Cats are lefties and righties too
Paw preference hints that the two halves of a cat’s brain divide the work – much as in humans.
Takeaway
Most cats have a preferred paw – and males lean left while females lean right.
What the study did
- Queen’s University Belfast researchers had owners of 44 cats record which paw led when stepping down stairs, stepping over objects, plus a food-reaching test with a treat tower.
- Reaching for food, 32 cats (72.7%) had a clear paw preference: 18 left-pawed and 14 right-pawed.
- Cats also showed a lateral bias when stepping down stairs (70%) and stepping over objects (66%).
- Males tended to favour the left paw, females the right; which side they lay on was much less consistent.
The numbers
Show data table
| Group | Value (cats) |
|---|---|
| Left-pawed | 18 |
| Right-pawed | 14 |
| Ambilateral | 12 |
Data source: McDowell, Wells & Hepper 2018, Anim Behav 135:37–43; accepted author manuscript (QUB Research Portal), Results, food-reaching paragraph (manuscript lines 244–246): 32 paw-preferent (72.7%) vs 12 ambilateral (27.3%); 18 left (56.2%), 14 right (43.8%).
Limitations
Owner-recorded at home, 44 cats; figures taken from the accepted author manuscript.
Citation
McDowell LJ, Wells DL, Hepper PG (2018). Lateralization of spontaneous behaviours in the domestic cat, Felis silvestris. Animal Behaviour. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.11.002
For general information only; it does not replace advice from your vet.
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