With the holidays on the horizon and the possibility of new pets joining your family, I’ve revisited several “new pet” topics over the past several weeks. But have you thought about pet names? You’re in luck because guest blog writer Maya Kinsley has all the tips you need! Take it away, Maya!

Thank you to writer MAYA KINSLEY for sharing this GUEST POST. I am being compensated to share this information about naming pets, but BLING, BITCHES & BLOOD only shares information that is relevant to my readers. (Image provided by Blue Starling Media)

Pet Naming Tips: How to Choose the Best Name for Your Kitten

It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a puppy, a kitten, your favourite toy or even a baby – choosing the right name is always a hard task. After all, in most cases, it becomes a part of one’s identity. So you bring a cute little kitten to your home and you begin to wonder. There are people who decide to wait until they get to know their new pet so that the name can match their personality; sometimes you just look at the cat for the first time and you simply know. The chosen name should be something personal and 100% right but here are some tips that hopefully will inspire you.

Top Pet Names

 You probably aim for originality but it’s always helpful to look at the list of the most popular names – you may find inspiration or simply be confirmed in your choice as to what you don’t want. It’s not surprising that the most common names are short and simple, for example:

• Tiger
• Tigger
• Kitty
• Puss
• Ginger
• Max
• Missy
• Morris
• Callie
• Simon
• Rusty
• Shadow

Uncommon Cat Names

Speaking of originality – you can also get inspired by the list of unusual cat names. There are no official rankings on this list, as it’s hard to track names of all the individual cats. But their owners really like to share their pet names, so it may be a good idea to do some research.

Keep Pet Names Short and Clear

It’s cute to say that you have a cat named Lord Alfred Purrington but it won’t be something he can remember and react to, unfortunately. It’s easier for him to learn a shorter name – one or two syllables. Just make sure it sounds different than some common short commands – don’t name him Joe as it may sound to him like no, Puff as it sounds too much like off, or Pam which sounds similar to come; this would only confuse him. For the same reason, try to avoid names that sound similar to those of your other animals’ or family members’ who are often around. Cats rely on what they hear; they can remember sounds, but they don’t always understand the meaning.

Hard Names are Better

This is not an absolute must-do but it’s better to choose names with some harder vowels and consonants that are easier for cats to distinguish. Gigi, Bee-Bee or Tigger would make better names for cats than Shaun, Merle or Hern.

Be Sure You Can Call It In Public

Some people choose names they think are cute, but they turn out to be quite ambiguous when a third person doesn’t know a story or a context. There are those who name their pets something nasty thinking it’s cute – it may be, but you may change your mind when your mother or other people hear it. Make sure you won’t be embarrassed to address your cat by name in public.

Involve the Whole Family

Have a family gathering (or invite some close friends) and ask everyone to write their favourite names on a piece of paper. Then you can read them out loud and discuss what suits your kitten best. Try calling each name aloud to see if you and your cat like it. Plus, you will have a lot of fun going through some suggestions and hearing the stories behind them.

Think About What You Like

Are you a huge fan of Bob Dylan or Lady GaGa? Don’t be afraid to get inspired by the things you love. Wouldn’t it be cool to live with your favourite singer or beloved actor? Or maybe there’s food that you really love? A kitten named Taco or Bruger would sound cute and these names really have a ring to them.

Think About the Looks

You may think that naming a soft, hairy cat Fluffy is corny but let’s be honest – these kinds of names are the best. They’re cute and suitable and you will feel truly different while calling your cat something that fits and remind you what he is and why you love him.

Delve Into Your Past

Just like there are families in which some baby names are passed through generations, there are also those who have their favourite pet names. You can ask your parents or even grandparents if they had a pet in their childhood. By naming your cat after your father’s puppy or your grandmother’s rabbit, you can start a nice family tradition.

Naming your new kitten can be a challenging task. Cats can live up to 20 years, sometimes even more, so the name will be around for a long time affecting both yours and your pet’s lives. That’s why it’s important to really think it through. But it can also be a lot of fun – so relax, invite your family and friends and use our tips to get creative.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!