do cats know their names

Cats do recognize their own names and can distinguish them from other words or names, but they may choose not to respond every time. Research shows that cats associate their names with positive reinforcement like food, attention, or play, which helps them learn to recognize their names. Their responses to hearing their name can include meowing, moving their ears, heads, or tails, or approaching their owner, but these behaviors can vary greatly depending on the cat’s personality, upbringing, and current mood. Cats are less likely to respond to unfamiliar voices calling their name, and they may ignore their names even when they hear them because of their independent nature or lack of motivation at that moment. While cats know their names, they may not understand that the name is uniquely their identity as humans do; rather, it's a sound associated with rewards or attention.