An online survey of more than 8,000 cat owners revealed that 41 per cent reported their cat would sometimes, frequently or always retrieve items that they threw - significantly higher than previous estimates.
Researchers found that cats are more likely to display fetching behaviour if they are generally more active and playful, and if they live indoors. Although cats of all breeds sometimes engage in fetching, it is more common in Burmese, Siamese and Tonkinese cats.
The researchers, from Purdue University in America, said: 'Although cats and dogs are very different in many aspects of their behaviour and in how they ended up being companion animals, we find it fascinating that so many of them share this very interesting behaviour - fetching!'
The survey showed that in both cats and dogs, fetching behaviour was less common in females, older animals and individuals with health conditions.
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