Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Help me think of names for cats to keep to hand for when I'm short of inspiration

204 replies

thecatneuterer · 28/01/2022 22:04

I have to name dozens of cats a month. Any cat I bring in to the rescue that is for homing (as opposed to neuter and return) needs a name. I'm really running out of ideas.

I'm looking for names that aren't actual people names - and preferably that are normal nouns with a nice sound and no awkward connotations.

For example, Puddle and Truffle. They don't need to end in 'le' of course - although that does give a particularly appealing sound I feel.

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
GenuineKlatchianPottery · 29/01/2022 12:30

Havelock suggested Terry Pratchett characters and placesSmile

Sakura7 · 29/01/2022 12:31

Marvel/Avengers characters:

Loki
Thor
Wanda
Vision
Falcon
Rocket
Gamora
Hawkeye
Pepper
Groot
Bucky

I also like the car idea posted by a PP. I know a dog called Kia.

Gemstones are good too.

Country names? I know someone who's cat had a litter of kittens and they called them Brazil, Peru and Aruba.

brainflake · 29/01/2022 12:40

My childhood pets have always had food related names, so have my friends for that matter...
Galaxy
Caramac
Chip
Cadbury's
Fry
Nestle
Nescafé
Pepsi
Cola
Ginger
Shandy
Tequila
Whisky
Brandy
Coco
Marshmallow
Jellybean

An ex bf of mine had family pets names after Disney characters too

Bamaluz · 29/01/2022 12:43

Hobbits

lljkk · 29/01/2022 12:52

You've done this all wrong, TCN.

AND you didn't pay the (cat or kitten) photo tax -- tsk tsk.

So the plan is, as soon as a new cat arrives, you post picture(s) here, tell us 2 facts we couldn't figure out from the picture (eg., "loves cuddles", "silky fur", "very chatty") and we will give you name ideas, bespoke to each animal.

Use numbers (#1, #2) for each feline introduced, so you can match suggestions to cats.

This thread could go on for YEARS.

Happenchance · 29/01/2022 14:00

Buckle
Smeaton
Panache
Dungarees
Mangrove
Yoga
Thimble
Nimble
Baritone
Corduroy
Kazoo
Peabody
Kitty Kitty Bang Bang
Batfink
Gymnast
Monocle
Shades
Tartan
Cravat
Bow tie
Brogue
Sandal
Pint
Half pint
Barrel

Animal noises: Birdsong, Caterwaul, Bray, Squawk, Chatter, Trill, Cock-a-doodle-doo, Orgle etc. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animal_sounds).

Shapes: Rhombus, Oval, Circle, Hexagon, Cylinder, Sphere, Cuboid etc.

Household: Cellar door (the most beautiful English phrase), Window, Banister, Garden, Yard, Wok, Painting, Candle, Blanket, Teasmade, Caddy, Saucer, Teapot etc.

Animals that haven't been done to death: Spider monkey, Duckling, Gander, Cub, Froglet, Tadpole, Guppy, Ewe, Pony, Kid, Lemming, Capybara etc.

Nautical: Starboard, Cleat, Cringle, Gimbals, Keel, Tender, Buoy, Skipper, First mate, Bosun, Pontoon, Lighthouse, Foghorn, Jetty, Porthole, Rudder etc.

Stationery: Pen, Pencil, Ruler, Compass, Blue tack, Stapler, Highlighter, Felt tip etc.

Legal: Barrister, Judge, Jury, Wig, Robe, Court, Dock, Gavel, Counsel, Dockett, Chambers, Magna Carta, Notary, Justice etc.

Body parts: Cuticle, Eyelash, Eyebrow, Socket, Thumb, Full pubis Grin etc.

AliasGrape · 29/01/2022 14:43

Im obsessed now with naming cats I'll never meet and will get renamed anyway ...

Muddle
Ramshackle
Mingle
Pineapple
Tipple
Topple
Whistle
Twinkle
Crumble
Chuckle
Thistle
Scuffle
Bubble
Jumble
Trifle
Chuckle
Dingle
Doddle
Kerfuffle

Duke
Duchess
Earl
Marquess
Marquess
Viscount /ess
Count / ess
Baron / ess

Ace
Benson
Buckingham
Chester

Mischief
Mayhem

Tybalt Benvolio Caliban Capulet Montague Cassio Iago Claudius Hermia Horatio Pyramus Thisbe Puck Macduff Polonius Prospero Titania

thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:05

What on earth have I missed? You don't get deleted comments in The Litter Tray every day do you.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:08

OK, so this is my list of favourites. I think I'll be using all of them eventually.

Anise
Cicely
Tarragon
Fedora
Trilby
Pawpaw
Quince
Kith and Kin
Theramin
Zither
Tweed
Flax
Cumulus
Nimbus
Magenta
Vimto
Dandelion
Burdock
Trellis
Catkin
Teasel
Trivet
Sporran
Barley
Velvet
Chiffon
Taffeta
Brocade
Tartan
Citrine
Peridot
Sprocket
Gimlet
Marble
Shale
Thimble
Froglet
Kerfuffle
Muddle

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:09

and Jumble

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:12

@lljkk you're right! That would make sense!

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 29/01/2022 15:13

I really wanted another cat called Sushi.

But I have two allergic people in my house so when my current cat passes, no Sushi Sad

Noseylittlemoo · 29/01/2022 15:18

@violetmonster we had a cat called Parsnip which I loved - I feel a bit short changed as he only lived until 2.5 so I didn't get to use it long.
I already started thinking of next cat names and potato, mushroom , brocoli were on my list but I think we'll probably use chickpea ! I also know of a cat called Noodle. I like raisin from your list too.
I also like the names Button and Bobble

thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:30

@lljkk OK then, let's give this a go. This is the cat I need to name today. She is around 8 months old and friendly. She turned up as a stray in someone's garden. We spayed and returned her as they wanted to keep her, but she's not getting on with their existing cat so we need to find her a home.

I'm drawn to Anise, Pawpaw, Catkin or Magenta.

Over to you ...

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:31

Forgot the photo

Help me think of names for cats to keep to hand for when I'm short of inspiration
OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/01/2022 15:32

or Taffeta

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 29/01/2022 15:33

She’s definitely a Catkin

PureBlackVoid · 29/01/2022 15:34

She looks like a Catkin to me, she is so beautiful ❤️

violetmonster · 29/01/2022 15:42

Definitely Catkin

DirectionToPerfection · 29/01/2022 15:46

I like Taffeta, or Taffy for short.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/01/2022 17:02

Aw she's sweet

I'm throwing Kermit in the ring

chesirecat99 · 29/01/2022 17:32

@JohnStonesMissus

Audrey Margot Penny Mr Pickwick Sooty Jet Smudge Misty Smokey I also knew a cat called "Two dinners Sid" It was hilarious, well his name was Sid but he got named that by the whole neighbourhood because he visited everyone's house begging for food, the owner knew and thought it was funny, he really was a gorgeous friendly cat..
My DC loved Six Dinner Sid when they were little.

How about using Sid's six names:

Scaramouche
Bob
Satan
Sally
Sooty
Schwartz

Okay, maybe not Satan... I think the US version uses Mischief instead.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 29/01/2022 17:48

Catalonia
Patagonia
Zanzibar
Guadeloupe
Martinique
Suriname
Squiggle
Quincey
Ramona
Tybalt
Magnolia
Mcgyver
Lucian
Foxbury
Princox
Spitalfields
Alejandro
Sweetheart
Tissue
Flapjack
Shortbread
Andre the Giant
The Dread Pirate Roberts
Blackbeard
Pugwash
Noggin
Kumquat
Bungle
Zippy
Atticus
Scout
She-Ra

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 29/01/2022 17:50

Norse gods are useful
Thor
Loki
Odin
Freya et Al

MitheredAndFrazzled · 29/01/2022 17:52

Demerara (especially if they're the colour of brown sugar)

Swipe left for the next trending thread