Should You Change a Cat's Name When you Adopt?

What's in a Name?

• Some cats recognize their names; others don̵7;t -- or they recognize them but choose not to respond. Many animals, including dogs, cats, rats, rabbits and even goldfish, can be taught their names, according to Dr. Nicky Finch of Washington State University. If it's not obvious whether your adopted cat knows his name, then renaming him isn't an issue. If your new cat readily responds to his old name, however, you have a decision to make. There are no authoritative scientific studies on this topic, but anecdotal evidence from cat breeders, fanciers, rescuers and animal shelter workers suggests changing a cat's name has no effect on the animal's long-term health and well being. But should you? If you don't like his name, then yes. Naming a cat something you like strengthens your connection to him.

New Cat, New Home

• When you adopt a new cat, your No. 1 priority should be to make him feel at home. Changing his name is secondary to this. The first 24 hours your cat spends in his new surroundings are critical, according to the Petfinder pet adoption website. Introduce him to his new home slowly. That means first confining him to one room, then allowing him to explore his new territory on his own terms. If your cat seems stressed out, try using his old name to calm him during this period. After a few days, once he's settled in, you can start using his new name and train him to recognize it. Despite a stubborn reputation, a cat is easily trainable, and name recognition is an integral part of most training regimes. Renaming your cat allows you to build your relationship from the ground up.

The Name Game

• If you̵7;re in the market for a new cat name, your options are myriad. You can use resources like lists of popular names, celebrity cats and the cats of celebrities, among others. Alternately, you could name your cat for his appearance or personality, or after a friend or loved one, as long as that person won't be around a lot. You don't want to call, "Chester," and get a response from the cat and your live-in uncle. It helps both you and your cat if he has a short name -- ideally two syllables, according to the cat website Catster.com. This aids in ease of recognition and helps if you have to belt it out while scouring the neighborhood for him should he sneak out. If you pick a new name that sounds similar to his old one, it may help him make the switch more quickly. Regardless, you can and should change your adopted cat's name if you want to. After all, he's your cat, and his name reflects on you as much as it does him.

Teaching Moments

• It's going to take some time for your cat to learn his new name. Positive association is key. For your cat, that means hearing his name before getting food, treats, toys and affection. Food is the best motivator for most cats, according to Marilyn Krieger, a behavior expert with Cat Fancy magazine's CatChannel.com. Once your new cat associates his new name with good things, he'll give you attention -- maybe even come running -- when you call. When you adopt a cat, it's hard to tell what associations and possible baggage come with his old moniker. You should rename your adopted cat if only to make sure he has singularly positive associations with whatever you call him.