44 Cartoon Cat Names: From Garfield to Doraemon
Cartoon cats are the reason many of us wanted a cat in the first place. They are lazy schemers, loyal sidekicks, grinning tricksters, and tiny heroes with enormous personalities. Naming your cat after one is a promise: this cat has character, and you know it.
This list sticks to genuine cat characters, verified one by one, each with the accurate story behind the name: the show or film, the year, and who the character really is. Start with the most popular picks, then browse classic cartoons, anime and manga, and comic strips for the perfect match.
Key Takeaways
- Every entry below is a genuine cat character, checked individually: no dogs, squirrels, or lookalikes smuggled in.
- The most borrowed cartoon names are Garfield, Luna, Felix, and Figaro: short, recognizable, and easy to call.
- Classic cartoon names suit bold, funny cats; anime names like Jiji and Mochi suit sleek, elegant ones; comic-strip names suit clever, mischievous ones.
- Each name's "meaning" is the character's honest story, so you always know exactly who you are naming your cat after.
Most Popular Cartoon Cat Names
The icons of animation: the names everyone recognises, from Saturday-morning classics to anime legends. These are the household names of the cartoon world: Garfield, Tom, Sylvester, and Felix need no introduction. If you want a cartoon name that lands instantly with every generation, start here.
Tap any card to copy the name.
Classic Cartoon Cats
Saturday-morning royalty and Disney favourites: the supporting stars and scene-stealers. These are the beloved runners-up: the rivals, sidekicks, and bit players who stole their scenes. Nermal, Butch, and Benny suit cats with comic timing; Toulouse, Berlioz, and Dinah suit sweet-natured ones.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nermal | Garfield's cute rival | The self-proclaimed "world's cutest kitten" who torments Garfield with his adorableness. | |
| Butch | Tom's alley-cat rival | The tough black alley cat of Tom and Jerry who competes with Tom for the affection of Toodles Galore. | |
| Benny | Top Cat's loyal sidekick | Benny the Ball, the sweet, gentle member of Top Cat's gang, devoted to his leader. | |
| Toulouse | The painter kitten | The orange kitten of The Aristocats (1970), Duchess's son, who dreams of becoming a painter like the alley cats. | |
| Berlioz | The musical kitten | The grey kitten of The Aristocats (1970), Duchess's youngest, who wants to play piano. | |
| Dinah | Alice's kitten | Alice's pet kitten in Disney's Alice in Wonderland (1951), who appears at the very start and end of the film. | |
| Pete | Mickey's feline nemesis | Peg-leg Pete, the burly anthropomorphic cat who has menaced Mickey Mouse since the 1925 Alice Comedies. | |
| Scratchy | The unlucky cartoon cat | The black cat of The Itchy and Scratchy Show within The Simpsons, doomed to gruesome slapstick at the paws of Itchy the mouse. | |
| Mittens | The streetwise alley cat | The tough New York stray of Disney's Bolt (2008) who teaches the pampered television star dog what real life is like. | |
| Salem | The warlock-turned-cat | Salem Saberhagen of Sabrina: The Animated Series, a centuries-old warlock serving time as a talking black cat. | |
| Kitty Softpaws | Puss's partner in crime | The clever street cat of Puss in Boots (2011), a skilled thief who matches Puss move for move. | |
| Fritz | The underground tabby | The streetwise cat of Ralph Bakshi's Fritz the Cat (1972), star of the first animated film to earn an X rating. |
Anime and Manga Cats
Japan's animated cats: robot helpers, tiny adventurers, and the widest grin in animation. Anime cat names are short, distinctive, and full of charm, which makes them excellent for sleek, elegant cats. Luna, Jiji, and Chi are the gentlest picks; Doraemon and Korin suit cats with larger-than-life personalities.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chi | The tiny manga kitten | The grey-and-white kitten of Chi's Sweet Home, lost from her family and adopted by a young boy, learning the world one small adventure at a time. | |
| Happy | The blue flying cat | The winged blue cat of the anime Fairy Tail, Natsu's loyal sidekick who can sprout wings and carry friends through the sky. | |
| Korin | The martial-arts master cat | Master Korin of Dragon Ball, the wise cat sage who lives atop Korin Tower and trains Goku. | |
| Catbus | The grinning transport cat | The many-legged cat bus of Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro (1988), with headlights for eyes and the widest grin in animation. |
Comic Strip Cats
From newsprint to the internet age: the philosophers, schemers, and grumps of the funny pages. Comic-strip cats have the sharpest personalities in animation, which makes their names perfect for clever, mischievous cats. Krazy Kat and Bill the Cat suit oddballs; Catbert and Bucky suit cats with an attitude problem.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krazy Kat | The century-old comic icon | George Herriman's black cat of Coconino County, star of the 1913 comic strip that critics call one of the greatest comics ever made. | |
| Bill the Cat | The Bloom County mess | Berkeley Breathed's scraggly, deadpan cat of Bloom County, famous for the catchphrase "Ack!" | |
| Catbert | The evil HR director | The scheming cat of Scott Adams's Dilbert strip, the sadistic director of human resources who torments employees for sport. | |
| Bucky | The one-eared Siamese | The cranky, plotting cat of Darby Conley's Get Fuzzy, forever scheming against his owner and the good-natured dog Satchel. |
Tips for Naming Your Cat After a Cartoon Cat
A few practical guidelines before you pick a character:
1. Match the coat. An orange tabby was born to be Garfield, Heathcliff, Oliver, or Toulouse; a black cat wears Jiji, Luna, Salem, or Snowball II perfectly; a tuxedo kitten suits Figaro or Sylvester.
2. Borrow the personality, not just the look. A lazy, food-obsessed cat earns the name Garfield; a dignified, watchful one suits Duchess or Korin. The joke lands when the character fits.
3. Say it out loud. You will call this name daily for years. "Snagglepuss" is glorious once and exhausting by the fiftieth vet visit; "Jiji" and "Mochi" are effortless.
4. Mind the villain energy. Lucifer, Azrael, and Catbert are fun names, but they carry villain baggage. Make sure the mischief suits your cat, or the irony does the work for you.
5. Keep it short for everyday use. Long names like "Cat in the Hat" or "Kitty Softpaws" need nicknames (Hattie, Kitty). Plan the short form now.
6. Think about the long run. Cartoon names age well when the character is timeless: Felix (1919) and Cheshire (1865) will still be recognized in a decade; a one-season wonder may not.
Our Pick
If we had to pick one, it would be Felix. It means "lucky" in Latin, it is two crisp syllables, and it honors the 1919 silent-era pioneer who started cartoon-cat stardom a decade before Mickey Mouse existed. For a black cat, Jiji is the perfect modern alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous cartoon cat of all time?
The two strongest contenders are Garfield and Tom. Garfield, created by Jim Davis in 1978, became the most widely syndicated comic-strip cat in history. Tom, of Hanna-Barbera's Tom and Jerry (1940), has the longer screen career and the most iconic rivalry in animation. Felix the Cat (1919) predates them both as animation's first feline star.
Is Tom from Tom and Jerry actually a cat?
Yes. Tom is a grey-blue domestic cat, created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1940. He rarely speaks and communicates through screams, gulps, and expressions, which is part of why the chase with Jerry the mouse has worked for more than eighty years.
Which cartoon cat is the oldest?
Felix the Cat, who debuted in silent cartoons in 1919, created by Otto Messmer for Pat Sullivan's studio. He predates Mickey Mouse by nearly a decade and was one of the first characters created specifically for animation rather than adapted from elsewhere.
Is the Cheshire Cat good or evil?
Neither, which is exactly the point. In Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), the Cheshire Cat is a mischievous philosopher who speaks in riddles, helps Alice when it amuses him, and vanishes leaving only his grin. He is chaos with good manners.
What cartoon cat is a robot?
Doraemon, the blue robotic cat from Fujiko F. Fujio's 1969 manga and anime. He was sent from the 22nd century to help the schoolboy Nobita, and he produces futuristic gadgets from the fourth-dimensional pocket on his belly. He is one of the most recognized characters in Japanese pop culture.
Can I name my cat after a cartoon cat?
Absolutely. Cartoon names are among the most popular cat-naming sources because they are short, expressive, and come with a built-in personality. Just make sure the character's vibe matches your cat, and check that the name is easy to call across a room.
What is a cartoon cat's name?
The most famous cartoon cats are Garfield, Tom (of Tom and Jerry), Sylvester, Felix the Cat, and the Cheshire Cat. Modern favourites include Luna from Sailor Moon, Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service, and Mochi from Big Hero 6. The full list of 44 is above.
What are some cute anime cat names?
The cutest anime cat names are Chi, Jiji, Luna, Mochi, and Happy. They are short, soft, and easy to call, and they suit kittens and small, sweet-natured cats best.
More Names You'll Love
- Cat Names: browse the full name directory
- Orange Cat Names: Garfield, Heathcliff, Oliver, and Toulouse were all orange
- Black Cat Names: Jiji, Luna, Salem, and Snowball II wear black coats
- Cute Cat Names: Marie, Mochi, and Chi for the adorable ones
- Funny Cat Names: for the next Heathcliff or Snagglepuss
- Cat Name Generator: filter thousands of names by style
By Brianna Baxter