Cats learn the names of their friend cats in their daily lives - Scientific Reports
Cats learn the names of their friend cats in their daily lives - Scientific Reports
Humans communicate with each other through language, which enables us talk about things beyond time and space. Do non-human animals learn to associate human speech with specific objects in everyday life? We examined whether cats matched familiar cats’ names and faces (Exp.1) and human family members...
“ Ha ha ha, gumbo has taken the blame for what I, pissboi, have done to the huuman’s food cave.”
My partner recently said she wasn’t sure if the kitties knew their names (I realize this is slightly OT). I was able to dissuade her in about ten seconds. Kitties are smart.
Two of mine definitely know their names, because they come when called. But the third one... she's now seven years old and I only conclusively determined that she knows her name a few months ago, after noticing that her ears twitch when I call her. Being the most stereotypical of my cats, however, the only sound that will actually summon her is the sound of a tin of tuna opening.
I know for a fact that one of my rabbits knows his name and that one of my other rabbits apparently thinks her name is "good girl". I've tried to name train her but she doesn't respond well to Clover. She might just respond more visibly to good girl because she gets good girled when she's being such a good girl though. But I couldn't find my Wally so I said his name a few times and he just came running over, and normally will turn one ear towards me if I say his name.
My cat, at 18, should definitely know his name but I'll be damned if I know how to verify that he does. He'll give me a death glare no matter what I say to him.
Edit: ok I just tested Clover and she turned her ear to me so apparently she goes by both Clover and good girl. I got the expected reaction from Wally, and the 3rd rabbit Beignet didn't react, but he only reacts to treats anyways so I'm pretty sure he knows I'm talking to him and doesn't care. He's probably part cat.
This makes me sad. My late mum had 16 cats, with some coming and go over the years, but always a "continuum of cats" for the last 30 years or more. Since she passed away, with only two people left —and increasing health problems— to take care of them, we've been downsizing, giving them away wherever possible. We're now down to 6+2, with 6 staying at home, and 2 smart enough to always find a way over the fence and roam around, sometimes not coming home for several days on end.
Just today, one of the roaming ones came home, went to eat something... then started going all around the house and meowing, looking for something, and no amount of petting would calm him down. I bet he's missing his "family" of cat friends. Ultimately he went to sleep on top of a wardrobe, with the other 6 staying on the terrace, even though it's raining. It's pretty depressing to see them like this.
I want to meet the scientists patient enough to interview cats.
(I mean good on them, cats dont have enough research) but these people must be the most nice and patient people in the world.