12 Best Black and White Cat Names You’ll Love

Gorgeous, loving, and a little mischievous, black and white cats are one of my favorite colored finicky felines. Your new tuxedo cat deserves a name to fit their unique nature.

Here are 12 fantastic black and white cat names to inspire you, but I’ve also added plenty of other options that are also fantastic.

But before we get into that, what are the factors you should consider when choosing a name for your favourite feline?

Black and White Cat Names – Will my Cat Even Notice?

Sure humans get excited about cat names – but does our kitty even know its own name let alone care? Research shows that domesticated cats do know and recognise their names.

The research was appropriately carried out by the University of Tokyo (home to many cat cafes which were actually used in this study) and was published in the well-reputed journal Nature.

It had been well known that domesticated cats were more vocal than wild cats and that a domesticated cat’s behaviour is influenced by their owners’ mood and facial expressions.

But considering that humans began domesticating cats about 9,500 years ago it is about time a more in-depth study was done about whether our cats even knew their own names.

The study worked with 78 different cats across single and multi-cat homes as well as in cat cafes. The study found that most cats are able to distinguish their names from similar-sounding words and from other cat names.

The evidence of this was that the cats perked up when they heard their names and responded by moving their heads, meowing and wiggling their ears.

This result was witnessed when both their owners and strangers used their names. And the results were similar in multi-cat households where cats didn’t react to the names of other cats in their homes but did when their name was used.

Naming a cat gives it an individual identity and helps to build a relationship between cat and owner. And you can help your cat to learn its own name by avoiding using too many nicknames, particularly when they are younger.

Key Things to Think About when Naming your Cat

1. Your Cat’s Appearance

The color of your cat or its markings can help you make a choice. Look at your kitty’s shape as well – is he sleek or solid? Pointy ears or flat back ears? Fluffy or sleek? Think about the concept of Onomatopoeia. This is when a word looks like what it describes.

2. The Personality of your Cat

A great cat name may reflect your cat’s personality. This can be difficult with a new cat as of course you haven’t gotten to know them yet and your cat may be very young so its personality is still developing. Take a few days to observe your new kitty and see what it is like.

A quiet and shy cat won’t suit the name Joker.

3. Your Cat’s Breed

Breeds can provide name ideas. How about Richard Parker for a Himalayan Cat?

4. Keep the name Short

You will use your cat’s name an awful lot – so the fewer the syllables the better. Also, this will be easier for your cat to absorb and remember.

Plus it is likely that you will be introducing your cat to friends, family, vets and others so a shorter name is easier for everyone to understand and remember.

5. Don’t choose a name that is bigger than your cat

Aslan might not be the best bet if your cat is a Munchkin.

6. The name should have longevity

It may seem hilarious to give your cat a lengthy name when you first get it but you may well tire of calling this name out and sharing it with others.

7. Be nice

Names that aren’t terribly flattering to your feline will most likely tire quickly such as Cow.

8. Make sure it fits with other cats in your household

Food is a great opportunity to develop matching names for cats in your household – like Pepper and Salt. Or Sylvester and Tweety. Or Ebony and Ivory. So many good combinations and options!

What if I choose the wrong name?

I know I let you know that your cat does learn its name but if you choose to change your cat’s name after a few weeks it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

There is no evidence one way or the other as to what happens when a new owner changes the name of an older cat eg if you were to get a rescue kitty who was already several years old. I would suggest trying your name of choice and giving it a few months to stick and then making a decision from there.

Top 12 Black and White Cat Names

1. Bandit

Your new cat’s black fur makes for even sneakier nighttime adventures and Bandit is the perfect name for your nocturnal pet. This name is perfect for a tough kitty but it can also be turned into a sweet nickname like Bandy. Plus plenty of black and white cats even look like they are wearing a mask.

2. Domino

This game-inspired name is without a doubt adorable. Not only does it reflect your cat’s black and white coat but their personality as well. Cats are notorious for knocking things down, often intentionally. Mino, Nino, and Dom are all shorter ways to use this name for your new kitten.

3. Barcode

Why not name your bicolor cat after something else sporting two colors? Barcode isn’t a traditional kitty name by any means but it’s definitely a cute one.

4. Rorschach

This one is a bit of a mouthful but a sweet nickname like Rory or Shakky makes this name a top pick. Inspired by the inkblot test used by psychologists and psychiatrists, it’s a great choice for a black and white emotional support kitty.

5. Butler

This name is certainly ironic since you’ll more than likely be waiting on your kitty. In fact, they’re unlikely to bring you anything besides a freshly caught creature. Alternatively, you could also call your kitty Alfred, after Batman’s famous butler.

6. Gatsby

Taken from the classic novel, The Great Gatsby, this name is inspired by the black and white roaring twenties. Your new kitty is bound to be the life of the party (when not napping the day away on your legs). This is a sophisticated name worthy of a finicky feline.

7. Ace

Short and sweet, this name is perfect for a charming and determined male or female kitty. It means one or unity but it can also be associated with a deck of cards.

In many games, the Ace of Spades is the highest and most valued card in the entire deck (and obviously your cat will become the highest and most valued things in your entire house).

8. Sylvester

When most people think of black and white cats, their mind immediately goes to Sylvester. This cartoon cat is from both the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series.

He was often seen trying to catch Tweety Bird but also chased Speedy Gonzales or Hippety Hopper. But all that aside, it’s also a strong name for a tom cat that means ‘wild’.

9. Oreo

Another black and white inspired name that I adore is Oreo. This beloved biscuit is not only tasty and world-famous but also makes another excellent unisex name for your monochrome cat.

10. Cleo

Often a short form of Cleopatra, this name is perfect for a female feline queen. The shortened version of the name means glory, and doesn’t that just describe any cat perfectly?

11. Wanda

If you’re looking for a female black and white cat name with more meaning behind it, this would be my top pick. It means ‘wonder’, a feeling of awe or amazement (basically the feeling you get when you look at your cat). It also sounds like wander, meaning walking or moving aimlessly (which cats often do!).

12. Yin-Yang

The Yin-Yang is a dominant concept from Chinese Philosophy, but you’ll probably better recognize the popular black and white circular symbol split into two.

This symbol is perfect for similarly colored cats as there is both a black dot in the white section and vice-versa. It has loads of symbolic meaning behind it, and you could get a little Yin-Yang name tag for them.

If none of these names suit your new cat, read on for some other cool options.

Cute Black and White Cat Names

If you’re searching for a cute name to match your cat’s cute face and personality, try some of these names below.

• Alfie
• Bailey
• Bessie
• Bowtie
• Checkers
• Chess
• Chester
• Chip
• Butterscotch
• Confetti
• Cookie
• Crunchie
• Dusty
• Figaro
• Frostbite
• Houdini
• Joker
• Magic
• Marble
• Nixie
• Oscar
• Oxford
• Patch
• Pepper
• Rocky
• Shady
• Spooky
• Smoky

Unique Black & White Cat Names

Black and white cats often sport unique coloring. The amount of black and white in their coat can differ greatly, making for some beautiful markings. Here you’ll find some less traditional and more unique names for your new black and white kitten.

• Cinders
• Constable
• Eightball
• Godiva
• Maestro
• Monkey
• Officer
• Piano
• Pinstripe
• Pirate
• Pixel
• Phantom
• Smudge
• Speck
• Sudoku
• Tails
• Tuxedo
• Scrabble
• Shira
• Venus
• Zig Zag

Black and White Cat Names from Popular Culture

Besides the infamous Sylvester, there are also plenty of other black and white inspired names for your new cat. Read on to find a few of my favorites.

• Behemoth
• Betty Boop
• Bucky Barnes
• Butch
• Charlie Chaplin
• Citizen Kane
• Cole
• Cruella
• Darth
• Diana
• Doc
• Felix
• Gizmo
• Goofy
• Hodge
• James Bond
• Jess
• Jolly Roger
• Julius
• Kuro
• Luna
• Marceline
• Matrix
• Maul
• Mickey
• Minnie
• Morticia
• Mr. Mistoffelees
• Neo
• Norman Bates
• Poe
• Sirius
• Sith
• Slinky Malinki
• Snape
• Snoopy
• Sylvester
• Trim
• Vader
• Venom
• Wednesday
• Zorro

Black and White Cat Names from Animals

Cats aren’t the only creatures who are lucky enough to sport a black and white coat. So why not choose to name your cat after another bicolored creature.

• Badger
• Cow
• Dalmatian
• Holstein
• Ladybug
• Lemur
• Leopard
• Orca
• Osprey
• Panda
• Panther
• Penguin
• Pinto
• Puffin
• Tapir
• Zebra

Names for Black and White Cats with White Paws

One of the common places cats get white patches is on their paws. It’s just as cute as it sounds and can inspire plenty of names as well.

• Avalanche
• Bianca
• Blanc
• Blotches
• Boots
• China
• Chuck Taylor
• Coal
• Coffee
• Daisy
• Dawn
• Dotty
• Droplet
• Dusky
• Ebony
• Everest
• Foggy
• Inky
• Isa
• Jet
• Misty
• Mittens
• Nimbus
• Onyx
• Pearl
• Pitch
• Pittypat
• Q-Tip
• Raven
• Sable
• Shadow
• Shiro
• Shoes
• Sneakers
• Socks
• Sooty
• Stilts
• Stormy
• Tiptoe