That’s the question posed by a team of Japanese scientists from Sophia University in Tokyo. According to their findings, while there’s no evidence cats attach any real meaning to what we say, generally they react when they hear their name. Perhaps they equate it with something nice (catnip), or something bad (trip to the vet); and hearing it so often makes it special. My lovely moggie would always respond to his name (Sweepie) with a little miaow. Was this because he knew what he was called; he liked the name we’d chosen, or he just fancied a tasty treat? Or was it just a game he liked to play – and win?