Is it possible to teach an older cat a name?

Question

I'm looking to adopt an older cat (not sure of the age, but at least over five) at my humane society. I don't know much about it yet as I've only seen it once, and am getting more info on it today.

But my experience with a lot of the shelter cats is that they nave names posted on their cages and stuff, but if you call their name they don't react. No reaction as in their ears dont perk or anything, although they do respond to other general friendly 'come here' noises.

So can you teach a cat that's older a name like you would a kitten, instead of always just having to make noises to get them to come or look at you?

Answer 1

We got our cat when she was a year old and her name was Besty. We didn't care for the name, so we changed it to Athena. She learned we were talking to/about her when we said her name within a few weeks.

Cats in a shelter are stressed and scared. It's a noisy, confusing environment so it doesn't surprise me that they would not repsond to their name being called. As another responder said, a lot of cats in the shelter come in with no name, so the workers/volunteers get to give them a temporary name until they get adopted. We got Betsy/Athena from a guy I worked with, but we also adopted a kitten from a shelter about 3 years ago. He and his 8 littermates were born at the shelter, and they named all of them after American Indian tribes. His name was Dakota when we got him. I liked that name, but he was technically my stepson's cat, so he picked out the name of Marbles. He was about 4 months old when we got him and learned his name right away. He even comes when he's called.  

Answer 2

u will have a hard time teaching him.  but try calling his name when u pet, scratch, and feed him.  belle (my 10 yrs old cat) comes running when i call her name close to feeding time.  reward him w/ praise and cuddles when he responds to his new name

Answer 3

Absolutely! Many times the name on the cage is not the name they had when they came to the shelter anyway.

When you are stroking her to tell her her name. Take her little head in your hands, look her in the eyes and tell her her name often. She will begin to associate the affection with her name and will start responding quickly.

Also when you call her say something like "Kitty, kitty, kitty _______ (fill in the blank)  

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Don't know about cats but dogs learn new names.

Answer 5

Of course you can - in a matter of days any cat (unless deaf) will learn it's new name.  

The Humane Society and many shelters acquire stray cats that don't come with their names tied to their neck, so they're given names when they arrive at the shelter.  Sometimes they're not there long enough (hopefully), to learn their new names.  This may be their 2nd, 3rd, 4th home and they may have had different names at each place.

Remember pets should be a lifetime commitment, and after a week or two, will respond to the name you call it - especially if you use it's name each time you feed & pet it.

Often times the older kitties are far easier to train and get settled, plus you don't have to go through those tough kitten months.

Good luck with your new kitty & kudos to you for rescuing one from a shelter!!  

Answer 6

YES- If you repeatedly call the cat by it's new name it will start to respond in the first few weeks.  The best time to practice is during feeding time