I thought about the name connection immediately with the cat. Of course the appearance of the cat also had a special connection as we found out. So, is it coincidence, or another tool of manipulation used by the others? It seems to me, that there is no true coincidence on this show....just a series of orchestrated connections. The cat would trigger a desire to show mercy in Sayid, it would also be a distraction. That distraction almost got him killed when he first approached the house.