I guess I thought animals were ambidextrous. Apparently the majority have a preference. (Bengal kitten photos brazenly swiped from Shere Khan Cats. Aren't they cute?)
“Cats have "paw dominance" similar to the right-handedness and left-handedness found. Owners will have noticed that some cats tend to prefer one paw over the other for manipulating objects while others use either paw. Studies indicate that 20% of cats are right-pawed; 38.3% of cats are left pawed and the remaining 41.7% are ambidextrous. Preferences are determined by the part of the brain called the sensorimotor cerebral cortex. Paw dominance is fixed and can be modified only slightly by environmental factors, such as convenience for reaching something.” Feline medical curiosities
via Coffee Spills
does it matter age/breed?
Posted by: et | March 12, 2009 at 04:20 PM
dear rosa,
cats are sometime left or right pawed or even both depending on they're dominant brain hemisphere as i said the nerves in the neck connected to your cats brain and body nerves cross so if your cat's left pawed she's right side dominant and vice versa. if she's ambidextrous(both) than she's both side dominant. remember any questions ask me ok?
your friend and info doc
THE KITEE EXPERTEE
Posted by: THE KITEEEE EXPERTEE | December 03, 2008 at 05:11 PM
dear ying yang,
hey guys no not necessarily if you cats persian or blue tabby or even sisters. it all depends on their personality and dominance of brain if a cat has a dominant left brain hemisphere its right pawed because the brain nerves in the lower neck cross.If you have any more questions guys send me a comment starting like this"Dear kiteeee expertee" thanx guys hope it helps!
Your helpful source and friend,
the kiteeee expertee
Posted by: THE KITEEEE EXPERTEE | December 03, 2008 at 05:06 PM