Cats will play fetch, given the right circumstances. We had a cat that fetched – a robin, a sparrow, a red headed woodpecker, and a blue jay. We didn’t ask, he just did.
My cat plays fetch all the time with the plastic strips I remove from milk bottles. She’ll spend hours with me flicking the strips to her and her returning them to me.
One doesn’t “teach” cats to do anything; what they do comes out of their ancestry as hunters. Cats, once they catch, play with and finally kill their prey, will often offer the carcass, be it mouse, rat, or bird, to their owner. (Not that they ever consider themselves owned by us.) If they have kittens, they’ll do the same to them, thereby teaching them to hunt. Absent actual prey, they’ll play with anything inanimate that responds, like a ball or plastic strips from milk bottle caps. I’ve had many cats, like and respect them, but all this stuff that they interact with us on a personal level is pure self-serving folderol.
One of our 3 cats plays fetch; she’ll return whatever toy I throw over and over and… another will fetch maybe twice, then look at me for me to come ‘fetch’.
My last cat played fetch with a little ball. I’d throw it, he’d go tearing after it and bring it back to me. He’d also come when I whistled and he’d go on his hind legs to beg. Great cat!Anyone who is hateful towards cats (or any animal) is just a rude, nasty person who deserves the same treatment that they give towards cats.
We’ve taught three different cats to fetch. The current one, Lily, has been doing it for eight years. She gets cat treats for fetching. She’ll brings us her “toy” when she wants to play. Very entertaining for us “old coots.”
I love Luddie’s expression! What do you suppose he’s thinking? Something like, “You’re a riot, Arlo!” or “Fetch this!” He knows when Arlo’s messing with him.
common sanse about 12 years ago
fetch, maybe
marshallr0ss about 12 years ago
F-E-T-C-H Not a word that would be familiar to very many cat “owners”.
mrbribery about 12 years ago
Have you ever noticed that in Europe, August is the month everyone takes vacation?
Varnes about 12 years ago
Luddy knows, he’s just not telling….
solarrhino about 12 years ago
How about, “Honey!”
gary4160 about 12 years ago
arlo needs a dog!
bagbalm about 12 years ago
I know a cat who brings his owner a toy and wants to play fetch.
unicornannette about 12 years ago
My first cat, Bu, taught me to play ‘fetch’ with a cork. She would play for hours.
mhlon Premium Member about 12 years ago
Cats will play fetch, given the right circumstances. We had a cat that fetched – a robin, a sparrow, a red headed woodpecker, and a blue jay. We didn’t ask, he just did.
doublepaw about 12 years ago
I have trained my cat so she will wake me up any hour during the night if she is hungry. So much for you can’t teach a cat anything.
Doodlemommie about 12 years ago
Our cat Bruce taught himself to play fetch. Hair tie, bottle cap, wine cork, etc. Likes to play in the middle of the night.
Gojira about 12 years ago
Mine does not sit on my keyboard. She will carefully step over it and then sit on my mouse.
BradyB66 about 12 years ago
My cat plays fetch all the time with the plastic strips I remove from milk bottles. She’ll spend hours with me flicking the strips to her and her returning them to me.
finale about 12 years ago
My daughter has taught her cat to ambush her and jump on her back when she enters her apartment.
Kathleen Cunningham about 12 years ago
I know that Jimmy Johnson means Fetch, but if one thinks of it in Internet terms, you could think Find, or Search.
George Alexander about 12 years ago
One doesn’t “teach” cats to do anything; what they do comes out of their ancestry as hunters. Cats, once they catch, play with and finally kill their prey, will often offer the carcass, be it mouse, rat, or bird, to their owner. (Not that they ever consider themselves owned by us.) If they have kittens, they’ll do the same to them, thereby teaching them to hunt. Absent actual prey, they’ll play with anything inanimate that responds, like a ball or plastic strips from milk bottle caps. I’ve had many cats, like and respect them, but all this stuff that they interact with us on a personal level is pure self-serving folderol.
GSJohnson about 12 years ago
One of our 3 cats plays fetch; she’ll return whatever toy I throw over and over and… another will fetch maybe twice, then look at me for me to come ‘fetch’.
moe_the_cat about 12 years ago
Unless I missed someone mentioning it the 5 letter word for command to fetch is “meow”
frightenup Premium Member about 12 years ago
My last cat played fetch with a little ball. I’d throw it, he’d go tearing after it and bring it back to me. He’d also come when I whistled and he’d go on his hind legs to beg. Great cat!Anyone who is hateful towards cats (or any animal) is just a rude, nasty person who deserves the same treatment that they give towards cats.
GESWho about 12 years ago
Most of the cats I’ve been around will play fetch, but only with “toys,” not as part of helping around the homestead…:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PycSQnwdyw&feature=plcp
smalltownbrown about 12 years ago
We’ve taught three different cats to fetch. The current one, Lily, has been doing it for eight years. She gets cat treats for fetching. She’ll brings us her “toy” when she wants to play. Very entertaining for us “old coots.”
iced tea about 12 years ago
It is difinetely fetch.
hippogriff about 12 years ago
Ken Ross: Good one! I just wonder how many readers recognize that a fetch is a type of familiar in mythology.
MyTBaron Premium Member about 12 years ago
OK, so it’s F-E-T-C-H, and cats don’t fetch but how is this funny? The cat isn’t doing the crossword which might make it funny if he didn’t get it.
Arlo is apparently writing something down in the last panel so even if the joke was about being a cat owner this contradicts it.
8o/
Arianne about 12 years ago
I love Luddie’s expression! What do you suppose he’s thinking? Something like, “You’re a riot, Arlo!” or “Fetch this!” He knows when Arlo’s messing with him.
Dampwaffle about 12 years ago
My cat Yuki taught herself how to play fetch with a gum eraser and also marbles.
kaecispopX about 12 years ago
Actually cats understand the concept of fetch. That’s what they expect their owners to do.
donwestonmysteries over 3 years ago
Cat owners don’t ever use the word fetch as if a cat would ever follow a command anyway.
philipenewman over 3 years ago
If he had a dog, he’d know the word.