Nimmy › Cat names: ideas by coat, character and theme
Cat names: ideas by coat, character and theme
Cats rarely come when called, so give yours a name worth ignoring in style. Here are original ideas sorted by what you can see and what you can tell about them.
Names for black and dark cats
Dark coats suit names that nod to night, ink and shadows, or ones that make a joke of the colour.
- Classic: Midnight, Shadow, Sooty, Ebony, Raven, Jet, Inky.
- Food: Liquorice, Treacle, Blackberry, Espresso, Pepper, Bramble, Damson, Marmite.
- Funny: Dinner Jacket, Batman, Bin Bag, Eclipse, Soot Sprite, Toner.
Names for ginger and orange cats
Ginger cats have a reputation for being greedy and confident, and many owners lean into it.
- Marmalade, Biscuit, Maple, Crumpet, Rusty, Amber, Satsuma, Tango, Ginger Nut, Clementine, Pumpkin, Turmeric, Custard, Conker, Fudge.
Names for grey, silver and blue cats
- Smudge, Misty, Pewter, Slate, Storm, Ash, Cloud, Mouse, Flint, Fog, Earl Grey, Drizzle, Thistle, Haze, Zinc.
Names for tabbies, tortoiseshells and calicos
Patterned cats suit names that describe the pattern: Patch, Mosaic, Tigger, Stripe, Domino, Tapestry, Quilt, Hazel, Autumn, Toffee, Speckle, Brindle, Freckle, Mottle, Tessa. Tortoiseshells are famously spirited, so strong names such as Duchess, Fizz, Pepper or Tempest often fit the character.
Names for white and cream cats
- Snowdrop, Pearl, Ivory, Marshmallow, Blizzard, Cotton, Meringue, Vanilla, Dumpling, Oat, Frost, Daisy, Milk, Casper, Ghost.
Names by personality
| Character | Name ideas |
|---|---|
| Bold, loud, in charge | Boss, Duchess, Major, Captain, Tempest, Brutus, Maverick |
| Shy and gentle | Willow, Whisper, Pip, Moss, Dot, Clover, Fern |
| Cuddly and sleepy | Dozy, Pudding, Teddy, Slumber, Cushion, Bear, Crumble |
| Wild and zoomy | Zoom, Rocket, Whizz, Turbo, Flash, Pinball, Bolt |
| Greedy | Gravy, Bacon, Pie, Chips, Dumpling, Sausage, Hoover |
Themed ideas
Space: Orbit, Comet, Luna, Nova, Pluto, Apollo, Vega, Saturn, Starling, Eclipse. Books: Matilda, Heathcliff, Pippin, Gandalf, Poirot, Marple, Hermione, Darcy, Jeeves, Aslan. Gardens: Bramble, Thyme, Sage, Poppy, Fennel, Clover, Basil, Mint, Rosemary. Music: Ziggy, Bowie, Aretha, Dusty, Elvis, Freddie, Stevie, Adele.
Kitten names versus adult cat names
Kittens change fast. Tiny, Squeak or Button are cute at eight weeks and odd on a seven-kilo adult. A good kitten name works for both: Pickle, Biscuit and Willow suit a kitten and a senior cat equally well. If you adopt an adult, ask the rescue what the cat has been called. A familiar name can help a nervous cat settle, though you can change it if you wish.
Names for senior and rescue cats
Older cats often arrive with a name already. If it suits, keep it, because familiar sounds can help a nervous cat settle into a new home. If you do rename, choose a dignified name that suits a calm, experienced character: Walter, Mabel, Gladys, Alfie, Betty, Ernest, Norman or Dorothy. Many owners find that old-fashioned human names make cats look wonderfully wise.
Pairs and sets
Two cats from the same litter often get matching names: Salt and Pepper, Bubble and Squeak, Ant and Dec, Tea and Toast, Mulder and Scully, Fish and Chips, Sage and Thyme. Pick names that start with different letters and sound different, so each cat knows which one is meant.
What to know before you decide
Cats Protection says cats respond to the sound of their name rather than its meaning, and that you can rename a cat at any age. For the practical side, such as microchip details and how to teach the name, see choosing and teaching a name. If you want something less common, try the unusual and British-themed list, and for dogs head to dog names.
Frequently asked questions
Do cats need a name?
They do not need one to be happy, but a name helps you call them in, and it is useful for vets, microchip records and cattery bookings.
Should a cat name end in an 'ee' sound?
Many owners find short names with a clear, bright ending are easy for cats to pick out, but there is no rule. Consistency matters more than the sound.
Can I give two cats similar names?
You can, but names that sound alike are harder for animals to tell apart, so pick names that start with different sounds.