Skip to main content

20 names for orange cats that couldn’t be more fitting

Bringing home a cat is a super exciting experience, but that new member of your family will also need a name. Coming up with the perfect name for your cat can take some time, so don’t be afraid to get to know your new pet for a while before you decide on a name that truly fits him or her. Brainstorming a list of names can help with the process though, which is why we’ve included some great orange kitten names to help you get started. Each of these names has a tie-in to your cat’s color, and you might decide that one of them is just right.

Orange kitten lying on its back in a grassy yard

What should I name my orange cat?

Butterscotch

Pumpkin

Maple

Apricot

Honey

Penny

Marmalade

Tangerine

Nutmeg

Dorito

Tigger

Caramel

Rusty

Hobbes

Nacho

Sandy

Autumn

Cheddar

Ginger

Amber

How to choose the right name for your cat

There are a few important things to keep in mind when choosing a name for your cat. First, pick a name that doesn’t sound similar to the names of other people or pets in the home. This can help to avoid confusion for your new feline companion.

It’s a good idea to pick a name that’s easy to say. While you might prefer a more complicated, multi-syllable, “formal” name for your cat, try to think of a nickname that you and your family members can easily say. Try to choose a name that’s simple to remember, especially if you have young kids in the house who will need to learn the cat’s name, too.

Once you’ve decided on the right name for your cat, use it around him frequently to help him get used to it. Make sure that you also share the name with others who need to know it. Call your veterinarian and have them update their records with his new name. It’s’ also important to call your cat’s microchip company, if he has one, so they can update their records as well.

Orange cat lying on an orange blanket
abid adeel/Shutterstock

Additional tips for welcoming a cat into your home

Finding the perfect name for your new fur baby is just one part of welcoming him into your home. As your cat starts to get settled in, you might be tempted to spend lots of time with him and try to pet or interact with him, but that can actually contribute to your cat’s stress. Often, a cat will most appreciate being left alone in a quiet room during his first few days home. Explain this to your kids and ask the whole family to give him some space.

When your cat is feeling a little more confident, you can start spending some time in the room with him or letting him out to explore the rest of the house. Focus on his body language to understand how he’s feeling. A crouched body position, flicking tail, and wide eyes can all indicate that your cat is on high alert and isn’t yet feeling comfortable in his surroundings. Don’t try to approach him during these times — give him the distance he needs and keep other pets away from him so he can gradually build up his confidence.

As your cat begins to explore more, make sure that he has little spots of his own throughout the home. These spaces might include a window seat, a cat tree, or another perch that lets him watch the events in your home from a secure area. Remember that cats like to get up high and look down on others, so try to create places where your new cat can do that safely.

In conclusion

There are many ways to help your recent addition settle in with your family, and that starts with finding him the perfect name. Discovering that name might take some time, but it’s worth being patient and persistent until the right name comes to you. Try to involve your friends and family in the process, and encourage everyone to share their name ideas. If you make a big list of all of those names, you’ll quickly have plenty of options to choose from, and you can soon find the name that suits your orange cat perfectly. Congratulations on the addition of your new furry family member!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why do cats like to chase lasers? It’s more than just a game to them
Are laser pointers safe for cats? Here's what you should know
Gray cat looking at a red laser on its paw

Do you play laser tag with your cat? Then you've most likely spent hours watching your fur baby's frantic scrambling after her nemesis — a tiny red dot. While it's entertaining to watch your usually cool, calm, and collected cat race through your house after the laser beam, there are a few things you should be aware of during playtime. Why do cats chase lasers? And should you play with your cat using a laser pointer? We've consulted the experts, and here's what they have to say.

Why do cats love lasers?
Laser dots are colorful, vivid, and most importantly, they're unpredictable and constantly in motion. If you watch a laser pointer, it almost seems to be alive because of the light's vibrations and the movement of the pointer. There's no predicting which way the laser will move, and when it does move, it can move rapidly.

Read more
If cats had New Year’s resolutions, here’s what they would be
Here are the funniest New Year's resolutions for cats
An orange tabby sitting on a green chair. a woman with a white sweater is looking on

Cats: We can't live with them, and we definitely can't live without them. Although we could do without the early morning yowling for food, the shedding, and the occasional hairball, our fur babies bring us a sense of joy and wonder that makes every day feel like a holiday.

But we can't help but wonder, "What would my cat's New Year's resolutions be?" While our cats are perfect as they are and most likely have no desire to change, that doesn't mean we can't have a bit of fun imagining what resolutions they might make if they weren't already the flawless and fabulous companions they are today.

Read more
Do cats sleep more in winter because they’re depressed? Here’s what to know about seasonal changes in felines
Find out if cats can experience seasonal depression like people do
Cat sleeping on a beige fleece blanket

When the winter weather hits and the days become shorter, gray, and overcast, it can be all too tempting to climb into your PJs early and call it a night. Chances are -- your cat is right there with you! If you think you're noticing your feline friend sleeping more frequently or for longer periods of time during the winter, you might not be imagining things.
Cats' sleeping habits can change for many reasons! It's important to keep track of your cat's sleep, though, because big changes can sometimes indicate health issues in pets. So, do cats sleep more in winter? And why do they spend so much time snoozing?

Do cats sleep more in winter? If it seems like it, you're not just imagining things
You're not crazy if you feel like cats sleep more in the winter -- it's totally true! The ASPCA reports that cats typically sleep between 12 and 20 hours per day, but in the winter, they may sleep even more.
That increase in sleep may be because the daylight hours are shorter, but your cat might also be picking up on your own changes in routine. If you're headed to bed a little earlier than usual, they might too.

Read more