Most of my cats through the years have managed to keep their given names. Some....have not. The first one I don't even recall her given name. She was always into everything from day one. She went far beyond plain ol' curiousity. Quickly, she acquired the name PITA for Pain In The A--. Both cats I have now have also acquired new names. Missy is almost 9 and has queenliness down to a fine art, thus Miss Priss. Sam is my 2.5 year old "tom" who after a particularily nasty show of attitude at the vet became Samual J. Cat. Though he still doesn't act too proper.