How you can tell if your cat is left or right pawed

Video experiment reveals the preferred paws of our feline friends

• Simple test shows how you can tell which paw your cat prefers to use 
• Experiment courtesy of Japanese YouTube channel mugumogu features celebrity cats Maru and Hana
• Cats use a dominant paw just like humans, and some may be ambidextrous

By Francis Scott For Mailonline Video

Published: 19 March 2016  

Nearly all of us have a dominant hand we use to carry out our daily tasks.

But did you know that just like humans cats also use a preferred paw?

This simple experiment reveals an easy way to tell thanks to Japanese YouTube channel mugumogu.

For a video test dry food is placed in a glass, and then all the owner has to do is sit and watch which paw is withdrawn first to grab the tasty treat.

Is your cat left or right-pawed? This easy to follow video experiment shows how you can tell

Stars of the show: This test from a Japanese YouTube channel features celebrity cats Maru and Hana

All you need therefore is a glass, some delicious cat food, and of course your feline friend.

In this video it is internet celebrity cats Maru and Hana under the spotlight.

Comically Maru decides that using his face is the most appropriate option.

But he is then revealed to be right-pawed, the opposite of his partner Hana.

Delighted users have commented on their favourite feline duo below the video.

Rybpo7 wrote: 'Maru is really one of a kind. His first reaction was to see if he could fit inside the glass. Who does that?'

Simple experiment: All you need is an empty jar or glass, a tasty cat treat, and of course your feline friend

User Grytlappar added: 'Aaaaand right now thousands of people around the world are doing that same experiments with their cats.'

But Max le Fou raised his concerns: 'Tried with our cats, it doesn't work. they both wait for us to feed them ourselves. Not sure if they're too dumb or too smart...'

Only around 10 per cent of people in the world are left handed, but a study at Turkey's Ataturk University in 1991 found this may rise as high as 40 per cent in cats.

Wait and see: Then all you have to do is watch to see which paw (or possibly face) your cat decides to use

Interestingly in a more recent study, female cats were seen to be much more likely to prefer using their right paw than the males, contrary to the evidence of Maru and Hana.

Some felines, an estimated 10 per cent, are even supposed to be ambidextrous, just like their owners.

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