Fetching in cats is more common than previously thought, researchers find [View all]
https://phys.org/news/2024-09-cats-common-previously-thought.html
Although it is more common in dogs, 4 in 10 pet cats also choose to play fetch with their owners, report Mikel Delgado from Purdue University, US, and colleagues in PLOS ONE.
Dogs are well-known for playing fetch, but some cats also engage in fetching behavior. Fetching may have its roots in the natural hunting behaviors of cats and dogs, but how it was shaped by domestication into the playful actions we see in our pets today is unclear. Researchers analyzed data from online surveys of cat (Felis catus) and dog (Canis familiaris) owners conducted between 2015 and 2023, which included questions about the fetching behavior of their pets.
Among over 8,000 cat owners surveyed, 41% reported that their cat would sometimes, frequently or always retrieve toys or objects that they threwsignificantly higher than previous estimates. They found that cats are more likely to display fetching behavior if they are generally more active and playful, and if they live indoors.
Although cats of all breeds sometimes engage in fetching, it is more common in Burmese, Siamese, and Tonkinese cats. These breeds originated from cats that were taken to the Far East early during cat domestication, making them genetically distinct from other cat breeds.