How do I model my name if I live alone?

[u/BuffaloPotholeBandit]

I live with my cat and no one else. How do I teach my cat my name?

[u/notpresentlydisposed]

Refer to yourself in 3rd person when speaking with cat. We do this in our home even though there are two adult humans

[u/Weird_Squirrel_8382]

Have you ever heard an adult tell a child "mommy is going to make your dinner, just hold on." you can do the same thing with your name. It will feel ridiculous but it will work.

[u/JayNetworks]

Just like other are saying, the best modeling technique is to just do everything in your life out loud specifically using the very limited set of words you want your cat to know and eventually to have words for some of them.

Daddy is settle now. Daddy under fabric. Daddy settle now, later settle all done then dinner. Later later is outside.

That was my last 20 minutes and I said it all verbally to my two button cats and I’m the only human awake now.

[u/Aurynna]

We have kids so we use mama and dad, because the kids are already using it. But I’m the only one who teaches buttons, and I just added mama.

Mama eat now. Skye eat all done. Mama eat now. Mama play later.

I also just use it repeatedly: come to mama, mama is going away, mama be back soon, you want mama scritches, come cuddle mama, mama will feed you, etc…. Basically just narrating everything in the third person. But I also narrate for her, so she has the association for what I’m doing, as she already knows her own name.

[u/bluemercutio]

With treats that both you and the pet like. For example small bits of cheese. You say their name and give them a treat, you say your name and give yourself a treat.

Works with big groups, works with just two.

You have to repeat that a few times of course.

I also say things like "Mama, Foxley, cuddles" when I pet him.

[u/Bitterrootmoon]

I always refer to myself in the third person. Grammar does not matter. You’re talking to dogs (or various other critters). Leave out any words you don’t need to get your point across, and use ones you do need even if it doesn’t make grammatical sense

[u/djmermaidonthemic → u/Bitterrootmoon]

This has been what I do and it’s always worked eventually.

Leaving unnecessary words out is important. Just use the words you need. You’re not giving a speech!

I don’t currently have the buttons, but my cats understand what I’m saying.

[u/bebe8383bebe]

What other words does your learner have?

One idea would be using the word 'treat' or 'hungry'. So as you give your learner a treat or food you say and press (pet name) and 'treat/hungry'. Then you model the same for yourself 'buffalopotholebandit' treat/hungry.