I once read that cats fully understand that we want their attention when we call them. They just choose to ignore it.

I can independently confirm. My cats definitely know their names, and their ears will perk up when called. But most of the time they can’t be bothered to turn their heads towards the sound, there’s no chance they’ll get up to engage unless they hear a treat bag crinkle with it lol

Cats, like daemons, have many names only one of which is their true name, and curiously cat’s true names usually sound a lot like a treat bag cringle or the sound of a cat food can being opened.