Most pet lovers tell anyone who’s interested about their cat or dog. Yet, frequently people bring an animal to the shelter, explaining that the animal, the one clinging to them, is a stray. That was what the person who delivered 11-month-old, social, golden, purring boy Braxton said.

Later, a shelter visitor recognized Braxton. His whole life, young Braxton belonged to and loved the people who described him as a stray. Maybe they were embarrassed to say that, for them, an adolescent kitten isn’t as much fun as a toddling one.

Still, knowing more about the kitten, now labeled Braxton, now neutered, would have helped him. It might have made the kitten less stressed if the staff could have called him by the name he knew.