While it’s typically associated with dogs, a recent report reveals that 4 out of 10 pet cats also enjoy playing fetch with their owners, according to Mikel Delgado from Purdue University, US, and his research team, as published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on September 4, 2024.
Dogs are infamous for their fetching habits, yet some cats also partake in this behavior. The act of fetching may stem from the natural hunting instincts present in both cats and dogs, but it’s not entirely clear how domestication has influenced this playful behavior in our pet animals. The researchers gathered information from online surveys involving cat (Felis catus) and dog (Canis familiaris) owners between the years 2015 and 2023, which included inquiries regarding their pets’ fetching tendencies.
Out of more than 8,000 cat owners surveyed, a striking 41% indicated that their cats would sometimes, often, or always retrieve toys or items they tossed, a figure notably higher than previous assumptions. The study revealed that cats are more inclined to exhibit fetching behaviors if they are generally more energetic and playful, particularly if they reside indoors. While cats of any breed may occasionally fetch, it’s more prevalent among Burmese, Siamese, and Tonkinese breeds, which originated from cats taken to the East during early domestication, rendering them genetically different from other breeds.
Among nearly 74,000 dog owners surveyed, 78% acknowledged that their dogs would sometimes, often, or always try to fetch sticks, balls, or various objects. The research established that dogs inclined to fetch often score higher on overall trainability. Though fetching behavior was noted across most dog breeds, breeds such as Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, and English Cocker Spaniels were particularly prone to this activity. Breeds developed for herding livestock or hunting companions are more inclined to engage in fetching than others. In both species, fetching is less common among females, older pets, and those with health issues.
This study marks the first assessment of the prevalence of fetching in dogs and indicates that cats are more likely to fetch than was previously believed. While fetching resembles instinctual hunting behavior, the authors suggest that it is more aligned with play rather than predation. The process of domestication has favored the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood, which might also apply to playful fetching behaviors that assisted wild animals in learning to hunt.
The authors conclude: “Despite the numerous differences between cats and dogs in behavior and their journey as companion animals, it is intriguing that many of them engage in the fascinating behavior of fetching! We aspire that our research will motivate further investigation into the connections among fetching, play, hunting, and social interactions in both cats and dogs.”
