How to Name Your Cat: 7 Things to Consider
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Deciding to give a new kitten a forever home is a big step, but it’s also a very exciting time in your life. You need to pick out a bed, the right food, toys, and other necessities before you even bring your kitten home from the breeder or the rescue shelter.
Once you have all that done, however, you get to bring home your adorable feline and start settling into life as a pet parent. Now is when you need to start thinking about a name for your furry friend.
While many people think that naming a kitten is as simple as thinking up a quick name and bestowing it on your feline, pet parents know it’s not as simple as that. So, in the article below, we’ll give you a few things to consider when trying to choose the perfect name for your furry bundle of joy, so join us.
Tips for Naming Your New Kitten
Your new kitten doesn’t have to have a name immediately. It’s better to take the time to play with, cuddle, and get to know your kitten before you make a final decision. In most cases, a name will come to mind within a few days, and you’ll know it is the right choice for your cuddly new friend.
However, that doesn’t mean you should give up trying to find the perfect name for your kitten. In the next section, we’ll give you a few things to consider when looking for a name for your cat.
The 7 Steps for Naming Your Feline Pal
Naming your cat shouldn’t be stressful or difficult, and you can follow our suggestions to make the process easier.
1. Don’t Be in a Hurry
One of the first things you should do when choosing a name for your new kitten is slow down. You don’t have to be in a hurry to give your kitten a name. You’ll want to see what your kitten’s personality is like so that the name you give the kitten fits everything about them. It will take patience and time, but you’ll get there.
2. Consider Your Kitten’s Appearance
The appearance and breed of your furry friend could be an inspiration when it comes to finding the perfect name. For example, a black cat will prompt you to think of witches and witchy names. Some good suggestions would be Salem or Binx. An orange cat could be dubbed Garfield, whereas a fluffy white cat might need a name such as Cloud or Fluffy.
3. Consider Your Cat’s Personality
Considering your cat’s personality is a great way to come up with a name for your kitten. Take the time to bond with your feline and get to know the little kitty before deciding on a name. If your cat is shy and standoffish, you could go with Bambi. However, a name like Bizzy could be just the ticket if the cat is bubbly and energetic.
4. Choose a Name that will Fit a Grown Cat
While it may be tempting to choose a name that fits your tiny kitten, remember, in most cases, the kitten will not stay tiny. For example, you don’t want to name your cat Tiny, and then it grows to weigh 20 pounds. In that case, the name just wouldn’t fit anymore. Instead, consider your tiny kitten a full-grown feline, then choose a name accordingly.
5. Keep it Short, Sweet, and Easy to Say
In most cases, it’s probably not a good idea to name your cat a complicated long name. For example, naming your cat Nostradamus might get old, considering you’ll constantly call the kitten’s name. The last thing you want is the name you agonized so carefully over being changed to a nickname because it’s just too long to keep saying.
6. Use Your Interests for Inspiration
Don’t forget to use the things you love for inspiration. For example, if you love to read, search names of characters from your favorite books. If you’re a huge movie buff, you can name your cat after your favorite movie character. There are endless possibilities when naming your cat after the things you love; you just need to know where to find them.
7. Think of the Other Names in Your Home
One thing to keep in mind is the other names in your home. For example, you wouldn’t want to name your cat Bella if your daughter’s name is Stella since they sound alike. The kitten might get confused when you call your daughter’s name and even when you call her name. Another example is people who name their cat Snow. It sounds like the word no and could easily confuse your feline friend.
These are a few of the things that you’ll want to consider when trying to name your new kitten. Remember, keep it simple, take your time, and have fun with your cat above all else.
Final Thoughts
Naming your cat doesn’t have to be hard if you take your time and get to know your feline first. Most first-time pet parents have no idea that it takes so much to name a kitten. A lot goes into choosing that perfect name for the feline you’ve decided to give a forever home. If you consider the tips we discussed above, you’ll soon find that your cat has the perfect name, and you have a happy, loyal, loving pet on your hands.
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
