If you make a rustling sound with a piece of paper when you call your kitty, she will respond much more quickly! Why? Because she thinks she hears the sound of a mouse moving through some tall grass. Or a grasshopper, baby bird or something similar. This is what makes her such a great hunter.

A cats’s hearing is attuned to this sort of a sound. It is a survival mechanism. A hunting cat has to be able to hear the smallest of animals, and her hearing has evolved to allow for this. You can use this to your advantage in training your cat to come to you when you need her presence. I think a lot of cat owners have already discovered this behavior for themselves, but it’s nice to know it has been so cleverly researched!