| Inspiration ⬇️ | Coat ➡️ | Short | Long |
| Food | Jelly | Kiwi |
| Flowers | Clover | Hyacinth |
| Baby Names | Oliver/Olivia | Charlotte/Mason |
| Animals | Bongo | Fennec |
| Sounds | Whoosh | Burr |
About 45 million American households have at least one cat. It seems that the world needs a lengthy list of cute cat names! There’s a scientific explanation why the world is enamored with felines. It has to do with an analytical model called baby schema, which we’ll dive into. Which breeds score the highest on our cute-o-meter? And more importantly, how to name this fluffy kitten you have just adopted? You can find inspiration in flora, fauna, food, pop culture and more! Let’s get started.
Why Are Cats so Cute?
Cats come in all shapes and sizes. Fluffy, bald, tiny, bulky, with big eyes, with small ears, black, white, you name it. Each pet owner claims that their kitty is the cutest. Despite our personal preferences and emotional bias, all felines share certain features that make them adorable. There is hard science behind our attraction to cats.
Cats and Babies – What Do They Have in Common?
Konrad Lorenz proposed an analytical model called baby schema to wrap his head around cuteness. He came up with a list of features that cause goo-goo eyes:
- round face;
- large head compared to the rest of the body;
- big eyes;
- rounded ears;
- chubby cheeks;
- small nose;
- small mouth;
- short and thick limbs;
- plump body shape.
Do they ring a bell? Yes, right. All of them reflect the latest YouTube video with cute cats you’ve seen. When we see a vulnerable, slightly chubby creature, we want to take care of it. It’s because of our genetic makeup. The theory is that we have evolved to consider babies to be cute so that parents will take care of them. This way, our species could survive. But even if you choose life without children, your protective instincts can be transferred to cats.
Editor’s Note
The above doesn’t explain why many people find cats to be cuter than human babies. Maybe it’s their fluffiness that gives them additional points on the cuteness scale? Or maybe it’s the positive associations we have from our childhoods. After all, many of us grew up with cats and are used to taking care of them, which can’t be said for babies in my case.
The Cutest Cat Breeds
Cats of these breeds are fluffy, chubby, small, clumsy and so adorable we want to hug them right away:
- Munchkin – short legs;
- Norwegian Forest Cat – long hair;
- Maine Coon – fluffy fur;
- British Shorthair – chubby face;
- Bengal – adorable eyes;
- Siamese – round, blue eyes;
- Birman – cute, white fluffy fur;
- Persian – sweet, slightly grumpy face;
- Scottish Fold – adorable ears;
- Ragdoll – amiable expression.
Most purebred felines have remarkable personalities. Their temperaments differ, though. Remember to learn about their behavior and attitude to children, as well as energy levels, before committing to a breed. Now, let’s move on to cute cat names!
Food-Inspired Cute Cat Names
Food is a good source of inspiration. We love to eat, and we have positive associations with food. It makes us feel better just like our feline friends. Check out some cute food names your great cat could use:
- Apple
- Beans
- Berry
- Biscuit
- Bon Bon
- Butter
- Cherry
- Clementine
- Cocoa
- Cookie
- Crêpe
- Cupcake
- Donut
- Fig
- Godiva
- Goji
- Honeydew
- Jelly
- Kiwi
- Licorice
- Mango
- Melon
- Nectar
- Nutella
- Olive
- Oreo
- Peaches
- Pickles
- Pineapple
- Plum
- Pollen
- Pudding
- Raisin
- Scone
- Sorbet
- Tiramisu.
Build-a-Name
Think of a dessert or snack that you like. Then, add your favorite color or texture as a prefix. Now you have a unique foodie cat name! What did you get? I got Fuzzychip.
Cute Flowers – (Not Only) Female Cat Name Ideas
Flowers are sweet, beautiful and improve our mood. Some cute cat names, especially for female kittens, include:
- Azalea
- Bellflower
- Blossom
- Bluebell
- Buttercup
- Calla
- Camellia
- Clover
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Freesia
- Heather
- Holly
- Hyacinth
- Iris
- Jasmine
- Laurel
- Lavender
- Lily
- Magnolia
- Mimosa
- Pansy
- Peony
- Petunia
- Poppy
- Primrose
- Rose
- Rosemary
- Sunflower
- Tulip
- Violet
Cute Baby Names You Can Use for Your Male or Female Cat
If cats resemble babies in so many ways, why not borrow some cute names from parenting websites? Check these out:
- Aiden
- Amelia
- Ava
- Benjamin
- Charlotte
- Elijah
- Emma
- Evelyn
- Isabella
- Jack
- James
- Levi
- Liam
- Lucas
- Mason
- Mia
- Noah
- Oliver
- Olivia
- Simba
- Sophia.
Tip
Most human names have meanings in ancient languages. Try looking them up if you can’t decide between two names. For example, Emma means „whole” and Ava means „bird” or „life,” depending on which language you trace it back to. Which one do you think suits a cat more?
Cute Cat Names Inspired by Animals
Wild and domesticated, exotic and well-known – cuteness has taken control over the world! You’ll feel it when we start enumerating these adorable animals that inspire cute cat names:
- Arctic Fox
- Armadillo
- Axolotl
- Bilby
- Bongo
- Dik-Dik
- Dugong
- Fennec
- Jellyfish
- Jerboa
- Klipspringer
- Mangalitsa
- Margay
- Meerkat
- Oribi
- Pika
- Red Panda
- Serval
- Shrew
- Slow Loris
- Starfish
- Sugar Glider
Boy and Girl Cat Names Inspired by Cute Sounds
This list includes both the names of sounds and their onomatopoeic expressions. Listen to your cat. Maybe they meow in a specific way or chatter when observing birds. Consider choosing one of these monikers if your kitty is particularly vocal – they make good names for female and male cats:
- Beep – for cats who wake you up, and you don’t need your alarm clock anymore;
- Burr – cats who make a mess in the kitchen in search for food could use that name;
- Chirp – did you know that cats can do that, especially when they see birds?
- Click – a good name for cats who love sleeping on your keyboard and sometimes accidentally close an important document;
- Flutter – a good name for cats who love running and make a mess while doing so;
- Silence – for cats who don’t meow;
- Vroom – for cats who delight you with their constant purring;
- Whirr – for cats that are fast and love playing and jumping just like ballerinas do;
- Whisper – for cats you reveal all your secrets to.
Some other kitten names inspired by sounds include:
- Clink
- Creak
- Drip-Drop
- Hiccup
- Jingle
- Meow
- Ping
- Pop
- Shush
- Tap
- Tick
- Whoosh
- Yip.
Conclusion
No matter if you have a black, white, orange, tabby or gray cat, they’re all adorable furry friends who have cute distinguishing features. Every cat deserves the best life and a cute cat name to match it. Hopefully, you have already decided what the cutest name is and can share it in the comment section below. Don’t forget to give your cat a delicious snack every time it reacts to the chosen name!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Unique Names for Cats?
If you’re looking for a unique name to give your cat, here you go! Agamemnon, Saffron, Fuzzybutt, Pickles, Merlin, and Pounce are all uncommon and interesting. You can also make a pun like Purrito or Meowse.
What Is a Perfect Name for a Kitten?
A perfect name for a kitten could be something cuddly and cute, such as Fluffy, Paws, Mittens, or Snuggles. It could also reflect the animal’s personality, such as Sassy or Giggles.
What Should I Name My Fluffy Kitten?
Think of the fluffiest things in nature and in your home. Snowflake, Snowy, Cotton, Nimbus and Whiskers are some good names related to fluffiness. Pudding, Muffin and Mittens are even cuter!
What Are Some Aesthetic Names for a Cat?
If you’d like to consider something that isn’t necessarily cute but is very pretty, we have a few name ideas for you. Misty, Starlight, Moonlight, Honeydew, Ivory, Cinnamon, and Cloudburst are our favorites. They’re elusive like a typical cat!
Lucas Taylor is a veterinary assistant, freelance journalist and single dad who lives in the suburbs with his three pups: Ruby, Nala, and Woody. He has one cat named Pepper. When he’s not writing articles or working at the vet clinic, Lucas loves cooking French cuisine for himself and friends at home. One of Lucas’ favorite things to do is paddleboard with his son Noah and their canine companions. Pepper is the homebody of the bunch – she loves chilling on the couch.
