You just got yourself a new cat or kitten, but having made this crucial choice, you still have one more to make: How to name this new member of the family. Great cat names are not difficult to come by, but sometimes you may require a little assistance as regards inspiration.
Choosing a name for your cat is not something to undermine, and lots of people know this. Your cat is distinct, and you want a name that is as well. In this article, we will be taking a look at the best 10 cat names to help you choose the perfect one for your new pet.
But before we move on, do cats recognize their names? Find out below.
Do Cats Actually Recognize Their Names?
Some individuals will not accept that cats have evolved to be able to recognize the names that humans give them. But Atsuko Saito alongside other researchers from Japan, has proven in their study that cats can actually recognize names and voices, but only choose not to display excessive emotion.
In the wild, predators prey more on those that move excessively as a response to stimuli and those that effortlessly portray if they are ill or hurt. It is for this reason that cats are not too responsive. So, it would require a lot of training for your cat to respond actively when you call their name. But at least we are aware it is possible.
Now that we have cleared this up, let us take a look at a few things to put into consideration when choosing a name for your cat.
Things to consider when choosing your cat name
The following are some things to consider when you are choosing a cat name:
- The Appearance of Your Cat
- Your Cat’s personality
- The Breed of Your Cat
- Ensure it is short
- Try using a Cat Name Generator
- Utilizing the Cat Name
The Appearance of Your Cat
In ancient times, individuals used to name their kids using their appearance. It is also a popular method of selecting cat names. Lots of cat parents have come up with inspiration for their cat’s names this way.
Does your new cat have markings that make it seem like a baby tiger? Or does it have black patches on its face? These are just a few things that can help you inspire your new cat name.
If you love a mystery, you may want to go with an interesting name like Angel for a white cat or shadow for a plain black cat. Fluffy cats with long hairs could use a great name like Puff or Fuzz.
Or perhaps the appearance of your cat is similar to that in the character of a movie or book like Garfield.
Your Cat’s Personality
Lots of new cat owners are often in haste to name their cat instantly, but the best cat names often show the unique personality of your cat. But it takes time to discover that personality. If you have issues coming up with the name of your kitten or cat, you may want to observe its behavior for some time to see any names that naturally come to mind.
If you have a cat that loves to act like a feline emperor, Caesar may be a great name. If you own a cat that loves adventure, Ranger could be a great name. Offer your cat the best time, and he/she is sure to inspire a great name.
The Breed of Your Cat
The history of a breed can aid you in coming up with a distinct name. For a great male name, you can pick a Scottish name for an independent and strong Scottish fold.
For breeds that have a reputation of being pampered like Siamese or Persian, choosing royal titles like Princess, Prince or Duchess are great options.
Leave it Short
You may love long names, but you are most likely going to end up using their shorter form. It is not a huge deal. Cats, unlike dogs that recognize their names, have a likelihood of responding to the voice and tone of their owner as opposed to the name itself. Still, sticking with a shorter version is a great choice, it is less difficult for you to pronounce and easier to absorb for your cat.
Although it may seem more intriguing to go with a tongue-twisting name, cats respond better to short names. One or two syllables are great. Maximus is great, but Max is even better.
Try using a Cat Name Generator
If you have tried and can’t still find a suitable option, then let the internet help you out. Many cat owners overwhelmed with picking a name for their cat have turned to cat name generators for this crucial task.
You can use lots of names for both genders, but if you need to find an amazing male cat or a great female name, generators are the way to go.
Generators will help you choose cat names using the sex of your cat to locate a name that suits it. There are lots of name generators that provide you with a list of choices according to the precise category you pick. These could be funny cat names or popular cat names among a host of others.
Top 10 Names for Your Cat
If you want a name for your cat, below are the top 10 names you can pick from
- Bella
- Shadow
- Oreo
- Luna
- Tigger
- Chloe
- Oliver
- Kitty
- Lucy
- Molly
Top 10 names for Male cats
If you have a male cat and want a good name for your cat, below are a few options:
- Max
- Tigger
- Oliver
- Shadow
- Simba
- Jack
- Smokey
- Jasper
- Oscar
- Leo
- Rocky
- Buddy
- Max
Top 10 Names for Female Cats
If you have a female cat and want a good name for your cat, below are a few options:
- Lucy
- Bella
- Kitty
- Angel
- Luna
- Chloe
- Molly
- Princess
- Baby
- Lily
How exactly do you Teach Your Cat His Name?
By default, cats are not predictable. Their moods change within an instant. As opposed to dogs, cats do not have any motivation to satisfy their owners or obey commands. They will not also appreciate any form of scolding or punishment. These methods of training will not get you much when it has to do with cats.
Felines will do what they desire, whenever they desire, irrespective of what you think. The efficient and appropriate approach to cats is using positive reinforcement.
It won’t be easy to train your precious feline, but it is not exactly difficult either. All that you will require is a lot of free time, patience, repetitive routines, a positive attitude, treats, and high-quality food.
Yes, all cats are distinct, and some do not learn fast. But, so far you keep using the positive reinforcement method, and you have a load of patience, success is inevitable.
Below are a few tips when teaching your cat his name:
Amass Treats
This is the first thing you need to do. You need to gather lots of cat food and delicious treats. The products should be aromatic and tasty for them to work.
If you are uncertain about treats, you can always pick a cat food of high quality. You can use it for training purposes as well as feeding.
Develop a Consistent Schedule for Training
You need to develop a training schedule suitable for you as well as your cat. Ideally, Training sessions should not exceed 10 minutes and should be once or twice daily. Anything longer may result in boredom for your kitty.
For training, you will require the complete responsiveness and attention of your feline. Otherwise, training will not be fruitful.
Ensure you schedule training sessions daily and remain consistent. It will help in establishing a habit and would ensure your cat remembers previous lessons.
Call the Name frequently
Begin by calling the name of your cat. Remember that shorter phrases are better. The instant you say the name of your cat, offer it some food or a treat instantly. You will need to offer a lower quantity of food during feeding periods. Otherwise, your cat may feel bloated.
Repeat the name and offer another treat. Offering verbal praise may not be ideal, so it’s best to go with petting and feeding during training.
The instant your cat understands the idea that its name comes with a treat or some food, it will begin associating the name with a positive experience automatically. Try moving a bit further from your cat and repeating the same routine while you draw the cat towards you using treats.
Test it out
Once your cat learns to come to you by calling its name and offering it treats, you may need to take the training further. Ideally, you should do this after around a week of daily training sessions. But if you feel your cat has already grasped the point of the training in the first week, you can start this step earlier.
Head to a remote part of your home and begin calling your cat by its name. you can combine this with a command like Come. If your cat is not responsive to the commands, then you may need to continue training it from the same room as before.
Eventually, it should begin responding to your calls even from the farthest parts of your home. This is because it will be associating the commands and its name with treats or food.
How long will my Cat need to learn his name?
There is no definitive answer to this because all cats are unique. Some cats learn faster than others and may learn this during the initial week, especially for younger kittens.
For senior or older cats, you can hasten the process by asking others in the home to aid in training. Asides from being a great interaction between the cats and children in the home, it will also aid the cat in responding to its name and other individuals as opposed to just your voice.
Keep in mind that you do not need to punish or scold your cat or it will start linking its training sessions and name with a bad experience. Exercising patience, offering rewards and remaining positive are crucial when it has to do with cat training.
Changing the name of your Cat
If you have tried out all the tricks in this article and you have given your cat a catchy and short name, and for some reason, he/she does not respond, then you are free to start again.
You can change the name of your cat and begin the training all over again using the process above. Doing this will help you determine the name your cat would respond to.
Again, knowing the limits of feline intelligence is something we don’t know yet, and they may have grown to like some names and dislike others. Changing things here and there may offer you better results.
However, you should note that it is not advisable to change the name of your cat if it has started responding to one. It could cause confusion, and your cat may stop being responsive to any name you use. Remember how tedious it was to make a name stick, so it is not advisable to undo all of that because you came across a name you presumed you would like better.
Conclusion
The instant you give your cat a name, you will be able to shower it with as much love as possible. Remember that cats are more responsive to tones as opposed to words so ensure your tone is calm and consistent when you call its name.
