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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cats don't recognise their name. How can I let them out?

52 replies

ShakespearesSisters · 14/06/2022 21:19

So we have 2 gorgeous rescue cats (well, kittens) and they are 9 months old now. We had them at 3 months. I need to let them out as I want to have the windows and doors open in the summer.
They have been out on a harness.

My issue is that they don't recognise their names at all, or each others. (never happened with predecessors)
How do I get them back in if I can't call them?
Any tips?

Oh, photo payment included.

Cats don't recognise their name. How can I let them out?
OP posts:
fantasmasgoria1 · 14/06/2022 22:02

They probably do recognise their names but choose not to respond to them.

AnotherPoster · 14/06/2022 22:03

4 cats here. I've never worried about them knowing their names. They come and go as they please. They are always there for mealtimes. They are fed about the same time every day and their internal clock tells them when that is. If I have to get them in for unscheduled events (V E T) etc, either rattling a Dreamies bag, or scrunching the bag with their favourite dried food works, also, just banging on the window lets them know we are about.

gunnersgold · 14/06/2022 22:03

Train them to come to treats .. I trained mine to come to ' boys come ' and shakes the treats .. you can do this in the house as you shake it and say at the same time .. then as they come you give them individually and say it at the same time .. mine grasped it in the first day . I can call them out the front door and they will come straight away from wherever they are .

CalpolOnToast · 14/06/2022 22:03

One of mine will come in for treats, the other will actively hide if he knows we want him in!

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 14/06/2022 22:04

Whycantibetangy · 14/06/2022 21:24

I generally just clang the food bowl and shout ‘creatures’ out the back door and they soon come running

I like this, I'm going to try it tomorrow

Well they probably recognise your voice op and chances are they'll know the word food too

Tbh my Mr rigby knows his name but will not come in for me unless he decides he wants to so you might find they ignore you whatever you do, especially while the weather is warm

CoastalWave · 14/06/2022 22:08

Cat proof your garden then they'll have the benefit of the outdoors, and you'll have the benefit of knowing that they're safe. Win win.

I can't believe we still think it's normal to chuck cats out once they're 9months old. You wouldn't dream of chucking a cockerpoo or a golden retriever out in the street saying off you go have fun come back when you're hungry.

ReviewingTheSituation · 14/06/2022 22:11

Ours can hear the rustling of a cat food pouch from quite a distance! Nothing else works. That doesn't always work, TBH. If she doesn't want to come in, she won't come. So if we're going on holiday, or to the vet, she has to be shut in the night before to be sure she'll be around when we need her to be!

hugoagogo · 14/06/2022 22:13

I have always made a the cat noise when feeding, then they associate it with food and come home.

titchy · 14/06/2022 22:14

CoastalWave · 14/06/2022 22:08

Cat proof your garden then they'll have the benefit of the outdoors, and you'll have the benefit of knowing that they're safe. Win win.

I can't believe we still think it's normal to chuck cats out once they're 9months old. You wouldn't dream of chucking a cockerpoo or a golden retriever out in the street saying off you go have fun come back when you're hungry.

Why wouldn't you let a dog have free roam of your garden? Confused

Original poster
ShakespearesSisters · 15/06/2022 06:58

Thanks for all your suggestions, definitely not deaf as they respond to other noises.
Just if you talk to them no reaction whatsoever. I thought they would at least recognise my voice, but they don't even flinch. All my previous cats have come, or ears prick if they heard their name.
No breakfast for them this morning then and a brief time outside after the school run. Fingers crossed 🤞

OP posts:
artisanbread · 15/06/2022 07:07

I have never called for any of my cats. They just come in by themselves!

statetrooperstacey · 15/06/2022 07:15

You’ve kept them in for 6 months so they shouldn’t go far. Just make sure you don’t carry them outside , it interferes with their scent trail. They’ll come home.

trevthecat · 15/06/2022 07:18

My boy is 9 and doesn't care about his name. He does know my voice though so will come if I call out absolutely anything!

TheSummerPalace · 15/06/2022 07:26

Cats can learn English - we taught ours the word “Treats!”Their pupils dilate, as soon as they hear it.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 15/06/2022 07:27

They know their names, they're just ignoring you 🤣

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 15/06/2022 07:30

frydae · 14/06/2022 21:58

I have never in my life called a cat back in. They just do what they want.

They could well know their names already but they are choosing to ignore you OP 😂

DontKeepTheFaith · 15/06/2022 07:48

Dcat does sort of respond to her name but really it’s just my voice and she completely ignores me when outside unless she wants to come in anyway🤣

Shaking dried food is all that works and even that is hit and miss.

Dcat also responds to Baby Girl and shitbag so I’m under no real illusion she really recognizes her name😻😻

Whitehorsegirl · 15/06/2022 08:01

Have you given them long names? Sometimes he cats will respond to a short sound/word better. I got an adult rescue cat and kept the name they had given her at the shelter for consistancy but she totally ignored that...then I gave her a little nickname and she responded to that. Cats...

But seriously check with the vet if they don't have hearing problems and if in doubt as suggested just shake their dry food. They usually will respond to that sound!

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 15/06/2022 08:44

We don't call ours in, they go in and out as they please. They know their names but they would never deign to come when called.

Selttan · 15/06/2022 08:45

My outdoor girl responded more to tone than what words we used.

Although puss, puss used to work a lot.

AnneElliott · 15/06/2022 08:52

Mine come to a whistle - it does mean food though so we have to give them something when they turn up!

I'm pretty sure they k ow what their names are but they don't respond unless they feel like it!

user1471538283 · 15/06/2022 12:51

I kind of do a clicking noise that encourages our two especially if there are dreamies.

I hope they recognise their names and the word baby but I think they just recognise our voices.

Original poster
ShakespearesSisters · 15/06/2022 21:37

They got a bit of free time outside this morning. Starved of breakfast I thought rattling the dreamies and calling would do the trick. They did eventually return but I don't think they even recognised the shake of the dreamies and weren't that interested in eating them either. But, the positive is they came back.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 15/06/2022 21:52

Mine usually reappear if they hear the pantry door being opened. They know their names but have also been known to respond to "come along you murdering little sods". 😁

HMSSophia · 15/06/2022 22:02

They recognise your voice. But more seriously, you need to sit them down and explain 10pm is bedtime - it's come in, dreamies, lovely stroke and lights out. You need to get them in a routine just like a baby. My two appear just as the evening weather is on tv, like a pair of fucking headteachers, "it's bed time, Dreamie us up and off you pop" like clockwork.
Don't feed treats any other time than bed time.