Can You Rename An Older Cat?

Cats are adorable and sweet creatures but could sometimes be stubborn and untrainable. With its given name, older cats could have a hard time responding to their new name than younger cats. Could you rename an older cat especially if you rescued them from the animal shelter?

The Answer Is Yes.

Even if a cat has had a name for a long time, it’s okay for you to come up with a new name if you don't like it. You can rename a cat at any age with things that you need to do.

Here's what you need to do if you've decided to rename an older cat.

1. Give food or treats every time you call its name

Offering food or treat is the number thing that you should do to make your cat respond to a name when you call it. Even if your cat outgrew its name, it will respond if you give it positive associations to its name. It could be a positive experience or a reward.

Cats and any other pets will seek attention especially when it's hungry. Giving it food is a perfect opportunity to teach, recognize and encode their name to their system. The positive association with their names will make them responsive in time.

Cats will pay attention if you have something they need. Try calling its name before you give meals and make use of a calm and friendly voice every time you call its new name.

2. Resist scolding your cat at the moment

You need a lot of patience this time as your pet is going through a lot of adjustments to your new home. Resist the urge of raising your voice or scolding your pet if it has done something wrong. It might associate its name with negative emotions and might not respond the next time you call it.

Always associate positive emotions so that it will recall the positive experience. Your cat will soon become very responsive when you call its name.

3. Choose a shorter and more recognizable name

Choose a name that is easy to recognize. Make it short and pleasant to the ears like the names Happy, Snickers, Fluffy, Lucy, or Charlie. Usually, cats respond to the sound of "sh, s, ch, or ff" in names. Never confuse your cat by giving it different names from time to time, especially with older cats.

Conclusion

Your cat could be struggling at the moment and it may not understand what you are trying to do. Give a little time and patience to make it easier for them to remember their name. Resist the urge to raise your voice, especially when calling their name. This may scare them and you might have a difficult time calling them again. Remember that cats are very sensitive to sounds and emotions.

Always give your cat a positive experience to make it familiar with your calm presence so that your cat will approach you with ease every time you will call its name. Soon, your cat will recall its new name due to the positive experience that you are showing.