Cats like to engage in playing fetch more than people realize. A 2024 study from researchers at Purdue University and the University of Pennsylvania found that 41% of cats fetch, compared with about 78% of dogs.
The researchers theorized that cats fetch because hunting and retrieving their kill is part of their predatory behavior, primarily the pursuit and capture of prey. When cats hunt, they carry prey to a safer place before they eat it. The research indicates that a cat’s natural tendency to carry prey is part of how they exhibit fetching behavior.
Can you train your cat to fetch? Another study from 2023 found that fetching is most successful when cats initiate the activity. According to the study, “Cats who fetch largely determine when they engage in fetching sessions and actively influence the play behavior of their owners.” In other words, cats like to be in control (which any cat parent knows!). Interestingly, the study found certain breeds were more likely to fetch; some of the top cat breeds that fetch are Abyssinians, Bengals, Siamese and Siberians.
So the next time you hear “go fetch”, don’t assume it’s for a dog!
