What is it? It's my cat.

[englishhobby]

Could you please help me change the following exchanges (if necessary) to make them sound more natural?

Model 1: “What is it? (What’s this?)” “It’s Pepsi, my cat.” (“It’s my cat, Pepsi.”)
Model 2: “What are these? ( What are they?)” “They are Wheels and Whiskey, my cats, .” (“They are my cats, Wheels and Whiskey.”)

Or should I ask "Who is it?" and "Who are these?" about cats?

 

[teechar]

"What" certainly doesn't work here, because the answer to that is a cat (or cats).
"Who" is possible, but if you actually think about it, we don't even say that when we're introducing people!
Let's say I'm invited to someone's home, and a cat walks in. I might say: "What's the name of your cat?"

 

[emsr2d2]

If I were in someone else's house and a cat strolled in, I would bend down to stroke it and probably say "Awwww. Who's this?"

 

[bubbha]

If the cat was in another room, out of sight, and caused some disturbance, "what" is more natural.

"What was that?" "Oh, it's just Pookie, my cat. He must have knocked something off the table."

 

[englishhobby]

If I were in someone else's house and a cat strolled in, I would bend down to stroke it and probably say "Awwww. Who's this?"

And if two cats strolled in, woud you say "Awwww. Who are these?"?

 

[GoesStation]

And if two cats strolled in, woud you say "Awwww. Who are these?"?

It's possible, yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

And if two cats strolled in, woud you say "Awwww. Who are these?"?

Hmmm, I'd probably add something after "these" - maybe "beautiful creatures" or "cute kitties".

 

[Rover_KE]

And if two cats strolled in, would you say "Awww. Who are these?" [STRIKE]?[/STRIKE]

A single question mark suffices.

 

[Tdol]

And if two cats strolled in, would you say "Awwww. Who are these?"?

I would. I use who for pets. I would, like Emsr2d2, probably add something more.

 

[Rover_KE]

Two question marks are required, one for the main question and one for the quoted question:

And if two cats strolled in, would you say "Awww. Who are these?"?

I prefer to follow The Chicago Style Guide:

When the question mark in a title or question comes at the end of a sentence that would itself require a question mark or period, the additional question mark or period is omitted.

Have you read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

 

[Skrej]

Chicago can't even assemble a pizza in the correct order, so why should we trust it for anything else? :silly:

As for the topic, I'd probably address multiple animals with something like "And just who are you" or "What are you called?"