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Cats Are Left or Right-Pawed

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2009 6:57 PM CDT

(Newser) – Cats may appear ambidextrous when pawing a ball of string but actually lean lefty or righty when it comes to tough tasks, the New Scientist reports. It comes down to sex: girl kitties are mostly righties and boys lefties, say researchers at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Hormone levels may account for the difference—earlier studies have linked prenatal testosterone to left-handedness.

A cat stretches its paw for food after being rescued by China Small Animal Protection Association from a Tianjin market that trade cats for meat and fur, in Beijing, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007.
A cat stretches its paw for food after being rescued by China Small Animal Protection Association from a Tianjin market that trade cats for meat and fur, in Beijing, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007.   (AP Photo/EyePress)
White cats appear ambidextrous, they are actually righties or lefties, a new study shows.
White cats appear ambidextrous, they are actually righties or lefties, a new study shows.   (Shutterstock)
Like humans, cats can use either paw%u2014but lean lefty or righty for difficult tasks.
Like humans, cats can use either paw%u2014but lean lefty or righty for difficult tasks.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
BlueAyez
Jul 26, 2009 11:49 AM CDT
Being left or right handed in humans has an effect on how your brain works. I'm pretty sure this is where the research is leading.
Caps
Jul 25, 2009 12:39 PM CDT
Yes, I would have to agree.
armywife
Jul 25, 2009 12:27 PM CDT
human beings really do research some dumb-ass stuff.

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