A few weeks ago when I was looking into whether cats like baby talk I started to wonder if cats recognize their names. I know when I say Sophie's name at dinner time, she usually comes running, but sometimes I have to add the sound of a spoon clinking against a plate to get her attention, so is she just responding to me calling because it's dinner time, or does she actually know I'm calling her? So I dug a little deeper to find out - can cats recognize their name?
Do cats understand their names?
The quick answer is that cats do know their names, but may or not respond based on the personality of your cat, when their name is called and what their relationship is to the person calling their name.
If your cat is very food motivated, like Sophie, they are likely to respond to their name if they associate their name being called with getting a treat or a meal. I never set out to teach her her name - I think she gradually picked up that when I said "Sophie" I was directing attention to her, but if you have a new pet and are trying to teach your cat their name, rover.com offers some suggetions on how cats learn their name. They say they learn their name by hearing it over and over again along with a positive interaction, so a way to help your cat learn their name is to say their name, and give them a treat. Try that a few times and then try moving away from them and saying their name so that they need to pay attention and come to you to get the treat. Eventually you can skip the treats and give cuddles or playtime instead - or if you have a cat that is not very food motivated like Reggie you can start the process with playtime instead of with treats!
If, like me, your cat doesn't always respond when their name is called, it's probably not because they don't know their name, they just might not feel like it. They might be dozing, or focused on something else, like a toy or a bird out the window. PetMd says if they turn their ears or head when you say their name, they heard you, and recognize that you are talking to them, but are choosing to ignore you.
Another factor on how your cat responds to their name is who is saying it. When you spend time with your cat, you form a bond together so that when you call their name, they will recognize your voice and tone and respond based on their experience with you. However, when a guest comes into your home, your cat doesn't have that bond with that new person and may not respond to hearing their name called by that person. They still might recognize that that person is calling their name, but they might be less likely to respond because they don't have a relationship with that person. If your cat doesn't respond to the new person calling their name, that person might want to try offering a treat or some pets to them to try to build up that relationship. It will depend on the personality of the cat on how quickly they might respond to that new person. I know between my 2 cats, Sophie will be your friend if you offer her a treat, but it will probably take Reggie a few days and some patience before he'll come near a new person.
If you are still thinking about naming your cat, it might help to pick a name that ends with an "ee" sound! The below video gives a tip on why cats might respond better to names ending with an "ee" or "y" sound - it's because it has a high pitched ending to it. If you have already named your cat something that doesn't end in an "ee" sound, maybe you could try a nick name. For example, my cats are Sophia and Reginald, but I almost always call them Sophie and Reggie - and they still don't always pay attention!
What if your cat used to respond to their name, and now doesn't? Unfortunatly, like humans, cats can fall prey to memory loss as they age. Catster.com says more than 55% of cats between the ages of 11 and 15 have some some of cognitive impairment. They may not always respond to treatment, but if your cat seems to have forgotten their name, or is not acting like their normal self in other ways, it is a good idea to see a vet to see what options there might be.
In conclusion, cats do know their names, but they are independent creatures and may not always respond to it. What about you, does your cat come running when you call, or pretend they couldn't hear you?
Cover photo by Bogdan Farca on Unsplash
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