Scientists Find Out Cats Know Their Names; They Just Choose to Ignore You
Cats have a reputation for being independent, selective, and just a little bit aloof, which is exactly why this latest research is getting so much attention.
A study from scientists in Japan suggests that cats can recognize human words, including their own names, even if they do not always bother to react. Atsuko Saito and colleagues at Sophia University in Tokyo tested 16 to 34 cats across four experiments, using recordings of either an owner’s voice or a stranger’s voice while reciting a list of nouns and the cat’s name.
The results point to a familiar truth for cat owners everywhere: they may know perfectly well when you are calling them, and simply decide not to care.
Many cats reacted to the words being read but gradually lost interest. However, on average, the group of cats perked up again when they heard their own name.
That is very on brand for cats.
So, if they do know their names, why do they choose to ignore them most of the time?
Well, as it turns out, that is just cats being cats!
“Cats are not evolved to respond to human cues. They will communicate with humans when they want. That is the nature of the cat,”
Still think your cat is aloof? See how one cat picked a favorite human.
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