Which cat name is right for your cat?
You have a cat, but it doesn’t have a suitable name yet?
Apart from that, it’s not just your cat, it’s something very special? “Cat” or “kitty” isn’t good enough for you—of course, it shouldn’t have a name like many other cats, but one that suits her well and expresses who and what it is?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
What are some cat names?
There are countless cat names: what a jumble. But there’s something for everyone—from homely or dignified to quirky and bizarre.
You start searching, digging through the list with enthusiasm at first, but eventually you end up totally exhausted and frustrated—so many cat names… But somehow, none of them really fit?
Cat names by category
Want a name that suits your cat perfectly? Here you will find cat names that match your cat’s character or appearance.
We have names for black, white, and red cats, as well as for particularly cool, funny, and cute cats. Or would you like to name your cat after a famous movie character or give it a Warrior Cat name? Or perhaps a name from another language?
Take a look around and discover the perfect cat name for your cat!
Funny cat names
- Schnurrsula
- Katzarina
- Fauchbert
- Rumpelstilzchen
- Firecracker
- Danger
- Bacon
- Kichererbse
- Mario & Luigi
- Bert & Ernie
Unusual and rare cat names
- Zephyrine
- Esperanza
- Aurelian
- Asa
- Mowglie
- Mewsic
- Hildegard
- Oswald
- Kismet
- Rüzgar
Names for orange and red cats
- Chili
- Berry
- Pipi Langstrumpf
- Fuego
- Rufus
- Rojo
- Nemo
- Ginger
- Goldie
- Naranja
Names from Aristocats
- Duchesse
- Toulouse
- Marie
- Berlioz
- Tom O’Malley
- Swingy
- Hit Cat
- Peppo
- Billy Boss
- Shun Gon
Names from Warrior Cats
- Feuerstern
- Graustreif
- Sandsturm
- Tigerkralle
- Blattsee
- Brombeerstern
- Eichhornschweif
- Sturmpelz
- Federschweif
- Rußherz
How do cats hear their names?
In the animal kingdom, cats have some of the best hearing; it is so well developed that they can hear even the slightest squeak of a mouse.
Cats even hear when they are dreaming! This is essential for survival—in the wild, they would be easy prey for their enemies while asleep. Japanese researchers have experimentally proven that cats can also recognize and understand human speech. They were able to clearly distinguish their own names from other words. Especially when they notice from the tone of voice that something pleasant is coming their way, they suddenly seem to grow wings…
The reason they don’t always respond immediately is that cats have a mind of their own: they decide when and how they perceive something and what it means to them, not the person who addresses them.
Body language sometimes emphasizes this impressively: Your cat is sitting just a meter away from you, and when you speak to it (assuming it is not hard of hearing), it blinks at you but then turns its head to the left or right—away from you—thus communicating: “The cat you call is temporarily unavailable.” In plain English: NO RECEPTION.
Which names do cats respond to best?
A cat’s name should be short and sweet. Double names are too much of a good thing. Cats like names that are two syllables long and contain a bright vowel. Since cats have excellent hearing, they can even hear a bright vowel when you are far away and calling them. A vowel is a sound like a, e, i, o, u, and umlauts like au, ei, and ui are also considered vowels. Bright vowels include e and i, while dark vowels are a, o, and u.
Here are a few examples for you:
Source: Haustier.net (2020): “Katzennamen”, online https://www.cybercat.ch/namen.htm, accessed on 15.11.2020
Teaching a cat its name – here’s how!
No matter how good your cat’s hearing is, if you constantly give it new names, it will have little chance of remembering them in the long run. Once you have decided on a name, you should stick with it and associate it with pleasant experiences such as playing, petting, and feeding.
You can also read about how to train your cat to do certain things in our article on cat training.
Cats learn quickly. Is there a special treat or a thorough cat massage on offer? Then your cat will come running in no time!
