Originally posted on 30 January 2012
If you hadn’t noticed it in the photos you might have guessed from the name that I arrived in this world decorated with stripes. I’ve still got stripes in fact and expect to stay that way for life. I’m very proud of my stripes. I think they are elegant, suave and sophisticated. Such striped perfection is anything but common despite human prejudice: tabby cat, common moggy......who do they think they are referring to? Me?
Not me.
In French I am Le Tigré. Now that’s a moniker with more than a nod to my big orange cousins. F was learning French around the time I adopted them and referred to me over the weeks that I spent checking out their garden and house as Le Tigré. Now here, I thought, is a human that acknowledges my status, respects and understands my cool charm, my refined chic, my lithe and sinuous grace. (*Note from the secretary:Mr B tells me he did the ‘eyes’ things like the cat in Shrek.)
Imagine my dismay to discover on moving in that they decided I need a name, “...as opposed to a description” she said, and they turned Le Tigré into plain ol’ Tigger. It ain’t common I tell you; it’s just a human thing this naming business. The more familiar they get the more the name morphs: Mr T – is OK, Wigger Woo – is not. Moosh is just plain weird, and oi usually means I am in some kind of trouble.
Gail can't hear the name Tigger without thinking of Winnie the Pooh.
ReplyDeleteTigger is a very apt name for such a handsome stripy creature.
ReplyDeleteThe naming of cats is important, as T. S. Eliot remarked in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
ReplyDeleteyou are a perfect Le Tigre and now i might go see how to pronounce this and start calling Beau Le Tigre, he has stripes too... miss you Tigger
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDelete...and now you can add Angel - an honorific of true value! You served such wonderfurs years to your adopted ones that, though you now be in the ether, your presence remains in their hearts forever. This is the essence of angelic. Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx
I agree with JayCee your Tigger name is perfect.
ReplyDeleteNames are funny things. Humans try them out until they find one they think fits. And that rolls of the tongue easily. Tigger is a fine name. And you had the most elegant stripes!
ReplyDeleteTigger, I found that my animal friends pretty much told me their names. Quite fancy ones. Like Annabelle Esmeralda, my first stripey friend, started life in a dumpster, but on velvet after she came to my house.
ReplyDeleteLe Tigre with your wonderful stripes, a perfect name for a majestic cat. But Tigger is so much easier on the tongue
ReplyDeleteOi lol yes. When my furbabies are playing and it gets out of control I yell oi!
ReplyDeleteThey all stop and look at me.
I think it’s the perfect universal moniker for those about to get into trouble
RIP Sir Tigger, and I think he deserves that title. I've always had tabby cats, I think they have the best personalities.
ReplyDelete