guide to naming your cat

The Ultimate Guide to Naming your Cat or Kitten

If you’re ready to bring a new cat to your house, then the pressure is on.

Sure, sure, you need to have the food ready and plan the first meeting with your family and any other cats in the house. But the real issue is, what will you name him or her?

Picking your cat’s name is serious business. We know because our readers constantly ask us for help or give us suggestions.

Of course, you can always just pick from our list of popular names. Or, you’re in the mood to be overwhelmed, our big list of the top 1200 pet names will do the trick.

But if you’re looking to be a little more creative, there are ways to match your cat name with his hair color, interests, breed – or you can even pull from your interests. Here is our big list of suggestions to give your cat the right name.

Picking a Cat Name by Hair Color or Coat Type or Appearance

Does your cat’s coat say a lot about him? Then pick a name that fits his haircolor (or, for a bald cat, his lack of hair!).

Picking a Name by your Cat’s Breed

Want your cat to have a tie to her roots? Pick a name that fits her breed.

Naming your Cat for its Personality

Think your kitten is going to have a big personality? Think she is going to have a sense of humor? Pick a name that fits these traits.

Naming your Cat Based on Your Personality

If you want your cat’s name to reflect a little bit more about your personality, here are some themes you might want to follow:

Picking a Cat Name by Gender

Some recent surveys showed that Chloe and Lily are top female cat names and Max and Oliver are top male cat names.