Names for a spotted, striped or patchy pet
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
Spots, stripes and patches come with their own names. A calico cat has three colors, named after a patterned cotton cloth. A tabby has stripes, swirls or spots. In dogs, brindle is tiger-striped and merle is marbled, and piebald means black-and-white patches, like a magpie (the 'pie' in piebald).
18 names, good for any pet.
| Shortlist | Name | Boy or girl | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calico | Girl | A cat of three colors, named after a patterned cotton cloth. Great for a cat or guinea pig. | |
| Tabby | Either | The striped, swirled or spotted coat of many cats. Great for a cat. | |
| Tortie | Girl | Short for tortoiseshell: a cat mottled black and orange. Great for a cat. | |
| Brindle | Either | A tiger-striped brown coat in dogs. Great for a dog. | |
| Merle | Either | A marbled coat pattern in dogs. Great for a dog. | |
| Piebald | Either | Black and white patches, like a magpie. | |
| Domino | Either | A game tile with black and white dots. | |
| Humbug | Either | A striped mint candy. | |
| Patches | Either | For a pet made of patches. | |
| Freckles | Either | For a pet with little spots. | |
| Dotty | Girl | Covered in dots. Great for a dog or fish. | |
| Confetti | Either | Little paper dots thrown at parties. Great for a fish or bird or guinea pig. | |
| Tiger | Either | Striped like a tiger. | |
| Zebra | Either | Black and white stripes. Great for a fish. | |
| Tux | Boy | Short for tuxedo: a black coat with a white shirt front. Great for a cat or dog. | |
| Panda | Either | Black and white, like a giant panda. Great for a rabbit or guinea pig or hamster, mouse, rat or gerbil. | |
| Bandit | Boy | For a pet with a dark mask around the eyes. | |
| Pinstripe | Either | Thin stripes, like a smart suit. |
Tick the names you like, then take them to a family vote.