Science taught us a few new tricks about our pets in 2025
From toy-obsessed dogs to ancient cats, we got treated to new insights about our furry friends
For some dogs, toys can exert an irresistible pull in ways that may parallel human behavioral addictions.
Photos by R A Kearton/Getty Images
From savvy toy-sorting pups to the feline that prowled homes in ancient China, these pet stories got us through the dog days of 2025.
Why dogs obsess over their toys
My dog nephew Moose doesn’t just love a frisbee — he joneses for it. Show him a flying disc and his body reverberates in full-body tail waggles. Take it away? He’ll descend into a wild-eyed pursuit to relocate it. Researchers studied behavior like Moose’s frisbee frenzies in 105 pet dogs (Canis familiaris). They found that elements of the pooches’ behavior mirror human addiction.
The team placed the canines’ favorite toys either on a high shelf or hidden in a box. Soon after, the pooches hounded after their prized playthings. They whined, jumped and pawed at the out-of-reach toys. But it may not be the object itself driving the outburst. They’re chasing the high of a good round of tug of war or fetch, the researchers suggest. The behavior may appear similar to ones displayed in human addictions, but it’s rare and not well understood. Experts say not to assume the behaviors are equivalent. So, for now, the frisbee can stay out of the doghouse.
Early cat companions were wild
This closeup image of an artifact found in a tomb from the Han dynasty, around 168 B.C., shows a feline that looks like a leopard cat. New research suggests leopard cats might have lived near human settlements and participated in commensalism with humans long before house cats showed up.
Hunan Museum Collection DatabaseHumans and cats go way back, just not necessarily in the way you might think. In at least one country, another feline species predates the humble house cat’s (Felis catus) proximity to people. Researchers analyzed DNA from cat bones found in human settlements dating to between 5,400 years ago and the 20th century. The results showed it was the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) that may have been prowling among us from Neolithic times until about A.D. 200. These felines likely feasted on the abundance of rodents scurrying in people’s trash. But when war ravaged the area after the Han dynasty, leopard cats retreated to the wilderness. By the time they returned, the cat was out of the bag on their prime hunting grounds. The domestic cat had already replaced them.
Understanding pet emotions is hard
Read the room. Or maybe don’t. Humans may be relying on environmental context to interpret their dog’s emotions. A researcher filmed her father’s beloved pointer-beagle mix in both positive and negative situations. For instance, in some clips, the dog saw his toy (positive). In others, he reacted to a vacuum cleaner (negative). Identifying a dog’s mood may seem easy with help from context clues. But when the researcher removed those clues from the video, study participants judging the film couldn’t tell if the dog appeared happy or distressed.
Reviewers also watched videos where reactions and environmental cues were swapped. For example, a clip of the dog responding joyfully to a toy was cropped into a scene of someone vacuuming. The mismatch consistently fooled the participants. Because the study features just one dog, the research only hints at our perception of pups. But focusing on the dog’s body language, and ignoring what’s happening in the background, may help owners stop barking up the wrong tree.
Scientists located the ginger cat gene
Orange fur in domestic cats usually arises from a specific DNA deletion in the X chromosome, two new studies suggest.
Stefano Stefani/Getty ImagesOrange cats just got quirkier. They’re already known for their eccentric behavior. Now, a recently discovered genetic mutation is adding to their unique reputation. Two different research teams independently found a DNA deletion that appears only in domestic cats with ginger fur.
That’s not the only reason why the mutation is this cat’s meow. It also helped scientists solve a genetic mystery. For decades, researchers knew the genetic code for yellow-red fur lived somewhere on cats’ X sex chromosome. This leads felines’ orange coloring to present differently in males and females. But the exact cause remained as elusive as a cat’s fleeting affection. Curiously, the culprit was found near Arhgap36, a gene not previously associated with pigmentation.
A dog’s reaction to TV depends on its personality
LANE MONTGOMERY
Is your dog a Monica? Maybe they’re more of a Phoebe? Your answer might determine if turning on Friends for your pup is more stressful than comforting. Personality types influence how dogs interact with TV, researchers report. For instance, flick on a tennis game, and a hyper hound will likely search for a ball that goes off-screen. In contrast, a doorbell sound from a sitcom might make a nervous Newfoundland feel overstimulated.
Most dog owners in the study reported that their dog engaged with TV. But some interactions may be attributed to factors other than temperament. Unfortunately, there’s no personality quiz for dogs. But dogs are called a human’s best friend for a reason. Some pets might curl up next to their owner near the telly just to watch humans enjoy their favorite programs.
Word-savvy dogs have a surprising way to “sort” toys
Border collie Gaia sits tall atop her toy collection, which includes items used to test her ability to categorize objects based on function. Dogs that already have a knack for learning the names of their toys can also sort toys by their function, a new study reveals.
CLAUDIA FUGAZZASit. Stay. Categorize? Dogs with a flair for vocabulary (such as border collies) showed people a new trick in their repertoire. Some canines can mentally label toys based on their purpose at playtime.
Seven pet owners played either fetch or tug-of-war with their four-legged friends at home. Then, they verbally assigned the toys to “throw” or “pull” activities. After the dogs learned each toy and its corresponding game, these steps were repeated with new toys. But this time, the owners didn’t give their pets any spoken cues. Finally, they heaped an array of squeakers, plushies and ropes into a pile. The dogs had one task: retrieve one of the novel “pull toys” or “throw toys” depending on their owner’s spoken request. Surprisingly, the prodigy pups picked right the majority of the time. Now, that’s a good dog.
