Male cat names

¶How to choose a name for your cat – and what the research says

Cats are known for ignoring you when you call them. But research shows they really do recognise their names. Here's what we know about what makes a good cat name – and what is mostly myth.

Cats recognise their names

In 2019, researchers at Sophia University in Tokyo published a study in Scientific Reports. Cats first heard four ordinary words in a row until they stopped reacting, and then their own name. The cats clearly reacted again when they heard their name – with their ears, head or tail – even when the words were the same length and stress, and even when a stranger said the name.

The researchers believe cats learn their name because it is often followed by something they care about, like food, play or being stroked. So a cat that doesn't come when called hasn't necessarily failed to understand.

The myth of "s" and "ee" sounds

It's often said that cats respond best to names with "ee" or "s" sounds, as in "kitty" or "Misse". No study has looked at this. What does seem to matter is that the name is said often and linked to something positive.

Feel free to choose a name with bright, clear sounds if you like it – but it's no guarantee your cat will come running.

Several cats? Choose names that sound different

The same study also tested cats living in a cat café with many other cats. They told their own name apart from ordinary words, but not from the other cats' names. In a café many names are called, and the cat being called is often not the one that gets the reward.

If you have several cats at home, it's wise to pick names that start and end differently – for example Saga and Findus rather than Misse and Nisse.

Short or long name?

A short name with one or two syllables is easy to say the same way every time, and repetition is how cats learn. A long name like Lady Milk Chocolate can be fun, but expect your cat to go by something shorter day to day.

Cat names follow the trends

Classic Swedish cat names like Misse, Mysan, Findus and Morris live on, but today many cats get ordinary human names like Luna, Doris and Sigrid. Pop culture shows up too – Simba and Nala from The Lion King and Garfield from the comics appear on many cat lists.

Old names also come back. Names that were common in your grandparents' generation often feel fresh again after they've been gone for a while.

Test the name before you decide

Say the name out loud a few times in the voice you use at dinner time. Check that it doesn't sound like someone else at home. If it still feels right after a week, you've probably found the one.