A New Kitten, an Old Toy, and a Mystery: Do Cats Really Play Fetch?

When our 3-month-old kitten, Cleo, recently jumped up on the bed with her little toy in her mouth, then dropped it and stared me down, it got my attention. “Chloe, is that you in there?” Let me explain.

If you have ever had the privilege of sharing your life with animals, in this case, cats, you know this is not a common play move, at least not for us. Dogs, yes, but cats? Over the years, we had only ever had one other cat who fetched, Chloe, who was her own kind of magic. So it was hard for me (yes, I’m one of those types) not to ask the question, “Chloe, is that you in there, sending us a sign?” I mean, c’mon, they say cats have nine lives, could this be Chloe’s second?

Once my emotions chilled, my curiosity kicked in. Was Cleo one in a million, or were we just late to understanding that yes, cats do indeed play fetch?

When I looked it up, I have to admit, I was surprised to find a survey of pet owners over at Modern Cat that suggested this is more common than you might think. Apparently, a lot of cats were reported to chase a toy and bring it back to their person, at least once in a while. Dogs definitely still lead the way, no surprise there, but cats are not as far behind as you might think. It’s reported that approximately 41% of cats fetch compared with 78% of dogs.

Younger cats showed the most interest in fetch. Indoor cats were more likely to play it than outdoor cats. High-energy breeds like Siamese and Bengals popped up often in the data, though Cleo (as was Chloe) is a common British Shorthair.

People who study animal behavior say it looks a lot like a hunting sequence that has been softened for domestic life. Something moves. The cat chases, pounces, grabs it in their mouth, then carries it back. The twist is that last piece. Your cat is not just chasing. They are pulling you into the game. They are choosing to interact with you, not just with the toy. As I said before, dogs, yes, but cats? Apparently so.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a wee bit disappointed. I’ll admit, I was looking for mystical signs of continuity between our Cleo and Chloe. Whatever the case, remember this: most cats never fetch in their lifetime, and some do it only for one human. So whether it’s spirit, memory, imprint, fate, or simple behavioral overlap, what matters is it’s not just a behavior, it’s a special bond and perhaps, even a bridge.  

If you wanna rescue a feline friend, head over here and by all means, please support the good work of our friends @WeHoCommunityCats.

This little boy needs a home! Contact: WestHollywoodCommunityCats@gmail.com for more info! Just look at that face!