A new study finds fetching behavior is surprisingly common in domestic cats, and that it can be generally predicted by age, sex, habitat security level (indoors versus outdoors) and the occurrence of bringing behaviour specifically between a cat and its owner.
Feline Fetchers: The Surprising Truth
Traditionally, fetching has been considered one of the hallmark behaviors of domesticated dogs, however groundbreaking new discoveries from Purdue University might have just debunked that notion. Published in PLOS ONE, the new research reveals that as many as 41% of cat owners have reported their pets engaging with fetching, more than has previously been recognised.
The researchers examined millions of pieces of data from thousands of cat and dog owners, and their discovery indicates playful cats are more frequent than people may have realised. Interestingly, the study found that some breeds of cat including Burmese, Siamese and Tonkinese had an inclination to fetch which may be explained by them having a genetic lineage back to the semi-domesticated cats of the Far East.
The Fetching Furballs: Factoria Hunters
Researchers explored the factors that influence fetching behavior in cats—as well as dogs. Similarly, they identified that more active and playful cats are likely to fetch as well as cats who live mostly indoors. That said, the domestic setting and general playfulness of a cat can still be factors in how this behavior develops.
In a study of dogs, fetching appeared to be closely associated with general trainability. Dogs that were developed for it due to herding/hunting breeds (Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies and English Cocker Spaniel), therefore the retrieval behavior seemed more dominant in these breeds. This result fits with the idea that fetching may stem from these animals’ natural hunting and scavenging behaviors.
Strangely, they also discovered fetch rates were lower in females, older individuals and those with medical conditions, for both cats and dogs. It appears that what we do know is leans on the influence of age, gender, and general well-being as considerations to take into function when it comes to pet play.
Conclusion
The research debunks the common belief that fetching is just for dogs, and instead it shows us that a good percentage of cats fetch as well — something most are not aware of. The finding underscores evolutionary accommodations and common behaviors of companion cats and dogs in which parts of the domestication process drive juvenilization in these species to promote the trait into adulthood, such as fetching. According to the researchers themselves, more research on linking hunting and play during fetching process in both cat(s) and dog(s) so as to tell us more information about animal behavior.
