suggest you change name of cat from "Mahatma"
to:

Me-ow-ma [if female]

or

Me-ow-pa [if male]

That way, the name will be fairly similar to the former name [beginning with an 'M' and ending with the 'ah, + 3 syllables'], without the constant cult reminder or connotations, and the cat will hear its name in a more feline style from the head cat of the family [you].