Well, I haven’t directly left any of my own genes to posterity, though about a quarter of them reside in my nephew (who has yet to produce progeny), and a few are in my cousins. But it doesn’t matter: I’ve left my legacy in cats. Reader Gayle Ferguson named an abandoned kitten “Jerry Coyne” a few years back, and that kitten, now a gloriously furred orange tabby male, has a loving home in New Zealand.
And I’m busting with pride to report that, within the past 24 hours, two more cats have been named Jerry Coyne. One of them, found by reader Robin, was inspired by the Halloween Black Caturday post. Delighted and motivated by the parade of black cats, Robin went to her local animal shelter looking specifically for a black kitten (she already has two black cats and a black d*g). Her notes and a photo:
Jerry Phoolendu Coyne. (Phoolendu is the god of the full moon, and of course I already have Artemis and Luna.)Jerry is a 9 week old domestic shorthair and went into foster care at the end of September. Kali, my 11 month old female puppy, is over the moon to have a kitten to cuddle, lick, and watch over. Jerry seems quite happy about the attention. So I now have a kitty for each floor.
And reader Laurie reports an influx of cats to her front porch—cats that apparently are attracted by her and partner Gethyn’s black cat Theo (he drinks espresso). Already one black cat showed up, and was given the anagram name Etho, and then another. But there’s also a new one that’s been named Jerry Coyne. Photo and notes below:
I am counting now. There was a third (Coroange); but, he ran away when I showed up with the camera. The little black and white one comes often now, so, he shall be called Jerry Coyne. If you look really carefully, you can see Theo crouching under the blinds. Poor Theo. He is not happy with all these cats around.
Jerry, now you need to start kvetching about your namesakes having children, so you can kvell your grandchildren.
They may have to start going with Roman numbers to avoid the confusion. Jerry 1st, Jerry 2nd and on down the line. Jerry XX
The other two are impostors!
The world has more than enough humans. Much better for more of us to bequeath our legacies to felines.
b&
I’m sure that some Smilodon agreed with you.
George Foreman named 5 sons George and 1 daughter Georgette….. so Jerry has a way to go. And Gerry can be used for female cats. So, Jerry, you have some wiggle room!
And Jerry Phoolendu is doing well…. and Kali is learning that kittens play differently than p*ppies.
My Theo welcomes you to the blackness, Robin = )
Congratulations, Robin and Laurie — AND Jerry, of course! 🙂
Hmm..I’m just imagining myself standing at my back door calling (not that calling a cat ever makes a blind bit of difference to what it wants to do!) “Jerry…Jerry Coyne’. My neighbours already think I’m a bit mad.
Now, a common call heard in our house is: “is Jerry Coyne out there scamming for noms?”
“… while Gayle and I were enjoying our tea, Jerry Coyne brought a dead mouse and then vomited onto the carpet ” – How Rumours Get Started
😉
sub
Although we appreciate Claws Monet as a cat’s name, we disagree that it is the best. We had a Maine Coon with large paws with feathering between the toes. He was the smartest cat we have ever owned. We named him Linus C. Pawling after the scientist and Nobel Laureate. The C in the middle stands for Pauling’s beliefs about vitamin C. The last name was a pun on the scientist’s name. Pretty cool name, huh?