WHAT’S IN A NAME? How Cats Respond to Their Unique Designations

Kitty Cat, Sweetie Pie, Fluffy Butt, Wonderpuss: All the endearing nicknames we call our cats from time to time may show affection, but there is one name we should be calling them on a regular basis—their own.

Clarence

Cats know their names.

Though we pet parents have known this all along, it has recently been proven in studies that cats learn to distinguish their own names. This is important for many reasons, such as an emergency or if your cat gets lost. However, it only works if their people call them by that one name on a regular basis. If a variety of names are used, the success rate of the cat distinguishing the call is greatly diminished.

Why teach a cat their name?

A very important reason to have our cats learn their names has to do with safety. What if an emergency arises, and we need to evacuate our home? It’s an unfortunate situation that is happening more often these days, one where we must gather cats at a moment’s notice. A less dire but equally scary event is if kitty gets lost: an indoor kitty escapes the house, or an indoor/outdoor cat doesn’t come home when expected. And in a more day-to-day case, those times when kitty slips into the fourth dimension, and we can’t find her anywhere. If she responds to her name, we are one step closer to peace of mind.

Blaze with Tyler in the background

Teaching a cat to come when we call.

Now that our cat knows her name, how do we get her to respond to it? There is no definitive answer, since cats are independent creatures, but treats are the easiest solution. Say their name followed by the word, treat, then give them the treat. (Shaking the bag helps) Do it regularly so the cat associates the name with the treat. I’d say this works at least 50% of the time, depending on the cat. For my food-motivated Melinko, it’s nearly 100% successful. For lazy Tyler who is probably sleeping soundly, it’s more near 10%.

If your cat isn’t food-motivated, the same thing can be done with something she does like. If she loves playing, get her accustomed to a toy that makes a sound such as a wand chaser with a bell attached. You may have success getting her to come to the sound of her name and the shaking of the bell.

The ultimate success is getting the cat to come when we call without any bribe. Sometimes they just like us enough to do that.

Changing a name—yes or no?

I have yet to change the name my cats come with from the shelter. That’s just me. Other cat parents I know always change the name upon adoption. If you are going to change the name, that’s a good time, since everything else in kitty’s life is also changing. She will come to associate her new name with the comfort and love of her new home.

Tyler

When is a name not a name?

There have been a few instances when a cat seems to reject their name, insisting that it is something else. I don’t know quite how to explain the phenomenon that came about with a few of the many cats I’ve fostered for the Oregon Humane Society. It seemed like whenever I called them, their given name would slip away from my mind, and another would take its place. If I had adopted one of those cats, I would have surely changed their name to the one they related to me.

Lux

So for your sake and your cats’, say their name often. When you enter a room; when they enter the room; when you pet them or give them their food. Especially accompanying  treats and play. And hopefully no emergency will ever arise where you need to get them to come quickly, but isn’t it best be prepared, just in case?

One final note:

Oddly enough, most American cats also respond to kitty.