Cat Names: 31 Cute, Funny & Unique Cat Names + Generator

Black cats: Shadow, Salem, Onyx, Binx, Midnight. White cats: Snow, Pearl, Ghost, Marshmallow. Orange cats: Ginger, Mango, Pumpkin, Simba, Nacho. Grey cats: Smokey, Ash, Pebble, Storm. Tabby and calico: Tiger, Patches, Clover, Maple.

Regal: Duchess, Cleo, Sir Whiskers, Figaro. Playful: Ziggy, Zoom, Pickle, Gizmo. Sweet: Mochi, Honey, Peaches, Muffin. Funny: Meowzart, Catrick Swayze, Purrlock Holmes, Chairman Meow.

Cats may respond better to names with high-pitched "ee" sounds (Kitty, Mochi, Ziggy). Two syllables are easy to call. Use the name with treats and gentle attention so your cat learns to associate it with good things.

Yes. A 2019 study by Atsuko Saito and colleagues, published in Scientific Reports, found that pet cats can tell their own name apart from other words of similar length, even when a stranger says it. They may not come running like a dog, but most cats react with an ear twitch, a head turn or a tail flick. That is why a distinctive name helps. If your cat's name sounds like a word you say all day ("Bo" and "no", "Kit" and "sit"), it becomes harder for them to pick it out.

Male cats: Milo, Oliver, Leo, Jasper, Simba, Ollie, Teddy, Felix, Loki, Gus. Female cats: Luna, Bella, Cleo, Nala, Willow, Daisy, Hazel, Pepper, Lily, Pearl. Gender-neutral: Mochi, Biscuit, Sage, Juniper, Pickle, Smokey, Ziggy, Clover. These work well if you are adopting a kitten before you know its personality, or if you simply prefer a name that fits any cat.

Siblings and bonded pairs are easier to call when their names sound different but clearly belong together: Salt and Pepper, Mac and Cheese, Sushi and Wasabi, Luna and Sol, Bonnie and Clyde, Tom and Jerry, Mocha and Latte. Avoid giving two cats names with the same first sound (Mia and Milo), because they will both come when you call one.

Food names suit cats surprisingly well, because they are short and cheerful: Mochi, Nacho, Biscuit, Pumpkin, Muffin, Sushi, Peanut, Toffee. For a laugh every time you call them: Chairman Meow, Purrlock Holmes, Catrick Swayze, Meowzart, Sir Pounce-a-Lot, Fluffy McFluffface. Funny names are best for indoor cats you rarely need to call urgently. For a cat who goes outdoors, keep a short nickname you can shout.

Say it out loud ten times in the voice you will actually use. Check it is not the name of someone in your family or a close friend. Make sure every member of the household can say it easily, including children. Try it for a few days before you commit, since many cats "show" their name once their personality comes through.