Go on Felix, fetch! Go on, fetch! No? Okay, never mind then. <\/p>
A new study investigated how cats prefer to play \u2013 and found that they want to be in control of when, where and how they play. While that may not surprise literally anyone who\u2019s ever met a cat, the study\u2019s findings reveal how you could encourage your cat to play fetch.<\/p>
The scientists found that cats initiated and ended games of fetch more frequently than their owners<\/a> \u2013 and, when they initiated the game, played for longer than if their owners initiated it.<\/p> Surprisingly, the cats actually played for longer when their owner ended the games. Together, these results suggest that \u2013 while cats seem to control the game of fetch \u2013 they will play for as long as they\u2019re allowed to.<\/p> Published in Nature Scientific Reports<\/em>, the study surveyed 924 cat owners who had cats that play fetch. Between them, these owners had observed fetching in 1,154 cats that they currently or previously owned.<\/p> The study found that cats that fetch usually have a preferred object they like to play fetch with. The study reported that, after toys, cats like to retrieve a variety of household objects (especially if mouse-sized). This ranged from hair-ties to bottle tops.<\/p> They generally also have a favourite household member they like to play fetch with, as well as a preferred location. Apparently, they particularly like bedrooms and staircases \u2013 according to study author Jemma Forman<\/a> from the University of Sussex, \u201cheight differences make it more interesting for the cat\u201d.<\/p> The researchers speculate that fetching is similar to hunting behaviour but with the added element of inter-species social interaction (with the owner). This is not typically seen in cats, according to the researchers.<\/p>But why do some cats fetch at all?<\/h2>