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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
My condolences, xtenkfarpl.
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!).
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.
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.
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?”)
The really funny part is that the cat being called would just ignore her (and the other cats).