130+ Ocicat Cat Names: Our Top Picks for Your Loving & Playful Cat

The Ocicat looks like a wild cat but doesn’t have any wild DNA. It is a rare breed of cat that has similar markings to the tabby, including the M shape on the forehead. The breed is officially recognized and while it can be difficult to find breeders with Ocicats, they do make good pets thanks to their loving and playful nature.

Choosing a name for your cat is an important step. Hopefully, you will be calling that name for 15 years or more and it needs to be something that your cat will recognize, eventually, and that isn’t easily confused with family names or simple words. You should also be prepared to call the name out in public, so should ideally avoid anything too graphic or offensive.

Below, you will find more than 130 Ocicat cat names to inspire you when choosing your cat’s name.

Male Ocicat Names

The Ocicat is a unique cat breed. While there are several breeds with stripes and other markings, the Ocicat has spots, which is very unusual in the feline world. While this does give a good naming opportunity, you don’t have to name your cat for the way it looks or specific to its breed. Below are some of the more popular male names for Ocicats.

Female Ocicat Names

When choosing any cat name, ensure it isn’t too similar to the name of a person or other pet in the house. If you have a Maisie living at home, avoid calling your new cat Daisy. It will cause confusion and you might find both come to you when you call.

Names Related to Ocicat Markings

The most distinctive feature of the Ocicat is its markings. Traditionally, it has the same colors as a tabby cat so it has a brown coat with black markings. However, whereas the tabby cat has stripes, the Ocicat has spots, like an Ocelot. It also has the M shape on the forehead which is characteristic of the tabby markings.

Color-Themed Names

The Ocicat is officially recognized as a breed and cat registries accept 12 different colors. Those colors can range from the traditional brown and black to silver and ebony. The lavender Ocicat is especially intriguing with a tinge of purple in its coloring. Celebrate the coloring of your cat by choosing a related name.

Names Beginning with O

Another popular way to choose a cat name is by using the same first letter as the breed of the cat, so it sounds good when combining the name and breed. Oscar the Ocelot, for example, has a nice ring to it. Below are some of the most popular cat names beginning with the letter O.

The 5 Steps to Teach a Cat Its Name

Choosing a name is only the first step in using that name. Your cat won’t instinctively know that you are calling them, and it can take some time for them to pick up on the name. The following five steps will help you teach your cat its new name.

1. Bond with Your Cat

Spend some time bonding with your cat so that it will want to come to you when it recognizes its name. Bonding includes talking to the cat, stroking it, and engaging in some fun activities like playtime. Of course, feeding your cat and giving it treats will also help increase the connection between you both.

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2. Sit Close

Sit a few feet from your cat. Gently but recognizably call your cat’s name. Be clear and say the name once. Give the cat a couple of seconds to respond and look at you. If your cat doesn’t look at you, say its name again. Repeat the process until your cat makes eye contact with you.

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3. Reward

As soon as your cat looks at you in response to you using its name, give it lots of praise and consider rewarding it with a tasty, healthy treat. The praise and reward should be given as quickly as possible and ideally within a couple of seconds.

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4. Repeat

Once your cat looks away from you, repeat the process, and be sure to give a reward and a treat whenever your cat gets it right and looks at you. Keep repeating the process and not only will your cat look at you when you use its name, but it will approach you in the hope of getting positive attention and a reward.

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5. Increase the Distance

When your cat responds every time you use its name, increase the distance between the two of you. Move to the other side of the room and repeat the steps above. Then, move into a different room and start calling and rewarding in the same way.

Conclusion

Choosing a name for your cat is an exciting time and an important step in welcoming a new cat. Practice saying the name out loud before settling on one and choose something that the whole family is happy with. Ideally, the name should be two syllables, but longer names can be shortened to this length.

Initially, be consistent with the name you use and be positive when calling the name, don’t use it as a means of reprimanding your cat, or it will become reluctant to respond.

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Featured Image Credit: Vicky Gosselin, Shutterstock