Best calico cat names (200 ideas) — choose the coolest moniker for your calico kitty and learn more about those mesmerizing creatures

Not everyone knows what kind of cats can be proudly categorized as calicoes. What colors should they actually have? In what ratio? Do all breeds produce calicoes? Some basic facts can be a good introduction to a difficult process of choosing a name and make you a more informed pet owner.

What are calico cats? 

Calico cats are cats of any breed that are white in 25-75%, with black (or gray) and orange (or cream) areas. Patches of color can vary in tone and intensity. It is also possible for calico cats to have other colors, but they always have three color variants. Due to genetics, these exceptional felines are almost always female. In rare cases, one in three thousand calico or tortoiseshell cats are male, according to a study at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. By and large, chromosome abnormality causes them to be sterile and unhealthy. Even if they happen to be fertile, cat registries don’t agree to accept them as show animals.

What breeds can be calico cats?

If you are a feline stickler and aficionado or take part in cat shows, you might want to know which breeds are listed to formally allow calico coloration. How thrilling would it be to purchase the cat that is both purebred and calico? Let’s dig into the list of breeds:

• the Manx cat;
• American Shorthair;
• Maine Coon;
• British Shorthair;
• Persian cat;
• Arabian Mau
• Japanese Bobtail;
• Exotic Shorthair;
• Siberian;
• Turkish Van;
• Turkish Angora;
• Norwegian Forest cat.

Types of calico cats – what is the difference between calicoes and tortoiseshell cats?

Diverse, wild and bewildering nature amazes us and rarely makes things easy for scientists. Classifications and nomenclature may vary depending on the source. It also holds true when discussing calico cats. We can lump all calicoes together or narrow their types down:

• calico: those kittens have white patches combined with two other colors; other names for calico cats include: brindle, tricolor cat, mikeneko (‘triple fur cat’ in Japanese), or lapjeskat (‘patches cat’ in Dutch);
• tortoiseshell: this type can be treated as a subcategory or a separate type – the cat’s coat is speckled with orange and black or gray and cream with little or no white;
• dilute: calico cats with soft shades of gray or orange on; also called calimanco or clouded tiger;
• calico tabby: it happens that a tricolor cat can also be adorned with a tabby patterning; this type of calico cat is referred to as a caliby or a torbie.

This breakdown of calico felines itself can give you a few ideas for your one and only tricolor friend. Mikeneko, for example, could be a unique calico cat name. If you struggle to pronounce its full name, don’t hesitate to create your own diminutive form, such as Mi. Remember, sky is the limit when it comes to picking the unique name for your calico kitten.

Calico cats genetics

Calico cats are gorgeous on the outside and mesmerizing on the inside. It’s due to their genetic makeup. What biological code is your tricolor made of? X chromosomes carry the information about the fur color. Male cats have just one X chromosome, which means they are usually black or orange, sometimes with white as a base. Females, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes, which can result in a tricolor cat if her parents carried the genes for black and orange coloring. Simple, right? In reality, extremely complex. Scientists have even failed to clone calico cats because of a process called x-linked inactivation.

Calico cat symbolism

Unique and beautiful creatures excite admiration in people. Calico cats have therefore been treated as a symbol of luck in various cultures:

• Japanese sailors used to treat calicoes as lucky charms that were supposed to protect them against adversity at sea;
• Glückskatze means a lucky cat in German, and that’s what tricolor cats are called there;
• in the United States, people sometimes refer to calicoes as money cats; maybe they aid people in fulfilling the American dream;
• the maneki-neko figurines made in Japan are considered to bring good luck; they depict calico Bobtail cats.

If you are an owner of a uniquely beautiful calico cat, you might expect good things in life. Owning a tricolor kitty might already be the first such thing!

Calico cat names – find the best moniker for your unique lucky cat

Because male calico cats are so rare, we will skip the usual division into genders. Many names based on patterns, food or nature can be used both for male and female cats. Even if you are fortunate enough to get hold of a rare calico boy, you will find something for yourself. How to choose a perfect name for your furry family member? Pay attention to small details of your cat’s fur, built, behavior and personality. Follow your gut and later train your animal to react to the chosen name.

Popular calico cat names

First, let’s have a look at some of the most popular cat names. They are popular for a reason. These names are adorable and most people love them. Maybe you will settle for one of them:

1. Addie
2. Amber
3. Bell
4. Bolt
5. Bongo
6. Buttercup
7. Calypso
8. Cheeto
9. Chestnut
10. Chimera 
11. Copper
12. Cornelius 
13. Clementine
14. Edison
15. Eliza
16. Emmy
17. Fancy
18. Fuzz
19. Garfield
20. Ginger
21. Hermione
22. Hobbes
23. Honeybee
24. Julius
25. Jynx
26. Kiki
27. Maizie
28. Marble
29. Marmalade
30. Melody
31. Neapolitan
32. Ollie
33. Paprika
34. Picasso
35. Pumpkin
36. Ribbons
37. Rye
38. Sergei
39. Simba
40. Skippy
41. Stacey
42. Stanley
43. Sweetpea
44. Taco
45. Tesla
46. Thaddeus
47. Trixie
48. Twinkie
49. Vivienne
50. Zooey

Unique calico cat names

This list is slightly more unusual, you will find here less popular and weird or foreign-sounding names. If you think that your kitty stands out from the crowd, consider one of these monikers:

1. Arietty
2. Aslan
3. Bellatrix
4. Benvolio
5. Beulah
6. Celeste
7. Darcy
8. Ellery
9. Esme
10. Greta
11. Harlow
12. Hamilton
13. Hullie
14. Inky
15. Jet
16. Katniss
17. Klaus
18. Leela
19. Little Bit
20. Lolly
21. Lorelei
22. Luca
23. Lynx
24. Mable
25. Mack
26. Mara
27. Maryella
28. Mew
29. Moxie
30. Mushu
31. Odette
32. O’Malley
33. Opal
34. Ozzie
35. Pooka
36. Quinnie
37. Rue
38. Sheena
39. Shelby
40. Shiva
41. Sierra
42. Sky
43. Tallulah
44. Tink
45. Vada
46. Waverly
47. Wilbur
48. Yoshi
49. Zelda
50. Zélie

Cute calico cat names

Cuteness is a subjective quality, but some things always reflect it. Charming kitty names may be based on other animals, onomatopoeic expressions, sounds and food, among others:

1. Bear
2. Bella
3. Birdie
4. Bitty
5. Boo
6. Bunny
7. Dumpling
8. Fawn
9. Kiki
10. Meow
11. Mittens
12. Mimi
13. Momo
14. Peewee
15. Polly
16. Poppet
17. Squeaks
18. Tinkerbell
19. Turtle
20. Whiskers

Names for calico cats based on food 

Either fruits, vegetables and other edible produce or dishes we prepare can actually resemble calico cats in colors or shape. You can also think about your cat’s culinary choices when picking the perfect name. Your cat might know best:

1. Apricot
2. Biscuit
3. Blackberry
4. Brownie
5. Butter
6. Carrot
7. Cauliflower
8. Coconut
9. Coffee
10. Cupcake
11. Dorito
12. Honey
13. Toast
14. Lollipop
15. Maple
16. Marshmallow
17. Milk
18. Mustard
19. Pepper
20. Salmon

Names for calico cats based on nature

We have selected elements of nature that are calico colors – black, orange and white. Look closer when you go for a walk next time:

1. Beetle
2. Charcoal
3. Comet
4. Crow
5. Dahlia
6. Daisy
7. Diamond
8. Flame
9. Flamigo
10. Fox
11. Koi
12. Moonflower
13. Obsidian
14. Raven
15. Saffron
16. Sandy
17. Seagull
18. Seal
19. Squirrel
20. Swan

Names for calico cats based on patterns

Because calico cats are so unique, you may be surprised what patterns you will find on their fur. Do a little research and look for various shape combinations, as they can be what you base your cat’s name on:

1. Bengal
2. Checky
3. Circles
4. Confetti
5. Coral
6. Doodle
7. Dottie
8. Flora
9. Glitter
10. Honeycomb
11. Jumbo
12. Mandala
13. Moire
14. Oggie
15. Patches
16. Starburst
17. Trellis
18. Wave
19. Wreath
20. Zebra

Names for calico cats based on popular culture

Films, literature, games and alike have hundreds of names to choose from. You can look for a character that bears resemblance to your kitty in any way – personality or appearance:

1. Ezri (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
2. Felicia (The Great Mouse Detective)
3. Goose (Captain Marvel)
4. Haru (The Cat Returns)
5. Katniss (The Hunger Games)
6. Kitty Pryde (X-Men)
7. Leela (Futurama)
8. Lyta (Babylon 5)
9. Marie (The Aristocats)
10. Melisandre (Game of Thrones)
11. Mochi (Big Hero 6)
12. Pepita (Coco)
13. Pom-Pom (Cinderella II: Dreams Come True)
14. Sassy (Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey)
15. Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica)
16. Teyla (Stargate Atlantis)
17. Ubasti (Treasure Buddies)
18. Uhura (Star Trek)
19. Whispers (Doc McStuffins)
20. Zyla (World of Warcraft)

No matter what name you decide to choose, remember that cats are as intelligent and trainable as dogs. Using the clicker training, you can teach your pet to react to even the weirdest names you choose. Remember that most cats are extremely food motivated. Use that fact to your advantage. Good luck and have fun. Don’t forget to share the name you’ve chosen on social media.