200+ Halloween Cat Names for Spooky, Cute and Witchy Cats

Looking for the perfect Halloween cat name? Here are more than 200 ideas, sorted so you can find one fast: female and male names, names for black and orange cats, spooky and cute picks, witchy names, famous cats from spooky stories, and names from folklore. Every name comes with its meaning or origin, so you can choose one with a story behind it.

Halloween names for cats suit any coat, not just black ones, and they aren't only for October. A name like Luna, Willow or Onyx works all year. If you'd rather get suggestions tailored to your cat, try our free cat name generator.

13 best Halloween cat names (our top picks)

Thirteen, of course. These are the names that are easy to say, fun to call across the room, and suit almost any cat.

How to choose a Halloween name for your cat

• Keep it short. One or two syllables are easiest to call, and a name ending in a vowel sound, like "Binx-y" or "Lu-na", carries well across a room.
• Avoid names that sound like commands. "Boo" and "No" can blur together; if that matters, try "Booboo".
• Match the look. Color is the easiest starting point: Onyx for a black cat, Pumpkin for an orange one, Ghost for a white one.
• Match the personality. A calm, regal cat suits Morticia or Hecate; a little chaos agent suits Gremlin or Jinx.
• Say it out loud ten times. If it still makes you smile, it's the one.

Female Halloween cat names

Elegant, witchy and a little dark: these are Halloween cat names for girls.

Male Halloween cat names

Creepy classics and monster-movie legends: these are Halloween cat names for boys.

Halloween names for black cats

Black cats are the stars of Halloween. These spooky black cat names suit their sleek coats and glowing eyes.

Salem, Onyx, Hex and Jinx from our top picks work beautifully for black cats too.

Halloween names for orange cats

Ginger cats and Halloween share the same color palette, so orange cats get some of the best names of the season.

Spooky and scary cat names

For cats with a creepy streak, here are spooky, horror and ghost cat names, plus a few unique spooky cat names you won't hear at every vet's office.

Cute Halloween cat names

Not every Halloween name has to be scary. These cute Halloween kitten names will still suit your cat when it grows up.

Witchy and gothic cat names

Every witch needs a familiar. These witchy and gothic cat names suit a cat with an air of mystery.

Famous cats from spooky stories and films

These are some of the best-known cats from witchy, gothic and horror stories, and they make great names for fans.

Cat names from folklore and mythology

Cats appear in myths and legends all over the world. These mythological cat names come with real stories.

Fall and candy cat names

For a cat that's more cozy than creepy, try these fall-themed cat names.

Halloween names for pairs of cats

Adopting two? These Halloween name pairs belong together.

Halloween names by coat color

Start with your cat's coat and the shortlist almost writes itself.

Can't decide? Our cat name generator suggests names by color, gender and personality.

Are black cats bad luck? Black cat folklore around the world

The idea that black cats bring bad luck is mostly a Western superstition. In many places, a black cat is a sign of good fortune. The UK cat charity Cats Protection collects some of these beliefs: in Scotland, a stray black cat on your doorstep is a sign of prosperity; in Japan and the UK, a black cat crossing your path brings good luck; in Italy, hearing a black cat sneeze is lucky; and in France, black cats were sometimes called matagots, or "magician cats", that bring reward to people who treat them well. [Cats Protection]

Sailors were fans too: many believed a black ship's cat would bring good luck and a safe return home. And in Japan, a single woman who owns a black cat is said to attract more suitors. [Mental Floss]

Should you adopt a black cat at Halloween?

You may have seen warnings online that shelters stop black cat adoptions in October to keep them safe. Animal welfare groups say the idea is a myth. A Humane Society of the United States expert has written that there is "a clear lack of evidence that black cats are at increased risk of harm" at this time of year, and that some shelters now promote black-cat adoptions in October instead. [Humane Society of the United States]

The bigger worry is that black cats get overlooked. The Kentucky Humane Society says its black cats often take two to three times longer to be adopted, [Kentucky Humane Society] and Cats Protection found black cats in its care took about a week longer on average to find a home. [Cats Protection] Not every study agrees: a 2013 ASPCA study found black cats were adopted at the same rate as other cats. [HumanePro]

Either way, black cats have their own days. Cats Protection created National Black Cat Day on October 27, 2011, [Cats Protection] and Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17 was started the same year by Wayne H. Morris in memory of his sister and her black cat, Sinbad. [RSPCA South Australia] If you've fallen for a black cat at your local shelter this October, go for it.

Keeping your cat safe at Halloween

A new name is the fun part. Halloween night itself can be stressful for cats, so a few simple steps help:

• Keep candy out of reach. Chocolate is toxic to cats, and wrappers and sticks can cause choking or blockages. Our guide to cats and chocolate explains what to do if your cat eats some.
• Watch the decorations. Keep candles and lit pumpkins where a curious tail can't reach them, and check that seasonal plants and bouquets are cat-safe with our toxic plants guide.
• Give your cat a quiet room. A constant doorbell and strangers in costume can frighten even a confident cat. A closed room with a bed, water and a litter box keeps it calm and stops it slipping out of the front door.
• Skip the costume unless your cat genuinely tolerates it. A Halloween-colored collar or bandana is a gentler way to join in.
• Keep cats indoors on Halloween night, especially black cats, and make sure microchip details are up to date.

The bottom line

The best Halloween cat name fits your cat's look and personality and makes you smile every time you say it. Start with color, Onyx for a black cat or Pumpkin for an orange one, then match the personality: Morticia for a queen, Gremlin for a little troublemaker. These Halloween pet names work just as well in July as they do in October.

Want more ideas tailored to your cat? Try our free cat name generator, then read our guide to the signs your cat is happy to make sure your newly named friend is settling in well.