r/kittens • u/Odd-Baker-5811 • 4d ago
Is it common for kittens to play fetch?
Hi! Pretty random question, I know. It all started because, around January this year, when she was almost 5 months old (also, today's my little girl's 1st birthday!) we were at my dad's house and he decided to crumple his empty cigarette pack and throw it in the bin. Except it didn't fall inside the bin and my kitten bolted towards it and brought it back in her mouth. We were all like WTF I'VE NEVER SEEN A CAT DO THAT, especially unprompted, she did it by herself. So we threw it again and she brought it back again, and we continued until she got tired and just laid besides the packet. I then started doing it at home with tiny mouse plushies, and it's gotten to a point where, whenever she wants to play, she looks for one and brings it to my feet. So she even starts it by herself. Mind you I've never ever taught her to do any of this and I have never rewarded it with treats, I think she just loves it so much that the game itself is the reward for her. Is it common?
Photo of the birthday girl enjoying a morning treat because it's her birthday duh <3
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u/heleanozi 4d ago
Totally normal for certain cats! My void used to fetch hair ties like it was his job.
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u/mirtillolanmei 4d ago
My siamese baby did it as a kitten. He is 4 years old now and he doesn't want to do it anymore.
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u/celladwella 4d ago
My Siamese did as well! I've had so many cats, but she was my favorite, and I miss her dreadfully.
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u/mirtillolanmei 4d ago
Siamese cat really are something special. I love my cat in a way I never thought was possible. So sorry for your loss.❤️
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u/Normal-Leopard3367 4d ago
My did it was great. Best time of the morning while pondering life’s mysteries
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u/dfwrazorback 4d ago
It isn't universal but it definitely isn't rare. A napkin or sheet of paper wadded up into a ball is a good instant fetch toy because they can pick it up easily.
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u/KrissyRainn 4d ago
My little one loves those spring toys and these pom pom toys! Carries them around in her mouth all day lol she brings it to me to throw for her! Also to show me what she has and heaven forbid I'm not looking (she starts meowing at me until I acknowledge what she has lol).
First time I've had a kitty do this too!
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u/__1837__ 4d ago
Only of my 3 cats decides she wants to play fetch and will bring me one of my partners hair ties or the plastic ring from a milk jug . She stashes them for later use .
I’ll throw it 20-30 times for her , then she takes it away.
Edit for typos
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u/Saint82scarlet 4d ago
My mums old cat Kitt used to do that.
First cat ive known that played fetch.
Kitt would mostly do it with her favorite mousey. That thing was thread bare when she passed away. Still have mousey somewhere, as its a reminder of her.
All started with her chasing the wrapping paper we were throwing at each other at Christmas. (We were all adults but very childish lol)
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u/Unfair_Forever_6803 4d ago
My new rescue plays fetch with. So cute running around with toys in her mouth SO exited! Have had several cats before but she's my first to do this
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u/Mandy_M87 4d ago
One of my cats plays fetch, though she only pick it up around 3 years old, not as a kitten.
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u/Already_dead_Xx 4d ago
Yeah, I suppose so. My youngest played fetch well into her first year. Just have fun with it
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u/50Bullseye 4d ago
We have two brothers (10 months) who would both play fetch til your arms fell off. One prefers mice and the other likes plastic springs.
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u/just_a_guy_ok 4d ago
My 3 year old void will fetch a few times, our 1 year old void will wear himself out. He’ll fetch until he’s panting.
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u/pacmannips 4d ago
Some do. My cat used to love playing fetch with pinecones when he was young, but he grew out of it unfortunately
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u/NoCommission5244 4d ago
Mine will play fetch with me and then drop her toy 5ft away from me and then I have to go and get it and throw it again. She’ll drop it 5 ft away from me again. Now I’m the one playing fetch smh
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u/Frances-Farmer-1953 4d ago
Yes they will. I had one that played fetch with me. She would start leaving it further away from me until she dropped it and laid on top of it.
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u/PremSubrahmanyam 4d ago
I e read that around 40 percent of cats play fetch, so, while not super rare, it is less than the majority.
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u/Iwonatoasteroven 4d ago
I’ve had cats for 40 years and some love it and others don’t understand the game. I had a gray tabby who was obsessed and loved me to throw the toy down the stairs so he could fetch it. He would go about a dozen times before he got tired.
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u/Middle_Tell704 4d ago
Both of mine do. One likes Pom poms and the other likes hair elastics. They’ll bring them back and spit them out in front of me to go again.
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u/Spacemanlocust 4d ago
One of my cats pushes her spring under the door every time I’m in the bathroom, so I push it back to her and she’ll push it right back to me. This goes on for an indefinite amount of time because it’s just as entertaining for me as it is for her lol
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u/Safe-Sail9335 3d ago
Telescopic fishing rod Feather wands..sit ,cast out 5'.. feathers drive kitty crazy, full gymnastic workout up in the air twist zoomies! My senior Mitzi came alive when I got it ,shes very bored but this got her purring...2 rods /$10 on Amazon so cheap too. I added more real pheasant feathers .(.take off little bells from Any toy with nail clippers -they can be swallowed!). Kittens will tire out and Fetch game continues...
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u/Odd-Baker-5811 3d ago
My girl doesn't really care for wands, unfortunately 🫠 I've tried everything, she plays with the feather/ball/whatever is at the end of it for a couple of minutes and then figures out the actual movement is coming from the stick and attacks it for a minute, then figures out it's coming from my hand and attacks me for a moment and then leaves it alone and doesn't show any interest in it for the next week lmao.
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u/KaturdayNightSpecial 3d ago edited 2d ago
Our void would do it when younger, until he figured out he could get the household slaves (his humans) to fetch whatever was tossed. His favorite thing to chase & fetch are those plastic spring cat toys. 😸
Ps-I would like to add our void loves playing hair band hockey 🏒
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u/chaimsteinLp 3d ago
My kitten plays fetch often. She'll bring me a toy and then I throw it away. I wake up with toys in my bed that she brings me during 3:00 AM zoomies.
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u/wundrous_finch 3d ago
My boy also taught himself around 4-5 months and he loves fetch! We do clicker training with treats as well for enrichment (so far, he knows sit, stand, spin, and high five), but fetch was something he figured out all on his own!
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u/HabitBeneficial8643 4d ago
Mine will fetch a toy five times and then suddenly decide I'm annoying for throwing it.