topic Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name in Pet Lovers

How To Teach A Kitten His Name

NickNack — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:46:39 GMT

I've Googled this, and I am trying to say his name each time I put his food down, which is three times a day. I also say it constantly when he's sitting in my lap or when I'm talking to him. I don't think he has any idea what his name is though. I don't remember ever having any trouble teaching another pet their name. I think Frankie knew her name within just a couple of times of my saying it. Maybe dogs are different, but all of my other cats knew their name, too. Does anyone have any ideas for me? (I apologize for starting this thread about him after just starting one yesterday.)

Edited to say: Google says to train them with treats, but Henry doesn't like treats. I've bought two kinds, and my Vet tried to give him two different kinds when he got his vaccinations. He won't eat them. I'm sure he'll eventually learn his name on his own, but it would be nice if he learned it soon.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

Carmie — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:33:55 GMT

I never taught any of my pets their name. They just seemed " to get it" after a while. One of my dogs gets called by her rightful name and a few nick names as well. She recognizes all of her names.

Your kitty will figure it out.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

MarkeieMark — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:37:30 GMT

I love litten kittens, haven't had one in years! That's very sweet. God bless.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

NickNack — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:42:48 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
I never taught any of my pets their name. They just seemed " to get it" after a while. One of my dogs gets called by her rightful name and a few nick names as well. She recognizes all of her names.

Your kitty will figure it out.

@Carmie I've never tried to teach a pet his name before either. Since Henry doesn't seem to get it I thought maybe there was something I should be doing. I will have had him four weeks tomorrow. I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually though.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

PhilaLady1 — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:44:49 GMT

Betcha he knows his name already. He'll respond to it when he feels like it

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

ItsME — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:48:56 GMT

Just keep talking to him and using his name. He'll catch on!

I'm another who has names and nicknames for my furry children. They know all the things I call them, and the others in the house. My now old boy, Tyler, will be 13 in 6 weeks. When he was a pup, I would ask his older brother "Where is the baby?" Jake would tear through the house to find Tyler, and then bark to let me know where he was. (Jake was ridiculously smart, and understood every thing I said. He's been gone nearly 3 years. I miss him terribly!)

Enjoy your kitten!!!!

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

2blonde — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:50:12 GMT

@NickNack All my cats have learned their names, and even some key words and phrases. When you feed him, do you call his name first to get him to come to the bowl? I've found that calling a kitten or cat when it's out of sight (always using their name, not "kitty, kitty"), then having a reward ready once they come to me, works really well. Eventually, I can call the cat just to get her/him to come to me, and they will.

My current guy (Al) is very responsive, partly because it's just the two of us.....no other distractions. He also understands familiar phrases like "brush the cat" (he loves it), "feed the cat," and " you want a drink?" (He like to drink out of the bathroom faucet!) You have to put the emphasis on the key word you want them to learn.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

pigletsmom — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:53:32 GMT

My youngest cat seemed to take forever. He knew his sister's name and the word treats first. He eventually figured it out.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

LizzieInSRQ — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:54:26 GMT

Maybe your Lil cutie is deaf? Have you done any homegrown tests for him to respond?

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

Shawnie — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:04:40 GMT

How do you feed him? When you put his meal down call him in to eat. If he doesnt come take the bowl go find him, calling his name showing him the food then he shoukd follow you to where you feed him. I trained both my cats to sit, stay etc. They do have to be in the mood. I wouldnt really worry about him. He is still a baby.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

gizmogal — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:07:58 GMT

You're doing everything "right", but your expectations are unrealistic. He's only in your home a few weeks. He is learning all the things a kitten needs to survive-- where's the food, where it is safe to sleep, where to hide, where the litter is. His relationship to people is not fully formed and he has no instinct to please you or serve your needs like dogs do.

He can learn his name and still not give a fig to respond when you call him. And a kitten needs more than 4 weeks to understand the word that you represent as his name. Give him several more weeks. The fun of a cat is watching them be cats and interacting with them as they are. Avoid comparing this creature to a dog. Or even to any other cat. You're teaching the name just like most experts would suggest. Good job! Now just give it time and abandon expectation. He'll know his name eventually and maybe he'll want to respond when you use it!

When he's full grown, his brain will be the size of a walnut, his intelligence will approach that of a two year old human being, and for all of his life as a cat he only will live to be fed and feel safe and comfortable. Your cuddles and affection and humane care will be very important to his well being and social behavior in your home, but he will have no sense of gratitude or appreciation. More likely he will just not upset a stable environment by doing harm or dirtying areas he senses are not his own space. He'll surely be fun and cute and softly endearing for the generous loving attention you give him, now and forever.

Sorry, he'll never learn algebra. Or do real tricks. But, yes, he will know his name.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

NickNack — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:21:46 GMT

@ItsME wrote:
Just keep talking to him and using his name. He'll catch on!

I'm another who has names and nicknames for my furry children. They know all the things I call them, and the others in the house. My now old boy, Tyler, will be 13 in 6 weeks. When he was a pup, I would ask his older brother "Where is the baby?" Jake would tear through the house to find Tyler, and then bark to let me know where he was. (Jake was ridiculously smart, and understood every thing I said. He's been gone nearly 3 years. I miss him terribly!)

Enjoy your kitten!!!!

I love that story @ItsME! That sounds so cute.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

Shawnie — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:26:06 GMT

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:
Maybe your Lil cutie is deaf? Have you done any homegrown tests for him to respond?

@NickNack yes, drop something that will make a sharp sound and see if he responds. Or clap your hands behind him and see if he responds. Your voice is not a good test because they will ignore us if not interested.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

blackhole99 — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:33:00 GMT

My cat Moe doesn't care what you call him, just don't call him late for supper.LOL My vet once said cats seem to respond to two syllable names and Henry is two syllables. Don't forget cats love to ignore you.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

Love my grandkids — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 18:04:03 GMT

We just repeated our cats' names a whole lot. "Good girl, Abbie", "Good Boy, ChewIe" a lot and in no time they responded! And we praised them by name for every cute thing they did! And always greeted them by name in the a.m. and said goodnight to them by name at ngiht!

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

Cat lover 1731 — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:39:22 GMT

Cats are very smart, in time he will learn his name. Good luck and enjoy every minute of him being a kitten.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

Sushismom — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:58:45 GMT

One of my cats, who's now 2 years old, doesn't respond to his name very often. He just ignores me. Oh, well. At least my other cats respond to their names. Most of the time...

As for the treats, all my cats LOVE Temptations.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

NickNack — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 21:18:54 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@NickNack All my cats have learned their names, and even some key words and phrases. When you feed him, do you call his name first to get him to come to the bowl? I've found that calling a kitten or cat when it's out of sight (always using their name, not "kitty, kitty"), then having a reward ready once they come to me, works really well. Eventually, I can call the cat just to get her/him to come to me, and they will.

My current guy (Al) is very responsive, partly because it's just the two of us.....no other distractions. He also understands familiar phrases like "brush the cat" (he loves it), "feed the cat," and " you want a drink?" (He like to drink out of the bathroom faucet!) You have to put the emphasis on the key word you want them to learn.

@2blonde I've been trying to remember to call his name when I put his food bowl out. Sometimes I forget. I wasn't doing that until I read that was one way they learned their name.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

NickNack — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 21:20:19 GMT

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:
Maybe your Lil cutie is deaf? Have you done any homegrown tests for him to respond?

@LizzieInSRQ I'm sure he's not deaf. There's a baby gate to the room that his food and litter box are in. He can squeeze through the bars, so it's working out well at this time. When he hears me open the gate he knows I'm putting food out for him and comes running.

Re: How To Teach A Kitten His Name

NickNack — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 21:22:59 GMT

@Shawnie wrote:
How do you feed him? When you put his meal down call him in to eat. If he doesnt come take the bowl go find him, calling his name showing him the food then he shoukd follow you to where you feed him. I trained both my cats to sit, stay etc. They do have to be in the mood. I wouldnt really worry about him. He is still a baby.

@Shawnie I've been trying to remember to call his name to come to eat. I'm going to try not to worry about this. I'm sure he'll figure out his name. I wanted to tell you that I ordered the microchip bowl for him. He doesn't need to use it yet, because he can still get through the bars of the baby gate to go to the food in his room. When he can no longer fit through the gate I'll start using the bowl. I didn't even think about him being able to do that when I ordered the bowl. I've tested the bowl with the tag that came with it, and I really like it. I hope Henry will be happy about using it.