# Cat people: do you think your cats know the names we give them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719 "2023-03-27T17:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/61 "2023-03-30T00:26:19Z")
I am so very sorry for intruding in this thread without following it to the end. I understand the loss of dear four-footed friends and now feel quite the fool to be making jokes in the midst of your sorrow. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/62 "2023-03-30T00:43:26Z")
Fur babies are precious. I too lost one recently. All my cats know their names and respond to them individually. If I call for Caelan Pixel doesn’t come running. Tango responds to any call, but that is more of him wanting to cause trouble rather than not knowing his name. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/63 "2023-03-30T00:44:27Z")
Cats and dogs can have sudden cardiovascular events just like we humans do. It’s a horrible shock, especially in a pet who’s not really old. My condolences. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/64 "2023-03-30T01:07:44Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > He was 13 years old & we knew he had some heart and kidney issues (almost all cats do at that age, I think) but we hoped we had it sort of managed with diet for a while. > > But this morning when I woke up he was dead on the floor beside the bed. I am so very sorry. You know it was quick, or else you would have heard him. He was right there. He knew that you loved him. (I do just want to add that while yes, some cats have old age diseases by 13, quite a lot of them don’t. 13 was actually quite young to lose him.) ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/65 "2023-03-30T04:50:43Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Well, damn. One of mine just died. I’m so sorry. They leave such a big hole in our hearts. I’m sure he loved you as much as any cat could. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/66 "2023-03-30T17:38:35Z")
My condolences, xtenkfarpl. ---
**Author:** ![knavette57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knavette57/32/3871_2.png) [@knavette57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knavette57)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/67 "2023-03-30T17:42:33Z")
Mine does! She might be only responding to the pitch of my voice or the kind way I say her name, but she certainly runs to me, her tail flying up, her meows a-sounding, and she will never let me alone if I do call to her (kitty treat time!). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/68 "2023-03-30T17:45:29Z")
If I conversationally say their name near them (no sing-songy lilt) they don’t care. No looks, not even an ear twitch to suggest they’re paying more attention than a moment ago. If I use “pet voice” at them or make the usual tsk-tsk mouth noises they’ll pay attention but I assume that’s all one blur of “People making noises specifically at me” versus them picking out specific sounds. On the other hand, my wife swears that if she uses the phrase “wet food” around them, they’ll act obnoxious for the next hour, waiting for her to make with the canned stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/69 "2023-03-30T17:51:04Z")
At least some of our cats not only know their own name but they know the names of the other cats. If you call their name they will look at you but if you call another cat’s name they will look at that other cat. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/70 "2023-03-30T23:11:27Z")
The three cats my wife had before we were a couple were exactly like that – if she called one of them by name, the other two would look at the one she called (“Hey - you gonna get that?”) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719/71 "2023-03-31T00:09:00Z")
The really funny part is that the cat being called would just ignore her (and the other cats). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-people-do-you-think-your-cats-know-the-names-we-give-them/981719.md?page=3)