Paw preferences in cats and dogs: Meta-analysis

Ocklenburg, S. and Isparta, S. and Peterburs, J. and Papadatou-Pastou, M.

Laterality (2019) 24: 647–677

DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2019.1578228

Abstract

Predator-prey relationships have been suggested to be one of the primary evolutionary factors driving the development of functional hemispheric asymmetries. However, lateralization in many predator species is not well understood and existing studies often are statistically underpowered due to small sample sizes and they moreover show conflicting results. Here, we statistically integrated findings on paw preferences in cats and dogs, two predator species within the Carnivora order that are commonly kept as pets in many societies around the globe. For both species, there were significantly more lateralized than non-lateralized animals. We found that 78% of cats and 68% of dogs showed either left- or right-sided paw preference. Unlike humans, neither dogs nor cats showed a rightward paw preference on the population level. For cats, but not dogs, we found a significant sex difference, with female animals having greater odds of being right-lateralized compared to male animals.

Citation

Ocklenburg, S., Isparta, S., Peterburs, J., & Papadatou-Pastou, M. (2019). Paw preferences in cats and dogs: Meta-analysis. Laterality, 24(6), 647–677. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357650x.2019.1578228 Animals, Male, Female, Species Specificity, meta-analysis, Sex Characteristics, Dogs/*physiology, Cats/*physiology, Foot/*physiology, Functional Laterality/*physiology, Handedness, hemispheric asymmetries, limb preferences, Predatory Behavior

Keywords

• Animals
• Male
• Female
• Species Specificity
• meta-analysis
• Sex Characteristics
• Dogs/*physiology
• Cats/*physiology
• Foot/*physiology
• Functional Laterality/*physiology
• Handedness
• hemispheric asymmetries
• limb preferences
• Predatory Behavior