OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Recent studies are challenging the idea that domestic cats are aloof or indifferent toward people.
Cats and names
A Japanese study found that cats learn the names of household members without formal training. When researchers mismatched a name with the wrong face, cats froze and stared at the screen longer, showing confusion because they had anticipated seeing a specific person.
Recommendations for testing and using a cat’s name-tracking skills include:
- Using a single, consistent name for a cat and other household pets instead of changing nicknames.
- Saying a cat’s name clearly while making eye contact before giving a reward, such as before feeding or giving medication, since cats are capable of understanding who is being addressed.
Vocalizations
Cats modify their vocalizations to train their owners, according to the report. Cats may interact differently with different people in a household.
A cat that does not meow at a specific person does not necessarily love that person less. Cats may use physical cues, such as tail-swishing, for one person and louder vocal cues for another, based on what has historically gotten a faster response…