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| Fetching behavior in cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris) |
| Mikel Delgado1, Judith Stella1, Candace Croney1, James Serpell2. 1Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, W. Lafayette, IN, United States; 2University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States |
Both cats and dogs fetch, but the likely functions of this behavior for both species have not been compared. In this study, we assessed data from online surveys of behavior (C-BARQ, Hsu & Serpell, 2003; Fe-BARQ, Duffy et al., 2017) completed by cat (N = 8,224) and dog owners (N = 73,724). We assessed responses to the items "Plays ‘fetch’; likes to retrieve thrown objects or toys" (Fe-BARQ) and “Will ʻfetchʼ or attempt to fetch sticks, balls, or objects” (C-BARQ). Cats and dogs described as "sometimes," "usually" or "always" fetching were categorized as fetchers. Regression models were used to examine which demographic factors best predicted fetching, and chi-square tests were used to explore the effect of breed. � Fetching was reported in 40.9% of cats and 77.8% of dogs. In cats, fetching was highly correlated with play and activity. In dogs, fetching was correlated with overall trainability. In both cats and dogs, being female, aging, living with (other) dogs, and having health problems decreased the likelihood of fetching. Breed effects were observed in both species. We will discuss the results in the context of species history, domestication, and behavioral selection. |