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American scientists conducted a comparative research, which showed that both cats and dogs are capable of chasing toys and bringing them to their owners, but there are significant differences in the frequency and motivation of this behavior.
Chasing an object and returning it to its owner is a natural behavior for dogs that was developed during domestication due to humans' need for hunting skills. Some breeds, such as retrievers and poodles, are particularly prone to this activity, which can be fixed with special commands and training. Cats, on the other hand, have not been selectively adapted to this type of behavior, but studies have shown that nearly 41% of cats also exhibit the ability to fetch toys, far exceeding previous expectations.
A study based on data from more than 80 dog and cat owners found that cats' desire to fetch toys is often related to their playfulness rather than their hunting instinct. However, some breeds of cats, including Siamese, Burmese and Tonkin, are more susceptible to this game. In dogs, similar behavior is most often observed in breeds that have a history of being used for hunting and retrieving.
Researchers have proposed several hypotheses regarding the nature of this behavior in cats, suggesting that it may be the result of social play or a manifestation of individual training. Despite these assumptions, the question remains open because cats did not go through the same selection processes as dogs.
