Fact Check: do cats prefer particular names?
5.9.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
Want your cat to come running like a dog any time you call their name? In this instalment of Fact Check, I’ll reveal whether you could make it happen.
«Léoniiie, dinner tiiiiime!» The sound of my mum shouting for our cat still echoes in my memory to this day. Sometimes, Léonie – or Pizza, as she’d been named at the shelter on account of her spotted fur – would respond to her name and come home from hunting. Sometimes, she ignored it.
Would we have had better luck with «Pizza»? Personally, if I heard this in conjunction with «quattro formaggiii!», I’d be over in a flash. But do cats actually understand their own names? And do they prefer certain ones?
What’s in a name?
My research answers both questions with «yes». In 2019, Japanese psychologist Atsuko Saito and researchers at Tokyo’s Sophia University found that cats «showed a significant rebound in response to [...] their own names.» They even responded when strangers shouted similar-sounding words.
If you want your cat to prick up its ears at the sound of its name, keep these four things in mind:
.1 Number of syllables
Cats are more responsive to names with two or three syllables. A single syllable often sounds too harsh – something various pet websites attest to.
2. Vowels
Cats like vowels (A, E, I, O and U), especially if their name ends with one. Sibilants, such as the letter «S», on the other hand, are less of a crowd-pleaser. The softer and more melodic a name sounds, the better.
3. Tone
Even if cats sometimes seem like they couldn’t care less about how we’re doing emotionally, they do respond to our vocal pitch. The friendlier and brighter (higher) our tone is, the better. This has even been demonstrated by a vet based in Vancouver:
Evaluating my childhood cats’ names
Time to try this out. Here are the names of my childhood cats and how I’d rate them:
- Felix: having two syllables is a pretty good start. Because of the «F» and «X», however, the name doesn’t sound particularly soft. It doesn’t end in a vowel either.
Points: 2 - Léonie: has three syllables, sounds very soft and ends in a vowel. Perfect! This is clearly why «Pizza», with its double «Z» sibilant, was a damp squib.
Points: 6 - Siro: like Felix, this is a two-syllable name. Unlike our first example, however, it sounds much softer and ends with a vowel. The «S» just gives it a slight hissing sound.
Points: 4
Verdict: Léonie is the clear winner Siro is just about acceptable. Felix, however – one of the most popular cat names out there – trails behind at the bottom of the rankings.
How to get your cat accustomed to its name
So how come Léonie didn’t always recognise her name? The fact she was a headstrong cat is bound to have played some role in the matter. It’s also possible that we didn’t manage to get her fully accustomed to understanding her name. There are three tricks that can be used to resolve this:
.1 Positive reinforcement
Mention your cat’s new name in pleasant situations, such as when you feed, cuddle or play with them. This way, your furry friend will associate their name with something positive and be more likely to respond than if you use their name to scold them.
2. No nicknames
Don’t give your cat any nicknames. Don’t go calling your Léonie «Lo Lo», like we did back in the day. Though it might sound cute, your cat won’t associate it with its actual name.
3. Lots of patience
Unlike dogs, cats haven’t gone through centuries of breeding to become obedient companions. They basically domesticated themselves after following mice into human settlements. This puts them more than 10,000 years behind their canine counterparts. Researchers are certain that most of the time, cats’ inability to get used to their name has less to do with their ability to learn and more to do with humans’ lack of patience.
You should now be all set to choose a name for your cat. Still at a loss? How about Lilli, Leo, Leia, Leila, Nala, Maya, Mona, Maui, Momo, Mimi, Malou, Aglio, Oglio or ... dang it, I’m back to Pizza.
Collar + Leashes
Swisspet ReflectLine cat collar 10mm/20-30cm
23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, Cat, General
Hit the comments section to tell me your cat’s name, why you chose it and how well your pet understands it.
Header image: Shutterstock
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know?
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