How to Familiarize My Cat With Its Name

Just like having a baby, a cat becomes part of the family. It's your job to care for him and to provide him with a name. If your furry pal knows his name and responds to it, you can always get his attention. One day, this can potentially safe his life.

  1. Naming Your Cat

    • Giving your cat an easy-to-learn, appropriate name is essential, because you'll be using it a lot. Avoid choosing a name that's embarrassing or hard to pronounce. By observing your cat, you might notice certain character traits that can help you think of a name. Avoid long names and don't use a variety of nicknames, because this can confuse your pet companion. A name that has one or two syllables is easier for your cat to memorize.

    Training

    • Familiarizing your cat with his name requires lots of treats and patience. Start by standing in front of your furry pal. Then say his name and immediately follow this by giving him a treat. Do this at least 10 times so he begins to associate his name with pleasant consequences. Gradually move further away from your cat and say his name followed by the "come" command. When he comes to you, give him a treat. Do this consistently and slowly reduce the amount of treats you give him. Instead, use petting and verbal praise.

    Everyday Use

    • Whenever you work on teaching your cat his name, keep the sessions positive and short. In addition to this, use your cat's name throughout the day so he gets used to hearing it. For instance, each time you feed him, say "Whiskers, food" or when it's playtime, say "Whiskers, play." You want your cat to look at you each time you mention his name. His name gets his attention, after which you can give him a command.

    What Not to Do

    • Never associate your cat's name with an unpleasant consequence, because he might stop responding to it altogether. For instance, using your cat's name to scold him or to stop him from peeing on the carpet can damage the trust he has in you. He might think that each time you say his name, something negative will happen. Instead, use his name when you want to pet him, give him a treat or play with him. This makes it significant for him to listen and encourages him to keep listening.