Funny Cat Names, With the Joke Explained

Every list of funny cat names is a list of jokes with the punchline missing. Catrick Swayze is only funny if you know who Patrick Swayze was, Purrlock Holmes needs Sherlock, and a cat called Gary is hilarious for a reason nobody on those lists bothers to state. This page does the stating. First the mechanics of the three jokes that generate almost every funny cat name, with the real people and cats behind them, then the list itself, two hundred names deep. (Looking for a name that is rare rather than funny? That is our unique cat names page; the cute names live next door.)

One honest line before the fun. There is no "funniest cat names" ranking anywhere, in any of our four markets. What exists is an American pet insurer's annual wacky-name contest, a British insurer's strangest-names list, and a couple of surveys on why people pick the names they pick. We use those, with their dates, and we say what they can and cannot tell you.

What the data actually says, market by market

The Rover number is the one worth remembering: roughly one new owner in six chose a name because it made them laugh. Everything below is written for that owner.

Joke one: the celebrity pun

The workhorse of the genre takes a famous name and reworks one syllable around a cat sound, meow, purr, paw, claw, fur or whisker, while staying close enough to the original that everyone gets it instantly. The trick is picking a name whose stressed syllable already sounds like the cat word. Four worked examples, with the person behind each, because the lists never say:

• Chairman Meow is Chairman Mao Zedong, who formally became Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo in March 1943 and kept the title of party chairman until his death; "Chairman" is the half of his title the pun borrows.
• Cat Stevens is barely a pun at all: the singer-songwriter born Steven Demetre Georgiou really performed as Cat Stevens through the 1960s and 70s before taking the name Yusuf Islam in 1978. His own telling, repeated across the music press, is that a girlfriend said he had eyes like a cat and "Stevens" sold better than "Georgiou".
• Catrick Swayze is Patrick Swayze (1952 to 2009), the actor of Dirty Dancing and Ghost; the name turns up in Rover's list and in Newsweek's 2025 roundup of trending funny names.
• Meowly Cyrus is Miley Cyrus, the Hannah Montana star turned singer with a string of US number ones.

The literary branch works the same way. Purrlock Holmes is Arthur Conan Doyle's detective, who first appeared in A Study in Scarlet in 1887. And two names that look like puns are not: Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, and Griddlebone come straight from T.S. Eliot's 1939 collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the source of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. One insurer's funny-names page lists both as "weird" names without ever mentioning Eliot.

Joke two: the most ordinary human name you can find

The second joke runs in the opposite direction. Instead of making a name sound cattier, it gives a small chaotic animal the name of a middle-aged accountant: Gary, Dave, Kevin, Susan, Colin, Barry. The comedy is the mismatch, and it gets funnier every time you call it across a park.

This one is a documented trend, not internet folklore. ManyPets' UK survey of 2,000 pet owners found 14% cited "human names such as Colin, or Dave" as their naming motivation (a pet-wide survey, so read it as owners, not cat owners specifically). Pet Insurance Australia's 2025 release documents the same shift on its side of the world, with a British Shorthair called Alice and a Labrador called Kevin as its examples, alongside Barry, Stanley, Theodore, Douglas and Stephen, and its spokesperson calling the effect "genuinely funny" to hear called out in public. Daily Paws' funny-names list leans on the same mechanic (Dwight, Earl, Doug, Myrtle, Margaret) without citing anyone. The rule of thumb: the more the name sounds like it belongs on a golf club membership card, the better it works on a kitten.

Joke three: the name that is simply too big or too small

The third joke is scale. Either the name is far grander than the animal (Sir Bartholomew Whiskerface, Duchess of Cattingham, Professor Meowinstein) or far more mundane than any name should be (Spoon, Velcro, Chip). Both halves are real. Everypaw's 2025 list of the UK's strangest pet names is led by Mr Disco Beef and includes Moustache, Scampi Goujon, Yoghurt, Spoon and Velcro, though the insurer does not say which of those are cats. The one name it does identify by species, "Tom and Jerry", turns out to have been a rabbit. That is the whole genre in one line: the obvious reading is usually wrong, and that is the point.

The grandest version of the joke has a practical origin. Austin Pets Alive!, a Texas shelter that names thousands of cats a year, explains on its own blog why it hands out names like Atomic Toaster and Glycolysis 6: with that many cats moving through, a name nobody else has is unmistakable in the system in a way the twentieth Midnight is not. Kittens from one litter share a starting letter, hurricane-style, and the shelter cycles through the alphabet about thirty times a year; a staff "Big Book of Cat Names" collects the puns (their example: Oscar Wild Cat). So if your shelter cat came home called Unicycle 7, that was a filing system, and you are allowed to keep it.

The contest winners, because they are real cats

Nationwide's Wacky Pet Names contest is the closest thing to a funny-names ranking in any market: nominees come from the names on newly enrolled policies, and the public votes on the top ten per category. The 2025 cat winner was Wendy's 4 for $4, a cat in Walker, Michigan, ahead of Angry Potato, Beef Stewart, Cattila the Hun, Kirkland Signature Brand, Lando Catrissian, The Megalodon, Pickles of Purrington, Pro Skater Tony Hawk and Purrrsephone. The 2023 winner was Prison Mike, a Minnesota cat named for Michael Scott's alter ego in The Office, because, in his owner's words, he "was born as a crazy boy" who "maybe needs a cage". Every one of those names uses one of the three jokes above, and half of them use two.

The famous funny cats people copy

A big share of funny cat names are borrowed from cats who were famous for being funny. Three of them had real names, real medical histories and real dates, all of which the lists skip:

• Grumpy Cat was called Tardar Sauce, born 4 April 2012 in Morristown, Arizona. Her permanent scowl was an underbite combined with feline dwarfism, not a personality. A photo her owner's brother posted to Reddit on 22 September 2012 made her the most famous cat alive; she died on 14 May 2019 from complications of a urinary tract infection.
• Lil Bub, born 21 June 2011 in Bloomington, Indiana, had feline dwarfism, extra toes and osteopetrosis, a bone-density disorder that produced her permanently protruding tongue. A crowdfunded genome study in 2015 traced her condition to a mutation in the RANK gene. She died on 1 December 2019.
• Keyboard Cat was Fatso, an orange cat who lived from 1978 to 1987 with Charlie Schmidt in Spokane, Washington. Schmidt filmed him in 1984 apparently playing a keyboard (the paws were moved off camera), and the clip went viral in 2009 after Brad O'Farrell started appending it to blooper videos. Two successor Keyboard Cats have followed, Bento and then Skinny.

Naming a kitten Bub or Tardar is a tribute; knowing the story is what makes it a good one.

Celebrity and character puns

Each with its referent, so you know who you are naming your cat after.

• Chairman Meow, Meow Zedong: Mao Zedong.
• Cat Stevens: the singer's real stage name.
• Catrick Swayze: Patrick Swayze.
• Meowly Cyrus: Miley Cyrus.
• Purrlock Holmes, Furlock: Sherlock Holmes.
• Kitney Spears: Britney Spears.
• Kitty Gaga: Lady Gaga.
• Tuna Turner: Tina Turner.
• Feline Dion: Celine Dion.
• Bing Clawsby: Bing Crosby.
• Lionel Purritchie: Lionel Richie.
• Purrince: Prince.
• The Notorious C.A.T.: The Notorious B.I.G.
• Meowlin Monroe: Marilyn Monroe.
• Fleas Witherspoon: Reese Witherspoon.
• Cat Middleton: Catherine, Princess of Wales.
• Al Clawpone: Al Capone.
• Mewlius Caesar: Julius Caesar.
• Clawopatra: Cleopatra.
• Marie Antoincatte: Marie Antoinette.
• Cattila the Hun: Attila the Hun, and a 2025 Nationwide finalist.
• Furbert Einstein: Albert Einstein.
• Purrseidon: Poseidon.
• Purrrsephone: Persephone, and a 2025 Nationwide finalist.
• Meowses: Moses.
• Catsby: The Great Gatsby.
• Catticus Finch: Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird.
• Bark Twain: Mark Twain, dog sound and all.
• Oscar Wild Cat: Oscar Wilde, from the Austin shelter's own book.
• Don Drapurr: Don Draper, Mad Men.
• Meownton Abbey: Downton Abbey.
• Paws Purrker: Peter Parker, Spider-Man.
• Fuzz Lightyear: Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story.
• Purrincess Leia, Lando Catrissian: Star Wars; Lando was a 2025 Nationwide finalist.
• Mr. Meowgi: Mr. Miyagi, The Karate Kid.
• Purrminator: The Terminator.
• Meowio, Mewtwo, Snorlax: Nintendo's Mario and two Pokemon.
• Pro Skater Tony Hawk: the skater, and a 2025 Nationwide finalist.
• Skimbleshanks, Griddlebone: not puns, T.S. Eliot's own cats.

The human-name joke, ready to use

Gary, Susan, Dave, Kevin, Colin, Barry, Doug, Earl, Myrtle, Margaret, Dwight, Brenda, Geoff, Janet, Sharon, Todd, Kyle, Linda, Tina, Fred, Donna, Cindy, Karen, Stanley, Theodore, Douglas, Stephen, Alan, Barbara, Roger, Norman, Cheryl, Reginald, Muriel, Clive, Deborah, Trevor, Pamela, Nigel, Gladys, Harold, Beryl, Steve, Terry, Bob, Tom.

Colin and Dave are the two names ManyPets' respondents actually cited; Barry, Stanley, Theodore, Douglas and Stephen are Pet Insurance Australia's examples; Alice is the one named British Shorthair.

Titles far too grand for the animal

Sir Bartholomew Whiskerface, Duchess of Cattingham, Lord Pawsington, Baroness Von Fluff, Colonel Fuzzbutt, Admiral Meowington, Empress Whiskerella, General Fuzzington, Professor Meowinstein, Doctor Fluffenstein, Sir Pounce-a-Lot, Sir Purrsalot, Sir Meows-a-Lot, Sir Naps-a-Lot, Sir Fluffalot, Sir Chonksalot, Sir Snugglepuss, Lady Purrsalot, Mayor Meow, Chairman Purr, Captain Whiskers, Sir Reginald, Sergeant Whiskers, Mr. Fluffykins, El Meowchador, Purrnce Charming, Sir Taco, Colonel Mustard.

Names that are simply too small

Spoon, Velcro, Chip, Boop, Goose, Grumble, Snack, Loaf, Chonk, Potato, Nugget, Goblin, Weasel, Smudge, Moustache, Yoghurt, Grasshopper, Space Cadet, Soda Float, Internet Browser (a past Nationwide winner), Business Cat, Angry Potato, The Megalodon, Kirkland Signature Brand, Pickles of Purrington, Beef Stewart, Wendy's 4 for $4, Prison Mike.

Shelter-style names, and why they exist

Atomic Toaster, Glycolysis 6, Unicycle 7, Hunky Hullabaloo, Glitter Troll (all real Austin Pets Alive! cats), Chicken Noodle, Nude Molerat, Asparagus 25, Waffle Iron, Meatloaf, Grumpasaurus, Wobblebottom, Squishmallow, Beanburrito, Nugget McFluff, Catoosh, Whisker McFluffy, Whisker McGee, Scratchy McGee, Whiskerino, Whispurr, Meowington, Meowgician, Furrballa, Catrina, Clawdia, Clawdette, Tabbytha, Jaspurr, Purrcy, Purrsnickety, Purrito, Puddy Tat, Kit-Kat, Taco Cat (a palindrome), Catnip Everdeen, Paw Newman, Pawsworth Bob, Scratch-it Marlon, Furrari, Meowcini.

Food, because a fat cat called Meatball is always funny

Alfalfa, Avocado, Carrot, Garbanzo, Guava, Lemon, Mater, Orzo, Raisin, Shallot, Sprout, Churro, Dr. Pepper, Frito, Mac and Cheese, Mountain Dew, Sprite, Butter, Chickpea, Chili, Cupcake, Dumpling, French Fry, Fritter, Grits, Gumbo, Lentil, Pepperoni, Penne, Ramen, Reuben, Wonton, Ziti, Lasagna, Cheez-It, Muffin Top, Macaroni, Snickers, Scampi Goujon, Mr Disco Beef, Rabbit De Niro, Mary Berry, and the pool's old favorites: Meatball, Nacho, Noodle, Pancake, Pretzel, Ravioli, Sir Loin, Sushi, Taco, Tater Tot, Twinkie, Wasabi, Cheeto, Dorito, Crouton, Biscuits, Beans, Sausage, Gravy.

What to take away

• No market publishes a "funniest cat names" ranking; the real data is Nationwide's US Wacky Pet Names contest (2025 cat winner: Wendy's 4 for $4), Everypaw's UK strangest-names list (Mr Disco Beef, not split by species) and two naming surveys.
• Rover's 2025 survey of 1,000 new US pet owners found humor behind 17% of name choices, third after entertainment (33%) and breed (20%).
• Almost every funny cat name uses one of three jokes: a celebrity pun on a cat sound (Chairman Meow is Mao Zedong), a deliberately ordinary human name (Dave, cited by 14% of ManyPets' UK respondents), or a name far too grand or too small for the animal.
• Grumpy Cat's real name was Tardar Sauce, Keyboard Cat's was Fatso, and Lil Bub's tongue came from osteopetrosis; the memes had medical histories.
• Austin Pets Alive! names cats Atomic Toaster and Glycolysis 6 on purpose: with thousands of cats a year, a one-of-a-kind name is a filing system.
• Everypaw's one species-tagged name, "Tom and Jerry", was a rabbit; assume the obvious reading of a funny name is wrong.