You know the saying: Dogs come when you call them. Cats take a message, and they may get back with you. People who believe that simply haven't learned the right way to call their cat. Although you may find it easier to train a dog to come, when you've taught your kitten to come to his name, you've really accomplished something. Coming to you on command could save his life. If he accidentally escapes the house, you stand a much better chance of getting him back if you've trained him to come when you call. There are three rules to teaching a kitten to come to his name:

• He needs short name. A champion Persian with a name longer than his fur needs one shortened to one or two syllables that are easy for him to understand like Sam, Sammy, Bogie, or Groucho.
• Use the same name every time you call him. Your kitten may have a number of names, but when you want him to come to you, you need to be consistent. Don't call him Rudy and Buster and Buddy and Kitty and Precious. You know whom you're talking to, but the kitten doesn't. Stick with only one name.
• Make sure something pleasant happens whenever you call him. Don't call him, then give him a bath, medicate him, or drop him in a carrier to go to the vet. That teaches him that bad things happen when he hears that word. Instead, give him a treat, feed, him or play a game he really likes. Never use his name with discipline.