dubgeek t1_j6otgey wrote on January 31, 2023 at 9:06 PM

It's not like the cat knows and will respond to the name (unless you're a very patient and dedicated trainer). One of our cats has gone through a bunch of names. She started as S'Mores, then became Mittens, then Nibbles (or Nibs for short), and now she's Moira Rose/Moira/Moimoi (pronounced moymoy if it's not obvious).

She had a bonus one day name of Nugget. She ran away and was missing for over a month before I got a text from SavethisPet (pet tracking chip company) that she had been found and taken to the shelter. I tracked down the people who found her to thank them. They said they called her Nugget because she looked hungry and they fed her a Chic-Fil-A nug.

CHIP YOUR PETS, people!

fauxfurgopher OP t1_j6otupg wrote on January 31, 2023 at 9:09 PM

All my cats have known and respond to their names. I hear people say cats don’t know their names, but this isn’t my experience. One of my cats, Mervyn, LOVES his name. If you call him he’ll come to you, and if you say his name while petting him he gets all squinty eyed and purrs harder. It’s very cute.

dubgeek t1_j6ouhh5 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 9:13 PM

Color me jealous! That would be awesome!

fauxfurgopher OP t1_j6oyzs2 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 9:41 PM

I think you just have to say it to them a lot. And reward them with petting and treats when they respond. Also, some cats are smarter than others. Although… hmm. We have one cat who is a little feather-brained, but even she knows her name. I must be accidentally good at reinforcing their names.