Do Cats Recognize Their Name?

Barry definitely knows his name - I can see his ears radar towards me or him turn his head when I say his name.

Duncan, bless him, is a little dim and I don't think he knows his name.

I can't tell is Paisley knows her name - she really is daddy's girl and reacts to anything I say.

I'm 100% sure Carleton knows his name.

If you say it enough yes. Absolutely, they do learn it. Whether or not they’ll listen to you? That’s another story

Ailish knows her name, but she doesn't know it's her name. She thinks it's human for "come get food." Naturally she comes running when I call her. Unless she has something better to do, she is a cat.

My cat Waffles knows his name and sometimes will walk over to me and sometimes not. Mooshoo comes when I call her by "Mooshoo," she also comes running when I call "Waffles!"

Yes I think Sombra knows her name or at least she USUALLY comes over when I call "Sombra here" but not always. She also associates certain gestures with a command. For instance if I hit a place with my open hand and say "here Sombra" she knows she is expected to lie there and again she USUALLY obeys.

She is aware of certain routines and often reacts before I say anything. For instance, she stands by the front door when I leave the bedroom first thing in the morning because she knows I'm going to open the door and pick up the newspaper delivered every morning. When she sees me pick up the tray with my breakfast she knows I'm taking it to my desk. She runs in front of me and jumps on the cushion on top of my desk and lies there to accompany me, etc. etc.

I suppose this is the result of living inside in close communication with their humans?

My Cali and Coal definitely know their own names (that's the Maine Coon in them, I suspect) - but before they started slowing down a bit because of their age (16) if I called one, only that one would come, and visa versa - even if it was treat time. They also were trained as kittens not to leave the deck - even though it is only a foot or so off the ground - and I feed the wild birds, so plenty of temptations! lol But they just stay on the deck. One time a new sitter came to the house to take care of my new puppy - he did not notice that Coal had gone outside when he opened the door so he left him outside. When I came home from work, 5 hours later - Coal was still sitting on the deck (I nearly died). They know simple commands, like 'out-out' -- that means leave the room you are in so I can close the door; no need to chase them, pick them up or anything; just "out-out" and they head right for the door -- and the male even played fetch as a young kitten. lol!

Both of mine know their names and they know each other's name. If I ask Lily where Mingo is, she will look around for him. They also know who the "kitties" are. If I call Lily, though, Mingo comes, too, hoping for a treat probably. They always come when I call them, even if they're asleep.

golondrina said:

Yes I think Sombra knows her name or at least she USUALLY comes over when I call "Sombra here" but not always. She also associates certain gestures with a command. For instance if I hit a place with my open hand and say "here Sombra" she knows she is expected to lie there and again she USUALLY obeys.

She is aware of certain routines and often reacts before I say anything. For instance, she stands by the front door when I leave the bedroom first thing in the morning because she knows I'm going to open the door and pick up the newspaper delivered every morning. When she sees me pick up the tray with my breakfast she knows I'm taking it to my desk. She runs in front of me and jumps on the cushion on top of my desk and lies there to accompany me, etc. etc.

I suppose this is the result of living inside in close communication with their humans?

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You make a good point about our cats knowing our routines, golondrina . I think cats are very adept at recognizing patterns in their environment. It’s probably a survival instinct for cats in the wild that our feline friends have retained in their lives with us. Maybe recognizing their names as “theirs” is part of that pattern recognition!

Yes they know their names and nicknames. Now if they come when you call while you are not offering food is a different story

Callie and Fresca definitely know their names, they just usually don't bother to acknowledge them. They'll look at me but that's about it. Patch and Alana probably not since I've only had them for a couple months.

They all know when it's time to eat though, they will run to the kitchen and hang around while I get their food ready.

Our cats know their names! If they respond depends on who is calling them. Estella will run from anywhere in the house if my son says her name, but will often just look at us if anyone calls her. Simon had a hard time when we got Silas, but they both know the difference now. Evangeline is almost deaf, so she often will not respond if she is asleep or in another room. Freya, Willow, Tara, and Fennimore come when I call them unless I call more than one when it is not dinner time. All 9 know that when I call more than one of them within a short time that I am giving medicine, cutting nails, or giving baths. I swear, if I even think Astrid's name, that little stalker will poke around the corner. (She is currently sitting next to me, watching.)

Fennimore will come to his "Fennimore" and "Big Boy" (or when he thinks another cat is getting pet). My friend calls him "Fenn." He does not respond to it.

I forgot about that. When I had two cats the fastest way to get a cat to come to me was to call his brother’s name ....... jealous little brats!

All of my cats knew their names, it was a matter of if they felt like coming over. If I call out "cookies" .every cat and dog I ever had would come running, especially if i also shook the bag lol.

Lovey used to come racing over whenever I called any cat or dog. He wanted all the attention.
Ruby usually comes over unless he thinks there's medications involved or he's sleeping. If I say his name in a get off the furniture tone and he's in the middle of doing something he's not supposed to, he starts arguing with me and giving defiant loud meows. I say no arguing this is not negotiable! Move fast! So he keeps arguing to protest his lack of vote in the rules while he jumps off whatever he's doing. Defiant.

Walks right up to my plate of food or glass of milk or water and sticks his whole face right in and helps himself!!! He knows that gets him right in the bathroom!

Lovey at least had the grace to look slightly guilty, jump down quickly and come over for hugs and cuddles and instantly start charming me to remind me he was so loving and adorable I couldn't possibly ever be mad at him

Inky would go back to feral, glare at me and start hissing and swatting me, even bite if I ever raised my voice to him. Loving and cuddly until then.

Most of the others would either ignore me, meow yo argue or run away but only come over if they felt like it and I wasn't disrupting their precious beauty sleep.

Count not only knows his name, he knows what I mean based on the tone of my voice and acts accordingly. Sometimes it is for a treat so he comes near me running, sometimes it is part of a conversation, so he just looks at me weirdly like I'm talking behind his back, and sometimes it is when I am searching for him, where he comes out if he can, or meows if he is trapped.

Yes! I tested my kitten kid out several times and still do at times as well. I’ll call him when I’m in another room and nine out of 10 times he will come running. I’ve tried to trick him with other names in the same town and he doesn’t run. So he definitely knows his name. I had to train him though at first to learn his name by giving him treats after he finally started running to me when I will call him