Cats Are Playing a Whole Lot More Fetch Than They Get Credit For

Fetching is n’t just for slobbery dogtooth , new research reveals . go over thousands of pet owners , scientist have found that a declamatory nonage of cats do like to play fetch at least some of the clip . That say , dogs are still much more likely to go and chase after after a miniature or stick .

Scientists at Purdue University conducted the inquiry , hoping to quantify our pets ’ aptitude for fetching . While dogs are considered prolific fetchers , there has n’t been much research on how common the behavior rightfully is in the cuspid world , according to the investigator . Similarly , while recent enquiry hasfoundthat some cats will fetch to their eye ’s content , it ’s not clear how often this happens .

To better understand this phenomenon , the investigator canvass data point from two long - lead inquiry projects involving cat and dog owners severally : the Fe - BARQ and C - BARQ . As part of these projects , owners are given extensive surveys that cut into into their pets ’ demeanor , including how they like to encounter .

A cat with a stick in its mouth.

A cat with a stick in its mouth.© jade71301 via Getty

Based on data from over 8,000 bozo owner , the scientists found that about 41 % of quat exhibited classic fetch behavior . Some owner used the countersign “ fetch ” directly to describe their cat ’s playing style in their responses , while others instead mention that their cats like to “ call up thrown objects or toys . ” Dogs were still the champs at fetching , though . base on response from 78,000 andiron possessor , the researchers determine 78 % of dogs would play fetch regularly .

“ The data from these two surveys reveal that fetching behavior may be more common in cats than antecedently figure and furnish , to our noesis , the first estimate of bring behavior prevalence among dog , ” the investigator drop a line in their composition , publishedWednesday in the journalPLOS - One .

The researchers also found plenty of similarity and remainder between bring in cats and dogs . convey tended to be more common among both cats and heel if they were younger , male person , and/or in in general skillful health , for example . But whereas fetching was link with better overall trainability in dog ( the better rail they could be , the more likely they fetch ) , hombre were more likely to get if they were generally more playful and active , as well as if they subsist indoors .

Cheddar

Professional non-fetcher, Cheddar ‘Chiz’ Cara. © Ed Cara

Fetching was meet throughout all computerized tomography and dog breeds , but some stick out . Burmese , Siamese , and Tonkinese cats were more common fetchers , for representative , and the research worker observe that these cats grow from populations take to and isolated to eastern Asia early on during computed axial tomography domestication , suggesting that their erotic love of fetch may be genetically influenced . Among dogs , retriever , labrador , and other breed breed to hunt or move farm animal were more likely to fetch .

The author hypothesize that , while fetching can resemble natural hunting behaviors in both animate being , it ’s more probable to be connected to their sexual love of playing . bring might also be one way that both cats and Canis familiaris form and reward the attachment they make with their humans . Either way , there ’s plenty more to be learn about our furry felid and cuspid friends .

“ We trust that the study eviscerate more attention to fetching behavior in CT — who are often portrayed as self-governing or aloof ! In fact , they can be very social and this is a nice example of one way they are synergistic with human race , ” said lead discipline researcher Mikel Delgado , in aninterviewwith PLOS , publishing firm of the study .

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