You train a cat just like a dog. You have to make listening to you the absolute most wonderful thing in the whole wide world. Dogs are easy for the most part- feed them and they'e yours for life. Cats, not so much. You need something, whether it's food, treats, toys, or whatever, that your cat cannot resist no matter what. Call him when he can see what you have, and as soon as he comes to you he gets his reward. If he doesn't come scrambling towards you, then whatever you have to offer isn't good enough. It must be absolutely irresistible. Once he gets the idea that coming to you when called= awesome reward, he'll start coming when called all the time. Once he is completely reliable with that, offer the reward only 75% of the time. Keep decreasing the % of the time you give the reward gradually until you get to the point when he comes when called without the promise of rewards. Good luck with that. Most people give up when their cat just isn't interested in everything they have to offer.

I give my Sofie lots of attention and love, and when I do, I say her name. I've done that with all my cats all my life, and they always come when called.

I always call my cats with a "whispering" sound. I go "psh-psh" and they come running. Food helps train them. Once they associate a sound with food/or a treat, they'll behave better.

I sure haven't found anything that's irrestible for Shadow. Even when offered food she will be indifferent. Sometimes in the AM when I'm still in bed she will come if I motion with my hand but that is because she wants me to chase. She'll jump on the bed and I'll scratch her head until she jumps off and flips her tail waiting for me to play her game of chase but it has to be her call. Cat loves me only on her terms even though she always knows where I am. Sometimes I will call her and she will answer or talk to me, other times she will just stare at me from her hiding place. I know she's there because when I leave shemay follow me.

Both cats come when they are called. When I call one I rarely get both. To get both I have to call "kitty kitty kitty". Unless they think it is about food, in which case they both come just in case LOLOLOL.

If they are in eyesight, I do this thing that seems irresistable to almost every cat I have met. I sort of rub my fingers together. Kind of like snapping but making only a faint whispery rubbing noise. I have even gotten strays to come to me with the gesture. I can't always touch them, but they will come closer.

You could investigate this link. The process works for dogs, birds, cats, horses...

Here is a link that might be useful: Karen Pryor clicker training

Just like the old Pounce commercial, my kitty comes when I shake the can of treats and call his name. If he ever gets lost outside I will be walking around shaking that can for sure.

Try opening a can of tuna. Mine come running from anywhere in the house at the sound of a can opener!

I do what meghane said but with the cats I always give them something, treat reduction works with the dogs and horses but goats and cats will untrain at the first dissapointment. My dil gave me a card with the saying:
Cats understand everything you say
but they don't give a dam'

Most of ours have come to their name but we have had a couple who were the typical, "Leave a message and I'll get back to ya" type of cats. Bob and Moose come running when I call either of them (don't wanna miss out on anything) but Poppy is just.....well he's Poppy, my hubby truly thought that he was deaf for a long time.

Our cat knows her name, looks at us when called but makes sure we know that IF she decides to come, it is purely her decision to do so.

Interesting thread, Vacuum!

Of the three cats that own us, only Simba comes when called. Nikita responds with a flick of her tail; she's also called Ghost bcoz after I've looked everywhere for her and given up, I turn around and there she is, sitting just behind me - but not always.

As for Max, well it depends on his mood. But he's a great help if I need to call Nikita (or a rescued kitten staying temporarily with us) urgently, I ask him where the kitty is, he immediately goes looking for it and brings it to me. I've never rewarded him with treats for this, but from now on, I will :-)

Our country bit_of_a_lad male adored the sound of whistling. Found out by accident when no dogs responded but O. arrived full pelt, stared in the whistler's face and purred madly. He continued to always respond. If in sight, I could attract him by getting lower down and holding my arm up. (I can't whistle.) He'd come at a sideways canter, jump on my knees and then my arm and give it a good friendly kicking! He was one quirky cat. Grey with white trim, and the softest short coat. Never occurred to me to reward, I think this one's integrity would have been insulted :)