Caitlin UltimoPet Lovers / Pet Parenting

Top Cat Names

How you name your cat says a lot about your cat—but it also gives some insight into your own personality. In recent years there seems to have been a significant jump in human names for cats, which confirms what we suspected: people are viewing their pets more and more like their own children.

Lana Fraley Rich, Catsultant and cat behaviorist from Dallas, Texas, has worked in feline care and behavior improvement services for over 20 years, and has witnessed firsthand the trend towards human names for cat names within the last decade. “How you name your cat reflects a lot about you as a person,” she says. “Human names give cats a certain humanity that people have an easy time connecting with.”

When naming your cat, Lana advises pet parents to look at the cat’s personality and appearance and to consider how the name sounds (she uses the abbreviation “PAS” as a helpful tool to remember these three points). She tells new pet parents to consider bringing their cat home for a while until they get acclimated with their surroundings first. The cat’s personality will truly begin to shine through, so you can pick an appropriate pet name.

When it comes to sound, Lana points out that “cats usually respond to a shorter name, as they are able to absorb it more quickly.” According to Lana, cat’s respond best to names that have a long “e,” which she attributes to the similar sound found in the cat’s natural form of communication: the meow. If you have a multiple cat household, Lana suggests naming each cat with “distinctively different sounding names, because when cats get older, their hearing can become compromised and they may be confused.” Lana emphasizes the importance of finding a cat name that you like and that your cat responds to because you will be using this name for a long time.

If you have a new kitten or cat, and need some inspiration for a moniker, check out some of the more popular pet names currently trending:

Top Male Cat Names

  1. Oliver
  2. Leo
  3. Charlie
  4. Milo
  5. Max
  6. Jack
  7. George
  8. Simon
  9. Loki
  10. Simba

Top Female Cat Names

  1. Luna
  2. Chloe
  3. Bella
  4. Lucy
  5. Lily
  6. Sophie
  7. Lola
  8. Zoe
  9. Cleo
  10. Nala

Once you choose a cat name for your new pet, the next step is training them with cat treats to respond to it. Greenies Feline Oven Roasted Dental Cat Treats are perfect for any type of training; all you need to do is feed your new cat a treat whenever you use his name.

Samantha Schwab, Junior Editor
As an aspiring cat mom, Samantha Schwab can be found mining keywords, meticulously editing Pet Central blog posts or standing at her desk (usually all three!). An espresso shot and kitty cuddles are the only things that stand between Samantha and conquering the (pet) world!