Study Shows Cats Can Be Just as Content Playing Fetch

A recent survey conducted by academics from Sussex and Northumbria universities has revealed that many cats enjoy playing fetch, much like dogs. The survey, which included 1,000 cat owners, highlighted the importance of keeping an open mind about the different forms of stimulation that cats might respond to. The researchers urged owners to consider the types of activities that could keep their cats happy and active. The study, published in the scientific journal Nature, found that many cats have an innate instinct to play and do not require training to engage in fetch. The researchers discovered that cats typically prefer to be in control of the game. Jemma Forman, a doctoral researcher at the University of Sussex School of Psychology, explained that cats who initiated their own fetching sessions tend to play more enthusiastically, with more retrievals and more frequent fetching sessions per month. This sense of control is beneficial for both the cat's welfare and the relationship with its owner. The survey collected data from 924 owners and 1,154 cats, both mixed-breed and purebred, to gain a better understanding of fetch behavior. It revealed that the majority of cats (94.4%) showed an instinctive ability to play fetch from a young age, whether it was toys or household items they were retrieving. Among purebred cats, Siamese (22.5%) were the most reported to engage in fetch, followed by Bengal (10%) and Ragdoll (7.5%). Dr. Elizabeth Renner, a co-author of the study and a psychology lecturer at Northumbria University, emphasized the significance of the findings by stating that very few owners explicitly trained their cats to play fetch. This suggests that the behavior is largely led by the cats themselves. The researchers advocated for owners to be attentive to their cats' play preferences, as not all cats may enjoy fetch, but those who do are likely to have their unique way of participating in the game.