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Mexican cat names: ideas by color and personality

Spanish names for boy and girl cats, ideas by coat color and tips so your cat learns to answer to its name.

An orange tabby kitten with a navy collar and a gray kitten rest on a sunny windowsill with clay flowerpots

How to choose your cat's name

  • Cats respond best to short names with high sounds like «ee» or «s»: Mishi, Kiwi, Simba.
  • Avoid names that sound like words you say a lot at home, so it doesn't get confused.
  • Watch its personality and coat for a few days before deciding: the name often shows up on its own.
  • If it lives with other pets, make the names sound different from each other.

Spanish names for boy and girl cats

Boy cats

  • Michi (what Mexicans call cats)
  • Gato
  • Tigre (tiger)
  • Bigotes (whiskers)
  • Félix
  • Benito
  • Fito
  • Pancho
  • Chato
  • Pelusa (fluff)
  • Güero (blondie)
  • Silvestre (Sylvester)
  • Leo
  • Kiko
  • Simba

Girl cats

  • Mishi
  • Luna (moon)
  • Frida
  • Duquesa (duchess)
  • Chispa (spark)
  • Perla (pearl)
  • Lupita
  • Paloma (dove)
  • Linda (pretty)
  • Mimí
  • Nala
  • Cleo
  • Tita
  • Lulú
  • Bianca

Spanish cat names by color

Black cats

  • Sombra (shadow)
  • Noche (night)
  • Pantera (panther)
  • Carbón (coal)
  • Brujo (wizard)
  • Bruja (witch)
  • Café (coffee)
  • Eclipse
  • Ónix
  • Salem

Orange cats

  • Mandarina (mandarin)
  • Naranjo
  • Zanahoria (carrot)
  • Calabaza (pumpkin)
  • Mango
  • Mamey
  • Durazno (peach)
  • Papaya
  • Canela (cinnamon)
  • Sol (sun)

Gray cats

  • Humo (smoke)
  • Ceniza (ash)
  • Plata (silver)
  • Niebla (fog)
  • Tormenta (storm)
  • Lluvia (rain)
  • Piedra (stone)
  • Nube (cloud)
  • Acero (steel)
  • Ratón (mouse)

White cats

  • Nieve (snow)
  • Algodón (cotton)
  • Copo (snowflake)
  • Blanquito (whitey)
  • Perlita (little pearl)
  • Leche (milk)
  • Azúcar (sugar)
  • Merengue
  • Bombón (marshmallow)
  • Coco

Black and white, tortoiseshell or tabby cats

  • Oreo
  • Dominó
  • Panda
  • Carey (tortoiseshell)
  • Mosaico (mosaic)
  • Rayas (stripes)
  • Manchas (spots)
  • Calcetines (socks)
  • Capuchino
  • Mapache (raccoon)

Mexican food and icon names for cats

Sweet and spicy

  • Chamoy
  • Tamarindo (tamarind)
  • Churro
  • Concha (sweet bread)
  • Mazapán (peanut candy)
  • Gansito (snack cake)
  • Cajeta (goat-milk caramel)
  • Elote (corn)
  • Nopal (cactus paddle)
  • Chile

Icons and Nahuatl names

  • Frida
  • Diego
  • Cantinflas
  • Chabelo
  • Citlali (star)
  • Xóchitl (flower)
  • Metztli (moon)
  • Itzel (evening star in Maya)
  • Tonatiuh (sun)
  • Mixtli (cloud)

How to get your cat to answer to its name

  1. 1. Call it before something it likes. Say its name right before serving food or giving a treat. That way it links the name to something good.
  2. 2. Use a soft voice, always the same. Cats tell their name apart from other words, especially if they hear it in the same tone.
  3. 3. Don't use it to scold. If its name comes before a shout, it will learn to ignore it. Use another word to correct it.

Frequently asked questions

Why do Mexicans call cats «michi»?
«Michi» or «mishi» is the affectionate word for cat in Mexico and much of Latin America, much like «kitty» in English. It's also one of the most common cat names in the country.
Do cats recognize their name?
Yes. Cats tell their name apart from other words, even if they don't always choose to come. Linking it to food or treats helps a lot.
Does my cat need a collar with a tag?
If it goes outside or could escape, a tag with your phone number helps it come back. Use only breakaway collars, which open if they get caught, and ask your vet about a microchip.

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