When I consult with clients, I love hearing the beautiful, funny, unique names people have given their cats. I also love to hear about how those names came about. I'm continually amazed at how creative people are when it comes to choosing names for their kitties.
Regardless of whether you've chosen the most unique name, one with special meaning, or just a quick name to identify one cat from another, there's one very important point to remember -- never use your cat's name to call him over for a reprimand. If you want to teach your cat to respond to his name, he needs to associate it with positive things.
If you've ever noticed how quickly your cat appears whenever you open a can or a bag of cat food, you know how quickly he can make an association with an experience. Use that to your advantage to teach him his name. As you open the food, call his name. When you put the food in the bowl, call his name. When you're petting him, say his name.
If your cat is across the room and responds to the sound of his name by coming to you, reward him with petting, praise, or a treat.
Keep the training process easy and consistent by using the same name every time you call him. Don't confuse him with many nicknames or variations on his name.
It's of course also a good idea to teach your cat to respond to his name in case you have to quickly locate him for safety reasons.
For more step-by-step instructions on teaching your cat to respond to his name, refer to the book Think Like a Cat.
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