When you think of the names of fictional characters, you probably don’t associate them with great horror authors like HP Lovecraft. However, there are many references to his writings in the names given to cats. Many of these references were made by cat owners who were fans of his stories and wanted to pay homage to them through their pets. But why Lovecraft? Aside from his work being filled with references to cats (both black and white), he is also known for writing much about lore and strange creatures. Outside of his own books, he was also well-versed in ancient mythology and folklore because of his love for reading as a child. Some might say that this makes HP Lovecraft an ideal name for a cat owner who wants to pay tribute to their feline friend by giving it a name that references one or more of its literary counterparts.
The Shoggoth
When it comes to naming your cat after creatures from the Cthulhu mythos, the shoggoth is one of the first that probably comes to mind. This is because it is one of the more commonly used creatures in Lovecraft’s stories that feature the Cthulhu Mythos. In the original stories, the shoggoth is an amorphous creature that mimics other creatures, objects, and even humans. It has a very gelatinous appearance and can move about with ease. This makes it very dangerous in the hands of a skilled magician since it also has the innate ability to absorb any magic that is cast at it. In the Cthulhu Mythos, the shoggoth is a South Pacific creature that is said to resemble a cross between a slug, a starfish, and a squid. Many people associate the shoggoth with Lovecraft’s creature not just because of how it is described in the stories, but also because of how the creature is featured in the Call of Cthulhu board game.
Cthulhu
Even if you don’t know anything about the Cthulhu Mythos or Lovecraft’s work, you might also associate your cat with this author’s famous creation. If you want your kitty to be named after this infamous entity, there are several ways you can go about it. First, you can use a nickname for your cat that focuses on the part of its name that relates to the Cthulhu Mythos. For example, if you call your kitty “Cthulhu kitty,” people might associate it with this entity due to the connection between the two names. Another way to go about naming your cat after this author’s creature is by naming it after a place or a thing in the Lovecraft universe. For example, if you named your cat after the Miskatonic River and the Arkham Horror card game, people might associate it with both.
Azathoth
If you want to name your cat after the fearsome Azathoth, it can be done in a few ways. First, you can try naming it after the Azathoth, the creator of the universe that this entity is said to rule over. Second, you can name it after the Azathoth’s signature color. While there aren’t many possibilities for naming your cat after the Azathoth, there are quite a few options when it comes to naming a cat after its color. For example, you can try naming your cat after the color blue if it is a blue tabby. You can also try naming it after the color red if it is a red tabby.
Sumerian Mythology and the Feline Gods: Nintu, Kur, and Shimaana
If you love the idea of drawing parallels between historic mythology and modern feline names, the best name for your cat is the Sumerian feline goddess, Nintu. This is because it comes from the same mythology as Lovecraft’s Nantu, a feline goddess often seen in Australian aboriginal folklore. People who choose to name their cat after this ancient feline goddess are also making a connection with another famous Lovecraft creature: the kur. While this connection might not be obvious to all readers, it is still a way of paying homage to the author and his work. Another name for your cat that might make for a good choice is shimaana, which is the name of the island where the kur is said to live.
