Have you ever tried to call your cat only to have them ignore you? If this is the case, you are not alone! Many cat owners have had the same agony of trying and failing to capture their furry friend’s attention.
But why do cats appear to ignore our pleas and requests? While it may seem that they do not care as much as we would like them to, there are several reasons why cats frequently do not come when called.
In this blog post, we’ll look at probable causes for this phenomenon; keep reading to find out more!
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Why won’t cats come when called?
There are a few major explanations to consider when attempting to determine why cats do not come when called.
No link between the call and the award
Cats are autonomous creatures that do not often respond to commands in the same way that dogs do. They have a natural drive for self-preservation and will often ignore us if we try to summon them for something they consider unpleasant or uncomfortable, such as bathing or going to the vet.
As a result, it’s critical to provide positive reinforcement while calling your cat and to call at times when there is an expectation of reward – whether it’s goodies, petting sessions, or verbal praise!
If cats are repeatedly rewarded for coming over after being called, they may associate their name with having positive experiences, which may encourage more frequent reactions from our feline companions!
Inadequate training
Another reason cats may not come when called is a lack of proper training. Even if a cat is bribed with treats or toys in exchange for coming over after being asked, this does not guarantee that the animal understands what you’re asking them to do – mainly because most cats are never professionally trained on how to respond when their name is called!
One technique to help create this behavior is to use a specific sound or word every time we call our pet and reward them with something special once they arrive at your side.
With constant practice and reinforcement like this, your feline buddy should eventually start remembering these commands more effortlessly, making summoning them much easier than previously!
Concerns about one’s health
Health concerns may be one of the reasons why cats do not answer when called. Cats that are in pain or otherwise ill will often refuse to come when called since it is too physically and emotionally exhausting for them.
Similarly, suppose a cat has hearing or vision problems. In that case, they may simply not hear you calling out their name, which means that no matter how much positive reinforcement we provide, our feline friends may have some difficulty coming over!
Suppose your pet appears lethargic despite being given goodies immediately after being told. In that case, it may indicate that something else is wrong, so make sure you take the necessary procedures (e.g., seeing the vet) to ensure adequate care of your cherished animal partner!
Anxiety or fear
Finally, cats, like humans, can experience fear and anxiety. If they’ve had a poor or unpleasant encounter in the past, they may have associated your calls with that incident.
For example, suppose you take your cat to the vet frequently but never treat them afterwards for behaving nicely during these visits. In that case, our feline companions may gradually associate their name being called out as something negative rather than positive!
As a result, when attempting to elicit more frequent responses from our beloved pets, we must ensure that we not only provide treats after summoning them but also create an environment in which there is no expectation of anything unpleasant occurring shortly after that, so that all interactions remain pleasant experiences for both parties involved!
How to Train Your Cat to Respond When Called
It can be challenging to get your cat to come when you call. However, training your cat to come on command is possible, and with a few essential steps, you can have your cat coming to your call in no time.
Consistently use a specific sound or word
If you’re looking for ways to get your feline buddy to respond more consistently, one method is to use a specific sound or word each time we summon our pet – this helps cats become more aware of their names because repetition is vital!
For example, saying “Kitty” in an enticing manner whenever we require our furry companion will ensure that he/she learns accustomed to not only hearing but also comprehending what it means when its master calls out his/her name.
When done correctly (and in conjunction with positive reinforcement after arrival), eventually just repeating these few words should motivate most cats to race over, ready to collect whatever reward awaits him/her at the end destination!
Reward your kitty when it comes
Aside from using a consistent sound or word, another way to get our cats’ attention is to reward them each time they do as instructed – this type of positive reinforcement helps establish an association between being summoned and receiving pleasant experiences, which should further motivate any feline friend to respond even faster than before!
For example, offering small snacks after running over upon request may be sufficient motivation for some cats, whereas others may require different incentives such as verbal praise (“Good kitty!,” extended petting session(s), or playing their favorite game; whatever works best for you and/or your pets, make sure that these rewards are given out without fail so that eventually he/she better understands what action is required whenever hearing his/her name being uttered a second time.
Get your cat used to arriving when called in low-stress situations
Another fantastic idea for encouraging our cats to respond more readily is to have them practice coming over whenever their names are said, even if no food or reward is waiting at the end – this helps build a habit because repetition is so important here!
We may attempt some “low-stress” settings where there aren’t many other things competing for our attention, such as during nap time when both individuals involved have nothing else to do.
Or perhaps just after dinner, when everyone’s full bellies mean nobody has all that much energy available, making summoning him/her simpler than before!
Be patient with your cat and don’t force it to come if it’s uncomfortable
Last but not least, remember that cats are still animals at heart, no matter how domesticated they appear; this means that we must always be patient when trying out any training session like this one because forcing our feline friends to do something could easily backfire on us as well (i.e., making them more fearful/anxious instead)!
This means allowing him/her to take their sweet time coming over upon hearing his/her name and not getting upset if nothing happens right away because, eventually, even the slowest learners should start understanding what’s expected from them moving forward, which will only benefit both parties involved once all is said and done here today!
Check with your veterinarian to see if any medical issues may prevent them from coming
Finally, if all else fails, don’t forget about our feline companions’ physical well-being because anything may be wrong behind the scenes (e.g., hearing/vision loss).
In this case, scheduling regular visits with local vets should help identify any underlying problems so that appropriate treatment plans can be implemented right away – doing so ensures that both parties involved remain healthy and happy moving forward while also giving owners peace of mind that their pets are receiving the best care possible here today!
Conclusion
In summary, cats frequently refuse to come when called for various reasons, including a lack of association between the call and a reward, health difficulties, or even fear/anxiety.
With this in mind, by constantly using specific noises or words while calling our dogs and delivering prizes after they arrive, we can assist in developing good associations with being summoned, encouraging more frequent responses from them in the future!
Furthermore, remembering not to push too hard on these training sessions while scheduling regular checkups with local vets should ensure that any underlying difficulties are addressed immediately without us having to worry much here today.
As a result, understanding why cats don’t respond when their names are mentioned is critical if you want to get the most out of every interaction shared by both parties involved, so never forget the importance of spending time getting to know your furry friend before anything else happens next then now would seem like the best course of action to take here ever since first place anyway!