DO CATS PLAY FETCH? HERE IS WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS

While many are familiar with dogs playing fetch, cats can get in on the action too. Despite their distinct hunting and play styles, fetching seems to blend elements of both predatory and social behavior in both species.

Although cats and dogs have different domestication backgrounds and natural instincts, they share several similarities. Both are predators, live closely with humans, and can engage in rich social interactions with us.

In our recent study, we discovered that over 40% of cats in our survey participated in fetching, compared to nearly 80% of dogs. We also explored various reasons for this behavior, including playfulness, domestication selection, and learning influences.

Scant research

Our research group took notice when British researchers published a 2023 study examining key characteristics of fetching in cats. They surveyed 924 owners of fetching cats and found that these cats retrieved a variety of objects, including pet toys, crumpled paper, pens, bottle caps, and even shoes.

Most intriguingly, the cats generally weren’t trained to fetch; they exhibited this behavior spontaneously. They preferred to initiate the fetch game themselves, often bringing a toy to their human rather than waiting for the human to throw it.

Prior to this study, scientific attention on fetching behavior in cats was limited. However, since the review focused solely on cats that already fetched, it didn’t allow for comparisons with those that didn’t. This led us to wonder if certain traits in the cats themselves influenced their likelihood to fetch.

What about dogs? Fetching is one of the most popular play activities between dogs and humans. Many dogs have been bred specifically to assist with hunting by retrieving prey. We anticipated finding extensive research on fetching behavior in dogs, but were surprised to discover that it has rarely been explored in studies of dog behavior.

Fluffy, get the ball!

To address this gap, our team collaborated with University of Pennsylvania researcher James Serpell, who created two survey-based tools to evaluate dog and cat behavior. The surveys include fundamental questions about each animal’s breed, age, and living environment, followed by numerous inquiries about their behavior, covering traits such as predatory instincts, sociability with humans, activity levels, and fearfulness. Both surveys also featured questions about fetching.

Using the survey results, we analyzed data from thousands of cat and dog owners to investigate the prevalence of fetching and identify the characteristics of pets and their environments that are likely to predict this behavior.

We discovered that fetching was much more common in cats than we had expected, with over 40% of cat owners reporting that their cats “sometimes, usually, or always” fetched. For context, we also provided the first estimate of fetching behavior in dogs, revealing that nearly 78% of dogs in our data were reported to fetch.

Interestingly, male animals were more likely to fetch in both species. In contrast, older animals and those with health issues were less likely to engage in fetching. Additionally, for both cats and dogs, sharing a home with a dog decreased the likelihood of fetching.

We also noted breed differences, particularly among dogs. Breeds known for being responsive to human commands and showing interest in toys—such as German shepherds, golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers—were among the most likely to fetch. Conversely, hounds and livestock guardian breeds were among those least likely to engage in this behavior.

Fetching was linked to trainability in dogs, regardless of breed, suggesting the significance of early selection for dogs as human helpers, well before the formal development of dog breeds.

While there are far fewer cat breeds than dog breeds and our study included fewer purebred cats, we still observed breed differences among cats. Siamese, Tonkinese, Burmese, and Bengals were the most likely to fetch.

We also found a correlation between fetching and activity level: Cats that were more inclined to run, jump, explore new items in their environment, and initiate play with their owners were also more likely to engage in fetching.

From hunting to playing catch

The origins of fetching behavior in both species are rooted in their hunting practices. Cats are stalk-and-rush hunters, meaning they stealthily approach their prey and pounce at the right moment. In contrast, dogs are considered pursuit predators that chase prey over greater distances.

The development of dog breeds has modified their typical predatory behavior sequence, which includes orienting, eyeing, stalking, chasing, grabbing, and killing. Breeds specifically developed for heightened “chase” or “grab-bite” behaviors—such as pointers and retrievers—are more likely to fetch and less likely to complete the sequence with a “kill-bite.”

Both cats and dogs also exhibit the behavior of carrying prey away from the kill site, which may help explain how fetching behavior has evolved.

While cats are often seen as independent and aloof, recent studies reveal that they can form attachments to humans, pick up on social cues, and even recognize their owner’s voice. We hope our study encourages a greater understanding of cats’ capacity for loving relationships with humans, particularly when they are well socialized and provided with a safe, enriched environment. This includes fetching, if your cat is inclined to participate.

Despite the differences between dogs and cats, it’s delightful to see them converge on a similar behavior—fetching. This behavior also underscores the impact of the human-animal relationship. Clearly, humans play a significant role in fetching behavior, even if dogs and cats simply see us as the ones who make the toy move for them to chase.