Are Cats Right- or Left-Pawed Like People?

This is actually a very interesting question. The answer is yes! Believe it or not, studies have shown that many cats exhibit a preference for using a specific paw, much like humans do with their hands. In one study, it was found that 39 cats were right-pawed, 36 were left-pawed, and the remaining 25 had no preference between their paws.

Cats have almost the same chance of being right or left-pawed, unlike humans, who have a 90% chance of being right-handed and a 10% chance of being left-handed. This natural preference can be fascinating to observe in your feline companions.

Observations from My Own Cat

When I first noticed this peculiar behavior in my cat, I was struck by how specific and consistent it was. My cat, let's call her Whiskers, seems to be ambidextrous in a very particular way. Here are some observations from the past five days:

When Whiskers wants attention, she pats my hand with her left paw 90% of the time. It's as if she's saying, "Pet me! " When I scratch her under the chin, she lifts her right paw in joy, as if to say, "That felt good! " When jumping to the top of the bookshelf, she leads with her left paw, but to paw the litter, she uses her right paw.

These behaviors were not always so clear, but now that I've been paying attention more closely, they seem to follow a distinct pattern. It's curious to see how each action is associated with a specific paw rather than a specific function.

Research on Cat Handedness

Further research provides more insight into this behavior. In a recent study published in Animal Behaviour, scientists observed that when cats had to perform a particularly difficult task, they showed a clear preference for using a specific paw. However, when the task was easy, they did not favor one paw over the other.

The study involved 21 males and 21 females and tasked them with retrieving a treat from a narrow-mouthed jar or simply dragging a toy across the floor. Each task was repeated 100 times over the course of the study. The results were intriguing; females in the study were more likely to be right-pawed, while males were more left-pawed.

Importance of Preference

It seems that the preference for a particular paw is linked to the difficulty of the task. The more challenging the task, the more pronounced the paw preference. When the task is simple and requires no finesse, the cats appear to be ambidextrous, showing no clear preference for either paw.

Further Reading

If you're interested in learning more about this fascinating aspect of feline behavior, you can read the full study here:

Full Study: Cat Paw Decision Making

Conclusion

While the exact reason behind this handedness in cats is still being studied, it is evident that many cats do exhibit a preference for using a specific paw. Whether this preference affects behavior or is simply a natural variation like in humans, it's a fascinating area to explore with your own cat. Keep a sharp eye as you observe your cat's actions, and you might be surprised by the insights you gain.