Cats apparently recognize their own names. They're still going to ignore you.

Cats are never given the respect they deserve. Dogs get all the credit for being "smart," evidenced (as dog people will tell you) by their ability to "shake" for treats, play fetch, and, above all else, respond to their own names.

Well, cat people, here is your vindication: Fluffy apparently knows her own name, too.

In a study released Thursday, psychologists at Sophia University in Tokyo determined that "domestic cats appear to recognize the familiar sound of their own names and can distinguish them from other words," Science News reported, citing a paper published in Scientific Reports. Researchers made the discovery after asking cat owners to say four nouns of similar length to their cat's name, followed by their cat's actual name. "Cats gradually lost interest with each noun, but then reacted strongly to their names — moving their ears, head or tail, shifting their hind paw position or, of course, meowing," Science News writes.

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Even more surprising was that cats don't just respond when their owners call their names. When strangers said the cat's name, the cat would still react.

Of course, there is a big catch, as any adoring cat owner can attest: Just because a cat understands her own name does not mean she is going to stop ignoring you.