Cats react to their names, study says (but we're sure they'll ignore you anyway)

[TexasTowelie]

NEW YORK (AP) — Hey Kitty! Yes, you. A new study suggests household cats can respond to the sound of their own names.

No surprise to you or most cat owners, right? But Japanese scientists said Thursday that they've provided the first experimental evidence that cats can distinguish between words that we people say.

So you're kind of like dogs, whose communication with people has been studied a lot more, and who've been shown to recognize hundreds of words if they're highly trained. Sorry if the comparison offends you, Kitty.

Atsuko Saito of Sophia University in Tokyo says there's no evidence cats actually attach meaning to our words, not even their own names. Instead, they've learned that when they hear their names they often get rewards like food or play, or something bad like a trip to the vet. And they hear their names a lot. So the sound of it becomes special, even if they don't really understand it refers to their identity.

Read more: https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/04/cats-react-to-their-names-study-says-but-were-sure-theyll-ignore-you-anyway.html

[Rhiannon12866]

1. My cat answers to his name - I call him and he (usually) comes...

[TexasTowelie]

2. My cats have me well-trained also.

I usually call them in a falsetto because cats hear higher frequencies better than lower frequencies I also learned that they hear sounds with a long "e" at the end better so when there are multiple cats around I try to select names that have different vowel sounds in the first syllable.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I'll have to try that!

But I'm quite sure he knows his name. I call his name and he shows up! (Or at least pays attention ) And Felix is a pretty unique set of sounds.

I'm sure that some cats are more responsive than others, just like dogs. Rhiannon was just the best about that, she knew her name and came when she was called just like (and maybe even better) than my dogs did. Of course, my cocker, Barney, was about 18 so he was a little hard of hearing. My other cocker, Sheena, served as his "hearing-ear dog" when something was going on that dogs would be interested in (usually kitchen activity).

[murielm99]

4. My kitty recognized his name.

If he ignored me, and decided not to come when I called his name, I could always use the can opener. He responded very quickly to the sound of the can opener.

[Freddie]

5. If my cats know their names

They choose to ignore me, unless opening a can is involved. Had one cat who would meow whenever you said his name.

[pansypoo53219]

6. my new kitten, got her the day before, knew her name cause she meowed when i called for her.

she had disappeared in my room while i slept. somehow the 8 week old kitten got herself into a closed dresser drawer. she never gave up on drawers. but when older, my pair of kittens responded to the other cats name more. so, cats.

[cstanleytech]

7. The one and only time our cat wont ignore us is when we open a can of tuna for lunch.

He will occasionally ignore us when we open a can of food for him as a treat but tuna he will not ignore.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

8. I've known a couple of cats who come running when they

Hear the word "treats"!

[Phoenix61]

9. Cats are a lot like people,

There's smart ones and the very not so smart ones. I have an 18 year old cat who knows his name but doesn't hear as well as he used to. I recently put him on 300 mg CBD oil 2xday and he is moving around much, much better. Feel guilty I didn't do it sooner.