AITA for giving my new cat my late uncle's nickname without asking the family?
AITA"You named a cat Captain Eddie?" my mother asked after I put a photo in the family chat.
Uncle Edward called himself Captain Eddie when he took us out in his little rowing boat. He died eighteen months ago. I named my new cat Eddie because the serious face reminded me of him, then added Captain on the collar tag because it made me smile.
Mum says the nickname belongs to her brother, not a pet, and that seeing it beneath a picture of a cat felt flippant. My aunt, his widow, hasn't commented. I hadn't asked either of them before choosing it.
I told Mum Uncle Eddie would probably have laughed. She said I couldn't use my guess about his reaction to dismiss hers.
That stopped me. He liked silly animal names, but I don't know what he'd have thought about this one. I meant it affectionately, and I wasn't planning to ask everyone to treat the cat as a memorial.
Mum wants me to use another name. The collar is already made, but the cat has only been here a week; changing it would mostly cost me the joke I was pleased with. I don't want every fond reference to my uncle to require permission. I also don't want my aunt to receive updates that make her wince. AITA for keeping the name?
