Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.
A rose, by any other name, smells as sweet, goes the famous quote. Stay with me, here, because it’s not all about Shakespeare today. But rather, about the nomenclature. Specifically, the names we use to refer to our pets.
The poet TS Elliot wrote about Cat Name, in what was inspired by a musical phenomenon. From him, we learned that cats have different names, and each name requires a lot of thought. As a weak example, Pancakes are usually P-Cakes, Panda Cakes, or just Cakes; if he hit Tiller on the head he might just be a P!!!. But further, and in a vein of thought that doesn’t exactly exemplify what TS Elliot is referring to, what about the names we use when referring to our relationships with our cats? What am I in Pancakes? His owner? His foster parents? His mother? If you’ll forgive one final Shakespearean reference, therein lies the rub.
This is a complex question, which deserves some thought.
Pet Terminology Over Time
Domestic Animals: domesticated about 15,000 years ago; unimaginable without them gracing our houses—muddy feet, stolen food, hair—always hair, and the occasional 3:00 am hairball found on the way to the bathroom. The word pet itself is believed to have originated in the 1500s from a Scottish or Gaelic word peata, referring to dear, small, or domesticated animals.
Recent decades have seen major changes, both in the medicine with which we provide care to our pets, and the legality and welfare issues with which we supplement their lives. For example, we didn’t know what hyperthyroidism was in cats until recent decades, and only in recent years has there been an effective treatment for the deadly feline disease “feline infectious peritonitis”, thanks in large part. to COVID-19.
Consumerism, too, likely factors in, as playing on the emotions of consumers who own pets potentially influences their behaviors. In this way, capitalism makes good use of the relationship between pet and owner, to turn the relationship with our pets into a tangible commodity. As one UK pet insurance company says, some of the terminology is driven by the “pet pound”—where people are more likely to spend money on the pets they humanize. In the US, might the equally appropriate terminology be the cat’s coin, or the dog’s dollar?
Simultaneously, people like Temple Grandin have opened our eyes to new ways, in recent years, to approach animal welfare; with this, and other advocates, comes a host of new concerns about the ethics and legality of pets. Rethinking moral dilemmas and debates also means rethinking the terms that indicate the nature of the relationship between pet and human. It also helps to better determine the law that is therefore applicable.
The Changing Paradigm of the Pet-Human Relationship
One study, not surprisingly, found that the more pet owners anthropomorphized their animals (seeing them as having human characteristics), the more social support they received. from their pet, and furthermore, they increasingly treat their pet as a team. With the increasing anthropomorphic tendency of pet ownership (consider how often you now see a dog outside in the rain without a jacket?), it’s no wonder that most younger pet owners animal views pets as family and not just pets—often mentioned. they love their cat or dog more than their own mother. With such a strong bond, it’s no wonder that terminology like “pet parent” instead of owner, has emerged to reflect the evolution of the pet-human relationship.
I’ll be honest that I never really loved the term pet parent, or cat mom, even though, in essence, that’s who I am. Both Tiller and Pancake depend on me for everything: food, water, shelter, health care. But all the same, I don’t own these cats any more than they own me. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, with certainly a lot of emotion behind it. Pancake gets upset when he isn’t fed at exactly 5:00 am, and again at 7:00 am, and he really hates being brushed, and flea treatments put on, but loves cheese and chin scratches. I know these things because I care about him so much, but trying to pin that down in common words is difficult.
Perhaps a better way to look at the subject is to borrow again from TS Elliot: naming cats is a difficult thing…or as another famous poet put it: Let it be.
And if you’ll excuse me, on that note, I’m going to go hug Rum Tum Tigger.
Postscript Tips
Regardless of the terminology, things I recommend as a veterinarian that you as a caregiver/owner/foster parent/guardian can do to keep your cat healthy and happy:
- Make sure your cat has an annual vet visit. For cats that don’t like to travel, consider a housecall vet. Regardless, it’s an important relationship when your cat gets sick, and vets can help you spot the early signs of illness before they start.
- Invest in pet insurance. As a vet, I hope all my patients have insurance.
- Get your cat spayed or neutered. This is very beneficial for their health, in the long run.
- Do not feed on trendy foods. Look for tried and true brands, talk to your vet, and find out what works among those options for your cat. It’s easy to make bad food, and it’s hard to make good food. That’s why very few companies can do it.
- Enjoy time with your pets. This may be the most important tip here. It may be hard to remember when you step on a hairball on your way to the bathroom, but pets are here for less time than we are. It’s easy to forget how much fun they bring, as they share all those intimate, everyday moments with us, from the good to the bad. Take time to play, relax, and cuddle them. You deserve both!
