# Is this normal cat behavior? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602 "2019-12-09T17:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/21 "2019-12-10T13:04:49Z")
One of my kids’ cats loves to play fetch. He’s around five now, so not a youngster. He only fetches blaze orange ponytail ties shot across the room rubber-band style, nothing else (not even hot pink ponytail ties). He gets crazy with the blaze orange ones, and keeps on fetching them for as long as the human has endurance for shooting. Sometimes he decides to enjoy his catch, and starts ripping into it, like a lion does with a downed zebra. Then, fetch commences. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/22 "2019-12-10T14:59:31Z")
Puppy-Cat, my lilac Siamese raised by a dog, loved to play fetch, particularly when I threw rolled up empty cigarette packs to the wastebasket and missed (I was a smoker then). Of course, he wold not use a litter box, but would walk on a leash when I took him outside to do his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/23 "2019-12-11T04:33:12Z")
Fetch fetch fetch. Dogs and other servants fetch. Cats bring. We’ve had several cats who showed us how to play bring. Ours usually fetishize certain objects, refusing to acknowledge anything else, as a couple have similarly reported above. One cat, who eventually lived to be nearly 22, would sometimes play for over half an hour, to the point of panting exhaustion; often I’d stop throwing for fear that she’d have a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/24 "2019-12-11T04:59:06Z")
Paula Poundstone mentioned on her podcast a few months back that one of her cats will bring. She has 13 cats, so that’s 7-8% of cats. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/25 "2019-12-12T04:00:05Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Puppy-Cat, my lilac Siamese raised by a dog, loved to play fetch, particularly when I threw rolled up empty cigarette packs to the wastebasket and missed (I was a smoker then). Of course, he wold not use a litter box, but would walk on a leash when I took him outside to do his stuff. Ralph Huge, who is being raised by a cat, insists on using a litter box. It took a while to convince him to use the kiddy pool outside. I have had several cats who fetched, but as others have mentioned, they have always told me they wanted to play “throw this one specific thing and I might bring it back…or I might lay on it and wash my ass”, I haven’t ever taught any of them to do it. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/26 "2019-12-12T12:16:10Z")
One relative has a cat that fetches. Another had 2 that did so. We’ve had a lot of cats over the years and none did. It happens, just a fairly small percentage. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/27 "2019-12-12T14:03:52Z")
When I ask our vet if there’s a shot she can give our cat to make her act normal the vet just smiles and shakes her head at me. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/28 "2019-12-12T15:03:16Z")
I’ve had a couple of cats that did this. I have a ginger now who almost nightly brings me his favorite mouse for me to toss. Usually lasts for 10 minutes or so. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/29 "2019-12-12T19:45:18Z")
I’ve had several cats who “play fetch.” Specifically, some item I am using, say a pen or pencil, they will bat off the table and across the room. Then I go and pick it up. A little while later, when the cat sees I’ve temporarily unhanded the object, they will again bat it off the table and across the room. \*Someone \*in this scenario is playing fetch, and it ain’t the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/30 "2019-12-12T20:07:00Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I disagree it even falls into the category of unusual. Energetic kittens and young cats especially enjoy this game. It has to be something that catches their attention ([this](https://www.amazon.com/Nargos-Colorful-Sponge-Feathers-Christmas-Version/dp/B01MCUS53B) is a canonical example, but it could be anything, even household items that catch their fancy); you throw it, the cat speeds after it, catches it, and brings it back to your feet. They will also bat around such toys by themselves. The Feline Mistress at one of the places I worked had kittens: she used both batting things about and tossing them to teach the kitties how to hunt. Once they got the hang of it they’d bat stuff at/around each other as well. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/31 "2019-12-12T20:36:51Z")
Did you ever stop to think that the reason they bring it back to you is they think you enjoy playing “throw the thing” ? ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/32 "2019-12-12T21:12:07Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Did you ever stop to think that the reason they bring it back to you is they think you enjoy playing “throw the thing” ? I’m pretty sure cats as a matter of feline principle never do anything _for_ anyone else. Indeed, I suspect they lack the concept altogether. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/33 "2019-12-12T22:47:23Z")
The one on the left and the one in the middle are sisters from different litters. The one on the left doesn’t play fetch whereas the one in the middle does. The one in the middle is more playful and smarter: She’s figured out that she gets more traction with her claws retracted on hard surfaces. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/haWhM1c.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/dfgSAmR) So, yes, it happens but it doesn’t seem common. It’s probably cats which are husky-like in terms of energy and smarts. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flying\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/34 "2019-12-13T04:18:07Z")
When I researched the cat breed I wanted to get— Oriental Shorthair— I found out they are known for fetching. And then I got one and she does fetch. If you go on youtube and search Oriental Shorthair cat fetch— there are tons of videos of them fetching. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/35 "2019-12-13T04:24:53Z")
> [@whc.03grady](#): > > I’m pretty sure cats as a matter of feline principle never do anything _for_ anyone else. Indeed, I suspect they lack the concept altogether. That’s not completely true either, as some cats will bring you mice, birds, rabbits, voles, etc. (Apparently, if you refuse the gift- if the cat sees you tip it in the bin- the cat will be REALLY upset. So praise the nice cat.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/36 "2019-12-13T14:28:56Z")
Puppy-Cat acted more like a dog than a cat, hence the name. Whenever I would get upset, he would bring me something to throw so he could fetch it. How can anyone be upset when playing fetch with a cat? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/37 "2019-12-13T19:34:55Z")
> [@Flying\_Rabbit](#): > > When I researched the cat breed I wanted to get— Oriental Shorthair— I found out they are known for fetching. And then I got one and she does fetch. If you go on youtube and search Oriental Shorthair cat fetch— there are tons of videos of them fetching. Same thing with the Russian Blue breed. I have a kitten who is mostly Russian Blue (I doubt he’s purebred as he’s from the shelter) and he practically forced me to start playing fetch with him. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602/38 "2019-12-13T21:06:47Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > That’s not completely true either, as some cats will bring you mice, birds, rabbits, voles, etc. (Apparently, if you refuse the gift- if the cat sees you tip it in the bin- the cat will be REALLY upset. So praise the nice cat.) Well, of course they’re going to be upset - that’s perfectly good food you’re throwing away! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-normal-cat-behavior/844602.md?page=1)