Can Cats Understand Words? How Many Words Can Cats Understand?

Your feline friend might not give you attention when you call their name, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your cat doesn’t recognize some significance in what you’re saying. But can cats understand words?

There is evidence that cats are aware of their pet parents’ communications (even if they choose to ignore you). And while cats will never fully grasp human language, you might be able to use pieces of language to communicate with your cat.

Below, experts weigh in on cats’ relationship to language and whether it’s worthwhile to train your cat to understand what you’re saying.

Can Cats Understand Words?

Experts have concluded that cats recognize their own name, and research from 2022 suggests cats also know the names of their fellow cat companions. But can they understand other words as well?

“I think that if cats can recognize the names of other cats, there is no reason they wouldn’t be able to recognize other words,” says Laura Cassiday, CCBC, owner of Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training in Baltimore. “I know my cats definitely know what ‘treat’ means!”

But this doesn’t mean cats actually grasp human language, says Kristiina Wilson, MA, CCBC, owner of Cattitude Adjustment, a cat behavior service. Instead, cats learn to understand words through something called associative concept training.

By using positive reinforcement such as treats, you can teach your cat to associate the sound of certain words with a specific activity. And by recording words onto pet buttons and associating the activity with a specific button, you can also teach your pet to “talk” to you.

For instance, you might be able to teach your cat to associate the word “food” with getting fed. And through button training, you could teach your cat to press a button that triggers the word “food.”  

“There’s no way to directly understand what they think it means,” Wilson says. However, by teaching your cat to attach meaning to cue words, you develop a way to communicate with your kitty—and you get to spend quality time with them in the process.

“Giving them a choice and giving them the ability to control their surroundings and ask for what they need is super helpful,” Wilson says.

How Many Words Can Cats Understand?

If it’s possible to teach cats to recognize words, you may have questions about the potential of associative concept training. Is it easy to teach? Which words work best? And how many words can cats understand? 

Unlike with dogs, there’s no conclusive research to indicate the maximum number of words a cat could learn to recognize. Cassiday notes she’s had cats who knew between 10 and 15 cue words.

Ultimately, the number of words you can teach your cat depends on how many cues you wish to use in daily life.

Common Words Cats Can Learn

Because cats learn words by associating a sound with an experience rather than by definition, there are really no rules about which words cats can and can’t learn. As long as you’re consistent with your training, you can teach your cat a word for almost any activity.

“They are very aware of cues that predict things happening,” Cassiday says. “So if you happen to say a word frequently before doing something they care about, like feeding them or giving them their medication, they’re going to learn it.”

Some common words that might be useful to teach your cat include:

• Play

• Catnip

• Treat

• Water

• Walk

• Off

Cassiday suggests avoiding negative cues like “no” or “stop,” which might be too complex for a cat to understand. “A better idea would be teaching the cue ‘off’ or ‘down’ if you don’t want them on the table,” she says.

Your body language and how you say each word matters too. “It's more about your tone and inflection rather than the exact right word,” Wilson says. 

How To Teach Your Cat New Words

Teaching a cat a new word takes time, but how much time depends on the cat and your training techniques. Cassiday says sometimes just saying the word each time you do the action is enough to create the association in your cat’s mind.

If you want to teach your cat to communicate with you using talk buttons, Wilson suggests modeling training, in which you demonstrate what you’d like your cat to do:

1. Pick a motivator to start with, like playing.

2. Push the corresponding button before you perform the behavior. Make sure your cat sees you do this.

3. In most cases, cats will begin to approach and push the button themselves. When they do, Wilson suggests using high-value reinforcers, like treats, to reward your cat for their behavior. 

“If they’re interested in doing this, they will make that association between the button push and the activity,” Wilson says. 

Clicker training can also help to teach your cat new words, but Wilson suggests starting with button training first, as it’s less of a learning curve.

She also says that not all cats want to train, and not all cats will make it obvious they understand you. Patience is key when working with a cat on a new skill.

Ultimately, your cat will appreciate any time you spend engaging with them, and doing so will strengthen your bond with your feline fur baby.