Currently both of my cats respond to their names and selected phrases
like "din-din time" & other phrases they associate with corresponding
activities - "night-night," "playtime." When I say "pick it up," they
both fly in different directions usually. When they don't run away,
you can be sure that they DO want you to pick them up.

LarryW

Absolutely.

When I have been out, mine will come running to greet me when she hears
the outside door opening.

No matter where I am in the house, she will come running when I call.
However, sometimes she plays tricks on me. I will call... no Molly. I
will find out a few minutes later that she was hiding out behind a chair
or something with a head peeking out looking right at me as though to
say... "whatdaya want? I'm right here!"

l  i  a  r

Basically, no. If my calling happens when they'd otherwise like to be
with me, they'll come, but they can be across the room from me and not
come over if I call them. They have to perceive some immediate
advantage first.

Some examples of calling that work:

When I come home, they usually meet me at the door having heard the car
pull up. If they happen not to have heard (eg asleep) they will come
running when I call. Usually at home they gravitate to the same floor
of the house as me, but will sometimes be separated for awhile if they
fall asleep and I move on. If I call then, they'll come. Any calling
that involves waving a favorite toy usually works.

Calling that almost never works:
Cat already elsewhere in the same room as me, and me not offering any
sign of special treats or attention, just calling name.

Calling that never works:
Cat in the middle of doing something fun, naughty or both. Only a big
"No" works then, and that doesn't count as calling them.

A cat I used to have, named Thackeray, would call me. He was an
indoor/outdoor cat and would always give a loud "meaow" when he first
came in - it was a particular meaow that meant me. I'd call back
"Thackie-cat" from whereever I was in the house and he'd come running.
In warm weather, he'd usually be out when I was at work, and he
definately knew the sound of my car and would come to the front steps
when he heard me coming home. While I had him, I sold that car and got
a new one and he looked reproachful at me for tricking him with a
different car. It took him about 3 days to learn the new car sound.

One of my cats does.  He is very good about that.  I encourage the behavior
by always giving him a reason to come running.  A big hug, a lot of petting,
cat treats.  He always knows something fun will be waiting for him.

The other cat - he looks at me and thinks "yeah right pal, dream on."

Paul

Both of mine will look over to see if there is any reason they should
come.

However, I've been training them using a clicking sound (from my mouth)
whenever I feed them or give them treats -- If I do that, they both come
running (And they always get something, either treats or positive
attention, but usually treats)

Absolutely.  A lot of it has to do with the voice inflection, however.  If I
simply say, "Calypso, come here," in a normal, direct voice, she ignores me.
But if I raise the pitch of my voice and musically call her name in the way
in which she is familiar, she comes right away.

Mike