Naming Dilema...

Hihi all, new here ^_^... Stumbled upon this forum from Yahoo and figured I'd get your opinions.

I'm having a little difficulty figuring out the perfect name for the newest addition to our family. Here's the backstory... a bit sad, so be warned...

About two weeks ago I was heading out to get lunch. Being May, and being in Texas... it was hot. Well, I got in my car, closed the door and started it up... A second later I looked up and saw Squishyhead (outside stray) look up at my car with wide eyes. I immediately shut off the car, knowing something was wrong.

I got out and noticed a little kitten limping away from the car. I thought he was just hurt... I hurried to catch him and picked him up. He was crying... so much. I never heard a cat make the sounds he was making. I didn't understand why until I felt something warm on my chest, then looked down at my shirt... it was covered in blood.

I turned the kitten over and noticed that his right back paw was gone. I was in shock, shaking like mad... and I ran into the house and woke my fiance to drive us to the vet. Before we left, I popped the hood on my car and noticed exactly what had happened... something I honestly had never heard of happening before -- His paw had got stuck in the fan belt... When I opened the hood, it was lying there. I grabbed it, my face white as a ghost.. and we rushed him to the vet a mile down the road.

The vet gave me three options.
1. Put him to sleep.
2. Stitch up the leg in its current state... but it would never properly heal if he were to walk on it.
3. Amutate the leg completely.

The next day he had surgery and had the rest of his leg amputated. I refused to let him put the cat to sleep. I told him to do whatever he had to do to save the cat. I'd pay anything.

The morning after the surgery we got to take him home.

We had decided to call him Lucky. But, about a week after the surgery my fiance went to check on him one morning... And noticed he was sick. He was shaking, and seemed to be in some pain. He immediately woke me up, and at 4:30am we called the vet and rushed him back to the office.

Turns out that when Pixel (my siamese) was playing with him, he had bitten him. And now the kitten's neck was getting swolen and he had a 106 fever.

Currently, I am giving him ice cold pedialyte in a syringe every hour, feeding him by syringe every three, giving him medicine every twelve... and all the while holding him and helping him get to the litterbox when he needs to.

It has been 2 days since we rushed him to the vet, and they have not yet been able to lance the swelling in his neck since they've been unable to find a soft enough spot to do it.

Long story, I know... but I wanted those to understand his story before tossing out name suggestions.

I'm at a loss. Lucky doesn't fit. He's not lucky... I feel like by what happened with the car that I've ruined his life...

Only other name I have come up with is Jonah. Everyone i know suggests Tripod, but I find that name mean so I refuse to call him that...

Any suggestions?

Ah forgot to include the few pics i have of him...

another pic

pic 3

last one

He looks incredibly sweet and sad. Welcome to you and your cat herd. If he pulls through he will be a normal and fast running kitten.

I wish you so much luck. I like the name of Jonah;)

If that baby survives all that has happened to him, he IS the LUCKIEST baby on earth!! And NO! NO! NO! You did not ruin his life!! Had that been someone elses car, they would most probably kept on going and he would have bled to death, so he was LUCKY that it was YOUR car!! You best keep the name lucky for him, I BEG you to please, please keep that name for him as he is one LUCKY baby!!!

Not only is he the luckiest cat on earth, he is also a little doll baby too. As prescious as can be. I have to admit, I cried when I saw his pictures and I looked at all of them. He is a DOLL!!!

Please do not hit and run here, keep us posted on how he is doing and post pictures... PLEASE!! (You can save P.T. in your favorite places and come back often!)

I have a special need kitty to, Amy and she is the light of my life. She has overcome her handicap and I can promise you, you will worry about the loss of that leg more than Lucky does. He will be fine once all his wounds heal, then YOU have to heal.. God sent you that baby for a reason, as he sent Amy to me. My message from him was that even less than perfect animals are just as deserving of good, loving homes as perfect ones.. Your little doll with always be LUCKY to me!!

Ok, first let me welcome you to PetTalk. I'm sure you will find it as addicting as the rest of us.
Second, that story brought tears to my eyes and broke my heart. I feel so sorry for that baby and so sorry for you. That must have been a horrible experience for you and I applaud you for doing everything you can to save the little one. A cat with three legs can function quit well and live a good long and happy life and I'm so glad you didn't let them put him down!
I'm guessing that there is no infection in the leg but an abcess from the bite? I volunteer at a shelter and currently they have several cats that have bad abcess's that are really nasty once they open up. They do usually heal ok but it takes some time if it is a bad and deep one.
I can only imagine how guilty you must feel because I know I would have just been sick! Unfortunately cats and kittens do get into bad places and it is common for them to be hurt in cars. I think you did a wonderful thing by helping him and especially for sticking it out with the little one.
I will have to think on a name but I just wanted to say welcome and let you know that prayers are on the way for a quick healing for this precious baby. I think you will find a fountain of information here and tons of support to help you get through this. He certainly is a cutie and I'm sure he will capture many more hearts than just mine.
What a little doll baby and please keep us posted on how he is doing. I will come back later with a name suggestion.
I'm in love with this little one already!

That is one lucky kitty. Lucky to have found you. No telling what his life would have been like if this hadn't happened. He might have had 4 legs, but he wouldn't have lived very long as a stray. Now he has a forever home with you.

Lucky is a good name. I thought of Tripod also, but you might like Trey or Tres (Spanish for 3) better.

Thank you all for the kind words. I will keep you all as updated as I can.

I just got back from the vet a minute ago... tried lancing it this time and nothing. sigh...

He's in so much pain, but he keeps on purring. He's such a fighter.

OMG, poor little precious kitty, poor you for going through such a terrible experience. Here in Montreal, during the winter months, a lot of people bang real hard on the hood of their cars before they start them up in case there is a cat trying to keep warm under the hood. I'm surprised that he was under there is such hot weather.
Bless you for caring enough to help this kitty as others would have just driven away without a care in the world. You're an angel.
It definitely sounds like an abcess on his neck and I hope and pray it heals well.
I agree with keeping the name "Lucky" cause this adorable kitty would not have survived if it wasn't for you.
Good luck with him and please keep us posted.

Welcome to PT. I have several three legged kitties, and one with both his hind legs missing part way down. They are birth defects however. I have an all black mischevious boy named "Impy" (sort of a take off on Limpy). Gabriel is my angel boy who is missing both his hind feet. Your new baby is very lucky indeed to have been found by you. But personally I think Lucky is a bit overused (OK everyone...yell at me :p ) and I'm sure with time the perfect name will come to you. I hope the kitten is on antibiotics to help him fight off infection not only from the abcess, but also the amputation. He is adorable, and we all want to hear more about the little sweetheart.:) http://img42.photobucket.com/albums/...llyGabriel.jpg Here's my sweet Gabriel! :)

Wecome to PT Minai - what a touching story of little Lucky! I am with the others in that he is VERY Lucky, perhaps Blessed is a bietter word - to have been cared for by you. Yes, I hear the guilt you are feeling but it was not your fault!!! And, you have NOT ruined his life - you are trying to save it. Likely anyone one else would have left him to die. He is a dollbaby BTW!!! I like the name "Lazarus" - what do you think? :D
Oh and welcome agian, I have three kitties below in my siggy and
<-------there under my user name. Please keep us updated!!!

Welcome to Pet Talk! I am sitting here in awe of your courage and how absolutely adorable he is!

I think perhaps you could get a bit more creative with the name since Lucky doesn't even begin to cover the challenges this little fella has started out with! Right off the bat, I was thinking Rocky because he's the underdog who in the end wins (or a Rocky beginning) Or maybe Angelo, since he's a special angel sent to you. I'll keep thinking! :)

You can also find websites that have name searches... you can perhaps find a Latin or Gaelic name that means "lucky"

How sad for you and the baby ... but as fate would have it, you two were destined to be together. I think a wonderful name for him would be Chance?