Internet Obsessed With Cat's Fur Markings for One NSFW Reason

Picking a name for a pet is no easy task, which is why one owner took to Reddit and asked for name suggestions, but the answers they received were unexpected.

Reddit user u/martindukz posted to the subreddit channel r/funny a picture of the unnamed brown, white and black calico cat sitting on a footrest. Within four days, the post received over 27,000 upvotes and almost 10,000 comments.

People were basing their suggestions on a specific physical characteristic. The shape of the black fur marking on her lower back immediately gave people ideas; however, the suggestions weren't what the owner expected. People flooded the comment section with not-safe-for-work name options.

The owner commented on the post, saying the cat's name is Chili, but based on the marking, they are open to renaming her; hence, the post to Reddit.

Newsweek reached out to u/martindukz via Reddit for additional comment.

"I may be a little dark, but I see a middle finger in that black splotch. I won't make any name suggestions," commented one Reddit user.

Others suggested subtle names after humans such as Richard or the author Charles Dickens. A more subtle name idea was Clickbait "because that mark looks like a computer mouse."

Not everyone had their heads in the gutter. Someone asked: "Am I the only one that thinks it's a lighthouse?"

Another added: "It also looks like a backshot of another cat which has raised its tail."

Naming Cats

Deciding one name for your cat can sometimes be overwhelming. You might toy with one back and forth, but something doesn't seem to fit it. The good news is you don't need to rush.

An article from Catster suggested that owners take their time to get to know their cat and their personalities. By bonding with them, you can see if they are on the shy side or full of energy. A feline's appearance could also spark ideas for names. For example, black cats might be named after witches, leaning into the spookiness associated with them and Halloween.

Perhaps you can look into human names—a famous celebrity, someone you admire, or honoring a family member who passed. Use your interests to inspire you, such as a favorite song or place. And if you are still stuck, get friends and family involved in the naming process.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.