101 Male Cat Names Ideas

by Jessi Larson

Need some inspiration to find the perfect name for your boy cat? With so many options, it’s tough to know where to start. Do you go with an elegant male cat name, like Theodore or Winston? Or a funny name such as Dude or Chuck Norris?

Here’s a fun chart to get the juices flowing and help you find the male cat name that’s right for you and your new pet.

If we’re getting close but you need to look at a few more names, try our fun cat name generator for more.

And if you like a certain category, here are quick links to explore other options in the same vein:

• Cute Male Cat Names
• Funny Male Cat Names
• Elegant Male Cat Names
• Classic Male Cat Names
• Sporty Male Cat Names

Bonus: 4 tips for teaching your cat its name
Once you settle on an option you like, it’s time to teach it to your cat. This might seem like a daunting task, but don’t fret — cats are actually very trainable. Just following these 4 easy steps.

1. 1. 1. Keep saying it
      OK, this might seem obvious, but how many times do you say someone’s name when you’re talking to them? Do you say your friend’s name over and over in a conversation? Probably not, and the same likely  goes for your animal. In the early stages, remember to repeat his or her name over and over again so they recognize the sound of it. Make sure you say it when you’re holding your cat, playing with him or some other sort of positive behavior.

1. 1. 2. Provide exciting rewards
      Pick out a treat, whether it’s a piece of tuna, a tiny bit of chicken or a kernel of cat food, and then call your cat over. When your furball joins you, reward him or her with the treat. Continue to do this and mix up the treats each time to keep your kitty off guard. This provides positive reinforce of their name.

1. 1. 3. Don’t say it in anger
      When your cat does something bad, resist the urge to yell its name, especially in the beginning. By doing this, you’re correlating anger with the cat’s name, and they’ll think it’s a bad thing. Cat’s have an acute sense of hearing and are good at recognizing tones, so try to be even and consistent.

1. 1. 4. No nicknames in the beginning
      As fun as it is to give your cat a nickname, don’t do it, at least when your first take them home. They’ll be trying to learn their name and don’t need to be confused by another one. Later on you can incorporate a fun nickname, but just make sure they clearly recognize their regular name first.

How to Teach Your Cat Its Name

Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist for Fortune 50 companies who loves to research and write about pets. She enjoys finding cool new cat names, researching the best products, learning more about cat breeds and sharing tips with other pet parents.