juliet asks this very question in act 2 scene 2 of romeo and juliet.  “what’s in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  she’s referring to romeo, of course, and futzing over his last name, which, being montague, is a problem since her people and his people hate each other.  it’s a good question, though.  what is in a name?

i go by bob because that’s what i was named when i became a pet.  the person who brought me in noticed that i am a cat of little tail, and she thought bob would suit me.  before i came in from the wild, some of the humans who saw me around the neighborhood called me stumpy.  now i ask you, was that necessary?   the fact is i am not tailless.  i have a perfectly serviceable tail; it just happens to be shorter than most.  it  twitches when i see something that needs chasing, and it is quite pert when i am happy.  it also gives fair warning when i’m in a snit.  my tail performs all the functions of a proper tail, and it does so in a fraction of the time that a lengthy tail requires.

so yeah, i’m bob, and yeah, my very fine tail makes me different.  but here’s the thing:  there’s nothing wrong with different. nothing at all.  Purr, y’all.