement in mental health.
Many pet owners get joy from coming home to their animals and pets quickly become part of the family. They can be a source of stress relief for adults and provide comfort to those who live alone.
Children also benefit from having a pet in the home as it teaches them responsibility and as they develop a close bond with the pet this creates lasting positive memories. Lots of households in the UK have a furry friend as dogs and cats are the most common.
It’s always exciting getting a new pet and watching them settle into their new home. Owners have to make a number of decisions when adding a new pet into their lives, such as where the animal will sleep, eat and play, but one of the most important things they have to decide is what to name their pet.
Pets, like humans, respond to their names and one man shared on Reddit that he is picking up two brother cats and has a specific rule when it comes to their monikers. He posted a picture of the felines in a cage and invited other users to give some name suggestions and said only the “funniest names” will be chosen.
The post garnered 12,000 upvotes and 4,000 comments with many people responding. One user said: “I had 2 brothers like that 40 years ago when Saturday Night Live poked fun at Arnold Schwarzenegger. I named them after the characters – Hans and Franz.”
Another added: “Bill and Ted, because they are about to embark on an excellent adventure.” A third commented: “Forget the funny names. I know a Kevin and Steve when I see them.”
Others gave suggestions, including “Simon and Garfunkel”, “Ben and Jerry” and “Frank and Beans.” Someone else drew inspiration from a cartoon as they remarked: “Heckle and Jeckle: 2 mischievous and entertaining brothers – magpies – from the 1940’s cartoons.”
A number of iconic animal duos have featured in TV shows, from Tom and Jerry to Chip and Dale to Garfield and Odie. The Spruce Pets has given some advice on naming your cat, acknowledging that choosing a good moniker can prove a challenge.
It recommends taking your time, noting you could be using this name for more than 15 years. Domestic cats live between 13 to 20 years on average.
The pet care advice organisation also states to pick a name that is simple and easy to say, highlighting if the name is too complicated, your cat will likely get confused. It advises picking a name that is two syllables or less.
Another tip The Spruce Pets gives is to consider the other names and try not to pick something that sounds too similar to anyone else living at home, human or animal. It gave the example of naming your cat Mo and having a dog called Joe.