The son of Lino Bonpensiero, Salvatore Bonpensiero started out as a cat burglar, and was affectionately known as "Big Pussy" because of this early career ("Pussy" in reference to a "pussy cat" since he was a cat burglar). It is also very likely that he started out solely with the nickname "Pussy," then got the nickname "Big Pussy" to avoid confusion with "Little Pussy" Malanga. The name confusion is referenced in the first episode when Tony's confidante Herman "Hesh" Rabkin mistakenly believes that Junior plans to whack Big Pussy. Tony corrected Hesh by saying that Junior planned to whack Little Pussy; that if Junior was to attempt an attack on Big Pussy that would result in an automatic mob war since Big Pussy was highly respected, even outside the DiMeo crime family and was also both made and a "good earner." This showed in particular Bonpensiero's high status in the Soprano crew and his closeness to Tony, referring to him as "my pussy."
