TY - JOUR
T1 - Laterality as a tool for assessing breed differences in emotional reactivity in the domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus
AU - Wells, Deborah L.
AU - McDowell, Louise J.
PY - 2019/9/3
Y1 - 2019/9/3
N2 - Cat breeds differ enormously in their behavioural disposition, a factor that can impact on the
pet-owner relationship, with indirect consequences for animal welfare. This study examined whether
lateral bias, in the form of paw preference, can be used as a tool for assessing breed differences in
emotional reactivity in the cat. The paw preferences of 4 commonly owned breeds were tested using
a food-reaching challenge. Cats were more likely to be paw-preferent than ambilateral. Maine Coons,
Ragdolls and Bengals were more likely to be paw-preferent than ambilateral, although only the
Bengals showed a consistent preference for using one paw (left) over the other. The strength of the cats’
paw use was related to cat breed, with Persians being more weakly lateralised. Direction of paw use
was unrelated to feline breed, but strongly sex-related, with male cats showing a left paw preference
and females displaying a right-sided bias. We propose that paw preference measurement could
provide a useful method for assessing emotional reactivity in domestic cats. Such information would
be of benefit to individuals considering the acquisition of a new cat, and, in the longer term, may help
to foster more successful cat-owner relationships, leading to indirect benefits to feline welfare.
AB - Cat breeds differ enormously in their behavioural disposition, a factor that can impact on the
pet-owner relationship, with indirect consequences for animal welfare. This study examined whether
lateral bias, in the form of paw preference, can be used as a tool for assessing breed differences in
emotional reactivity in the cat. The paw preferences of 4 commonly owned breeds were tested using
a food-reaching challenge. Cats were more likely to be paw-preferent than ambilateral. Maine Coons,
Ragdolls and Bengals were more likely to be paw-preferent than ambilateral, although only the
Bengals showed a consistent preference for using one paw (left) over the other. The strength of the cats’
paw use was related to cat breed, with Persians being more weakly lateralised. Direction of paw use
was unrelated to feline breed, but strongly sex-related, with male cats showing a left paw preference
and females displaying a right-sided bias. We propose that paw preference measurement could
provide a useful method for assessing emotional reactivity in domestic cats. Such information would
be of benefit to individuals considering the acquisition of a new cat, and, in the longer term, may help
to foster more successful cat-owner relationships, leading to indirect benefits to feline welfare.
U2 - 10.3390/ANI9090647
DO - 10.3390/ANI9090647
M3 - Article
SN - 2076-2615
VL - 9
JO - Animals
JF - Animals
M1 - 647
ER -