How to Teach a Cat to Recognize Its Name

Co-authored by Jessica Char

Last Updated: August 5, 2024 Approved

It’s no secret that cats can be obstinate creatures, but despite what you may have heard, cats can be trained. By learning a bit about what motivates cats and how they behave, and then implementing some simple training techniques, you can quickly teach your cat or kitten to come to you when she is called.

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Getting Ready to Train Your Cat

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You can start training your cat when it is still a kitten, and the younger the cat is, the more receptive it will be to learning its name. An older cat can still learn new tricks, of course, but perhaps not as quickly.
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Choose rewards that your cat will appreciate. Remember that verbal praise is not going to impress or motivate your cat. Instead, you need to provide immediate, tangible rewards that your cat enjoys.^{[1]
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Jessica Char
Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.} A cat will always appreciate a tasty food treat like a bit of tuna or cheese, a spoonful of wet food, or a commercial cat treat. Cats will also respond to nonfood rewards if it’s something they really enjoy, like a bout of laser pointer tag, or a hearty scratch behind the ears.^{[2]
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- The kind of reward that works best will depend on the cat, so prepare to do some experimentation.
- Make sure you have enough kitty treats on hand to get through the training process.
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Dogs are easy to train because they are social creatures that want to please humans, and feel rewarded by a simple “Good dog!” or other verbal praise. Most cats, on the other hand, are less concerned about what you think of them, and more interested in what you are going to do for them.^{[3]
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Research source} Cats respond well to rewards and can readily learn new tricks if you are patient with them and offer them something they really want when they do well.
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Choose a name that is easy for your cat to recognize. Cat’s generally respond better to shorter, pleasant-sounding names. While you might have your heart set on “Princess FluffyBottom McPhee,” you should probably shorten it to “Fluffy” for training purposes.^{[4]
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Research source} If you are adamant that your cat’s moniker “Sir William the Vicious of Belvedere” cannot be shortened, you could just train him to come to “kitty.”
- Don’t change your cat’s name once it has become used to it. This will just confuse the cat.
- The introduction of new nicknames can also confuse your cat. Consistency is key.

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Teaching Your Cat its Name

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^{[5]
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Expert Source

Jessica Char
Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.} Only use your cat’s name when you are calling or speaking pleasantly to it. You should never use a cat’s name to scold or reprimand it; for that a simple but firm “No” will suffice.
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Begin actively training the cat. The best way to get your cat interested in training is to feed the cat a bit less than usual so it is slightly hungry and more eager to earn food treats. Then simply approach the cat and say its name, and then present it with a small food treat.^{[6]
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Jessica Char
Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.} Repeat this two or three times. Then walk a few feet away from the cat, and repeat the process but add the word “come” or “here” to the cat’s name. (For example “Charlie, come” or “Here, Sneakers.” Either works, just be consistent.) When the cat approaches you, pet her and offer her a treat. Then move a bit further away and repeat.^{[7]
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- Make sure the cat links her name to the pleasant reward. This means saying her name, then immediately giving the reward.
- Repeat this activity, calling the cat 10 to 20 times per session, once or twice a day until the cat reliably responds to its name.
After about a week, you can begin calling your cat from longer distances. Start by calling your cat from another room. Eventually try calling her from every room in your house. Once she is reliable about coming when called inside the house, you can also try calling her outside (assuming she is an outside cat).^{[8]
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If there are other members of your household, get them involved with teaching your cat its name. Make sure everyone uses the same phrase to call the cat. Eventually, you can teach the cat to run back and forth between two people, alternately calling her and offering a treat.
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Get help with a cat that won’t respond to its name. If your cat refuses to respond to her name, she may have a hearing problem. White cats, in particular, are far more likely to be deaf.^{[9]
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Research source} Your vet can screen your cat’s hearing so you will know for sure.
- Some cats are simply more difficult to train than others. If the cat’s lack of response or general behavior is troubling, consult with an animal behaviorist to get help identifying and rectifying the problem. Ask your vet or look online for a recommendation.^{[10]
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Question

Why won't my cat learn his name?

Jessica Char
Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant
Jessica Char is a Cat and Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and the Founder of Feline Engineering and Canine Engineering. She specializes in modifying challenging pet behavior problems, such as fear and aggression, using positive reinforcement training protocols. Jessica is a Certified Fear Free Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. She is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Jessica received her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jessica Char

Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant

Expert Answer

If you want to teach them to respond to their name, they need to learn that the word means something. All you really have to do is pair the name with something for the cat, like a treat. So, say their name, give them a treat and repeat a lot!

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Question

My kitten is too hyper to concentrate. How can I get him to calm down?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Give him an outlet for that excess energy, and play with him regularly throughout the day. Incorporate training into those play sessions. For example, if the kitten runs toward you, say its name. This helps him link the sound of his name with coming toward you. Let him burn off some energy in play, and then when he's less hyper, start the training session.

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Question

Are the names Schlatza and Schatzi too hard for a cat to understand?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

The name starts with a hard "Sch" sound, which is excellent for getting the cat's attention. Shorter names work better than longer ones, as most cats only recognize the first one or two syllables. If, however, you have two cats, these two names are too similar for them to distinguish which is which, so they make individual name recognition difficult.

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