Whoever is naming the cats at this Austin shelter probably needs to be drug tested.
Atomic toaster? Fardtus? Unicycle 7?

According to Austin Pets Alive!'s website, they've done a fantastic job at saving the lives of countless dogs and cats in the area. When the shelter was first opened in 1997, Austin had a kill rate of 87%. Since, the city now has a save rate of 97%!
While their dedication to helping animals is unquestionable, Twitter user Nic went viral after tweeting about the shelter's questionable naming system.
who is in charge of naming the poor kittens at austin pets alive pic.twitter.com/8PPUNdGm8S
— nic (@urregomyeggo) May 24, 2019
After that tweet, she shared a photo of the adorable cat that she got at Austin Pets Alive!
wow this blew up like an atomic toaster. nothing to promote here other than adopt > shop! I got my own little crackhead from APA and they're an amazing no-kill shelter that could always use volunteers/donations pic.twitter.com/VuKcjxmwB0
— nic (@urregomyeggo) May 26, 2019
People replied to her tweet with some of their favorite bizarre names.
me pic.twitter.com/7AMO8oqfJI
— trevor (@trevor_darley) May 26, 2019
i- pic.twitter.com/yM6D2CD5RG
— poppy 🌻💐 (@vclkyriesaurora) May 26, 2019
Well actually, I fostered iPad. It was a liter of 7 cats- iPad, iPod, iPod mini, iPhone, iCloud, iMac, iTunes. It's pretty adorable. And just look at those faces. pic.twitter.com/I4KMqbjrzj
— Sara Goldstein (@Sara_Goldstein) May 27, 2019
they once had the cast of criminal minds 🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/ko8BGsYPhI
— al (@alisonrc_) May 26, 2019
A Twitter user named Hannah has a good theory on why the cats have such eccentric names.
they purposely give the pets weird names for foster parents. you're less likely to get attached to something if its name is something like trashcan than you are with something named whiskers.
— Hannah Barnes (@Hannah_Barnes04) May 26, 2019
i dunno bout yall but id totally get attached to atomic toaster, id nickname him toastie
— aly 🌸 watching 🍌🐟 !! (@xuriiiiii) May 26, 2019
Yeah this is weird.
Trashcan and I would be WAY tighter than me and Whiskers.
— Shadow Trick (@Just_Eleanora) May 26, 2019
My friend named her cat "bookshelf" and I think it's perfect
— Andee (@SrirachaCupcake) May 26, 2019
One of Austin Pets Alive!'s employees chimed in with the latest kitty names. Fardtus? Sounds like a villain in a kids' cartoon.
I am one of those people that names the kittens!!! I work at the neonatal nursery! Right now we have kittens named Moochie Moo, Fardtus, and Xoo 😹. They all are currently looking for a foster home!!
— Cristina (@cmonita) May 27, 2019
After the tweet went viral, Austin pets Alive! wrote a blog post explaining their naming system.
Austin Pets Alive! names thousands of kittens and cats a year. If we went with traditional names each time, imagine how many callicos named Callie we'd have, or black cats named Midnight? It's much easier to find Atomic Toaster in our system versus searching through 20 different cats all with the same name. We believe the more unique the name, the better, because it ensures you're talking about the right cat.
As far as the numbers behind the name … no, we aren't talking about the 4th version of the iPad. It's the way we keep track of how many litters of neonatal kittens we receive a year!
The site also dispelled the myth that they give the cats strange names so their caretakers don't get attached.
Names don't stand in the way between feeling a connection towards an animal. We name every cat that comes through our doors, whether that be a neonatal kitten or a barn cat – even our own feral cats get a unique name based off of their personalities. It's our way of honoring them as living beings. Naming things, no matter how strange the name, is a bonding experience.
Here are just some of the awesome names and cats we found on the Austin Pets Alive! Site.
via Austin Pets Alive!
via Austin Pets Alive!
via Austin Pets Alive!
via Austin Pets Alive!
via Austin Pets Alive!
via Austin Pets Alive!
via Austin Pets Alive!
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.