Fetching felines: a survey of cat owners on the diversity of cat (Felis catus) fetching behaviour.

ABSTRACT: Domesticated animals are famous for the ease with which they can accommodate to diverse human environments and roles, but less well-studied is the ease with which domestic animals can manipulate their human caregivers to their own ends. For example, domestic animals may start and end their play behaviour with humans at times of their choice. Here we present the results of a survey of 924 cat owners who report fetching behaviour in 1154 cats. The overwhelming majority (94.4%) of these owners report that fetching emerged in the absence of explicit training. Fetching was primarily first noticed when the cats were less than one year old (n = 701) or 1-7 years old (n = 415). Cats initiated and terminated fetching bouts more often than did their owners. Thus, cats who fetch demonstrate independe

SUBMITTER: Forman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10721921 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature