Your serious guide to funny cat names.

There’s one question you must answer right the first time, since it’s hard to change once decided: What to name your new friend. 

It’s so critical to get the right name for your cat that T.S. Eliot wrote an entire poem, The Naming of Cats, as a whimsical resource on the subject. It became the second song of the hit musical Cats. 

While cat name generators like Scoop Away's can be a fun starting point, maybe you crave something a little more... unique.  Perhaps ridiculously, hilariously unique? We've got you covered. Whether you've got a mischievous orange tabby or a sleek black panther, this guide is packed with funny cat names for every kind of kitty companion.

Tips for choosing your cat’s name. 

It’s so critical to get the right name for your new cat that T.S. Eliot wrote an entire poem, The Naming of Cats, as a whimsical resource. It became the second song of the hit musical Cats.

Eliot is not the only ailurophile (cat lover) to come up with some truly funny cat names. Comedian Ricky Gervais named his cat Pickle. Pop sensation Justin Bieber reportedly had two cats, named Sushi and Tuna. And actor Russell Brand named his favorite feline Jericho.

Google something like "funny black cat names" or "funny orange cat names," and you'll surface several clever monikers, including Cheeto, Saffron, Catzilla, and Crookshanks. Not every celebrity or even every cat-naming internet site offers quirky options, though. Former White House occupant Bill Clinton simply called his black-and-white kitty Socks, and online suggestions include the traditional Ginger and Tiger among the options for orange cats.

To help you choose an excellent moniker for your kitty, you could start with Scoop Away’s cat name generator. (It’s fun!). But you might not find its suggestions an exact match for your cat. So, to help you find the purrr-fect name, we created this guide.

Consider personality when naming your cat.

A cat’s name should match her personality. Is your cat quirky, clever, sophisticated, or fierce? Take time to observe him, and choose a name accordingly. Jason from Pats & Cats says, “You don’t want to name your cat Thor the Destroyer, and they’re a mellow cat that just sleeps all day.”

Then again, it might be an epic idea since irony is a big hit in the cat-name universe. Consider Tiny for a particularly large cat, Fluffy for a hairless breed, Whisper for a very vocal cat, or Speedy for a leisurely and slow-moving pet. These names playfully subvert expectations and can add a humorous twist to your cat's personality!

Purina Friskies created a series of YouTube videos to name playful cats, lazy cats, alpha cats, and cats of other temperaments because personality is so vital in naming cats.

Be inspired by color.

Should color or breed play a role in naming your cat?

Absolutely. An orange cat begs to be called something like Marmalade, Ginger, Honey, or Aslan. And what black cat wouldn’t be thrilled with a name like Gotham, Kettle, or Lady of the Night? As far as breeds go, let’s just say the most popular name for a male British Shorthair is Winston (as in Churchill).

Remember Koko the Gorilla who named her kitten All Ball? Apparently, she thought he looked like a ball, and she enjoyed the rhyme. You could take your cues from a gorilla and consider your cat’s appearance and background when choosing its name.

Let history be your guide.

A lot of cat companions must use Purina Friskie’s How to Name Your Cat Using History since historical names keep showing up on cat naming lists. Chairman Meow, Paw Revere, and Joan of Arc may prowl through homes near you.

You could also look at key historical legends, myths, and monsters for guidance in naming your kitty. Nefertiti and Aphrodite could compete with Gollum and Claw-dius for the warm spot on your sofa.

Turn the page to a literary nom de plume.  

What cat doesn’t love books? Cats are the iconic pets of indie bookstores, so choosing a literary eponym ought to be easy for cat-loving bookworms. We like Dickens, Agatha Christie, and Dr. Seuss for names drawn from real-life authors. 

Or you might consider an appellation from a fictional cat like Mrs. Norris of Harry Potter fame, Tabitha Twitchett from Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Tom Kitten, or Harry Cat from A Cricket in Times Square.

Horror author Steven King's cat Smucky inspired several of his short stories and parts of his novels. Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, named her cat Frida after artist Frida Kahlo. And Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing christened her special cat El Magnifico. 

Funny female cat names. 

Humor can be the deciding factor when deciding on your cat's name. Funny names for cats can give you something to chuckle about whenever you play with your kitty as well as provide a fun icebreaker when new guests visit your home.

A list of 25 funny female cat names should include the following:

1. Whisker-ina Ballerina
2. Furry-osa
3. Meow-ly Cyrus
4. Purrr-yl Streep
5. Claw-dia Schiffer
6. Kit-Kat
7. Miss Furr-nandez
8. Duchess Fluff-ington
9. Cat-abunga
10. Purr-lock Holmes
11. Kitty Gaga
12. Fuzz Lightyear
13. Madame Meow-ington
14. Oprah Whisk-er
15. Cleo-cat-ra
16. Meow-lyssa
17. Paw-sitively Purr-fect
18. Tabbytha
19. Whiskerbell
20. Miss Whiskerbottoms
21. Cat-niss Claw-deen
22. Fuzzy Wuzzy
23. Snickerdoodle
24. Purr-sephone
25. Purr-lina Whisker-bottoms

Other inspirations for female feline names include food, flowers, and funny female characters. Consider some of these options.

Food-inspired girl cat names.

• Purr-mesan
• Cupcake
• Lady Flan
• Tira-mew-su
• Miss Sushi Roll
  
  

Flower-inspired girl cat names.

• Petunia Purr
• Daisy Doodle
• Rosie Posie
• Lily Paws
• Blossom Bell
  
  

Character-inspired girl cat names.

• Cat-ilda Swinton (inspired by Tilda Swinton)
• Meow-pril Ludgate (inspired by April Ludgate from "Parks and Recreation")
• Lucille Purr (inspired by Lucille Bluth from "Arrested Development")
• Kat-niss Everclean (inspired by Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games")
• Meow-lissa McCarthy (inspired by Melissa McCarthy)
  
  

Can’t choose just one? Consider a longer name such as Princess Whiskerina or Duchess Snickerdoodle. And if this all seems much too silly, remember that Daisy and Petunia are excellent, pronounceable, and charming names for your feisty female feline.

Funny cat names for boy cats. 

Funny cat names for boy cats are as challenging, delightful, and amazing as girl cat names. You can turn to sports, foods, or funny male characters for inspiration. 

The top 25 funny cat names for boys should include appellations like these:

1. Sir Pounce-a-Lot
2. Meow-colm X
3. Whisker-ino DiCaprio
4. Fuzz Lightbeer
5. Meowzilla
6. Meow-zart
7. Cat-rick Swayze
8. Purr-man Meow-ville
9. Captain Whisker-beard
10. Meow-jamin Franklin
11. Fuzz Aldrin
12. Fuzz-inator
13. Fuzz-ington von Whisker
14. Meow-io Andretti
15. Paw-sitron
16. Sir Whisker-fuzz
17. Fuzz-gerald
18. Meow-ton John
19. Furr-gotten
20. Whisker Wonka
21. Meow-lcolm 
22. General Purr-vis
23. Whisker-ito Bandito
24. Fuzz Light-meow
25. Meow-io Kart

Sports-inspired boy cat names.

• Messi (inspired by Lionel Messi, soccer)
• Brady (inspired by Tom Brady, American football)
• Bolt (inspired by Usain Bolt, track and field)
• Griffey (inspired by Ken Griffey Jr., baseball)
• Federer (inspired by Roger Federer, tennis)
  
  

These names celebrate athleticism and can add a sporty flair to your male cat's identity!

Food-inspired boy cat names.

• Taco (Celebrity chef Bobby Flay had a Maine Coon named Taco.)
• Basil (Basil of Baker Street was Disney's mouse detective based on Sherlock Holmes)
• Peanut (One of the most popular cat names in the U.S.)
• Pepper (A stray kitten who became a film celebrity in 1912 and starred in 17 shows)
• Cheddar (Is there any cuter name for a bad-boy orange tabby?)
  
  

These names add a tasty twist to your feline friend's identity!

Character-inspired boy cat names.

• Kramer (inspired by Cosmo Kramer from "Seinfeld")
• Sheldon (inspired by Sheldon Cooper from "The Big Bang Theory")
• Joey (inspired by Joey Tribbiani from "Friends")
• Homer (inspired by Homer Simpson from "The Simpsons")
• Ron (inspired by Ron Swanson from "Parks and Recreation")

These names are sure to bring a smile to your face every time you call your cat!

More Naming Resources. 

Science can also weigh in on the best names for your pet. Since cats can hear high-pitched sounds better than low ones, you may want to pick one of the funny cat names that sounds better when pronounced in your upper register. Science also says that cats and dogs hear the hard "ck" and long "ee" sounds easily, so Clicker, Snicker, Daisy, and Coffee might all be good options.

Most pets can decode shorter words better than long ones, a factual tidbit that gives us some guidance. However, most animals can more easily distinguish two-syllable words than one-syllable ones. So if we want the science behind the funniest cat names, we should go with something that:

• Sounds good in a high-pitched voice
• Includes a hard "ck" or long "ee" sound
• Is short
• Has two syllables

Kee-kee, perhaps? Or Beaky?

If data doesn't dominate your naming options, consider these other inspirations:

• Sports
• Bolt (inspired by Usain Bolt)
• Serena (inspired by Serena Williams)
• Messi (inspired by Lionel Messi)
• Harry Potter
• Luna
• Sirius
• Hermione
• Royalty
• Duchess
• Prince
• Queenie
• Superheroes
• Thor
• Rogue
• Batman
• Colors
• Sapphire
• Amber
• Crimson
• Trees
• Willow
• Oakley
• Aspen
• Cocktails
• Martini
• Mojito
• Cosmo
• Game of Thrones
• Arya
• Tyrion
• Daenerys
• Lord of the Rings
• Frodo
• Arwen
• Gandalf

Finally, punny names, Disney names, or cat names drawn from technology can also make fun monikers for your friend. Whatever you choose, make sure you love it. After all, your cat’s name is one you’ll call, and she’ll ignore, for many years to come.

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