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The Secret Gender Tell of Dogs and Cats: It’s All in the Paw!
My friend Jim always had a party trick that for many years left me both amused and bewildered. Every time he encountered a dog or cat at the park, a pet store, or during their casual walks, he’d confidently announce the animal’s gender without ever glancing beneath its belly. Everyone was stunned, often exclaiming, “How do you do it, Jim?” He’d just smile mysteriously and continue on.
What was Jim’s secret? It wasn’t magic, nor was it some uncanny sixth sense. Jim’s knowledge was rooted in an intriguing behavior observed in dogs and cats: male dogs and cats predominantly use their left paw, while females favor their right.
A Peculiar Paw Pattern
While the concept may sound far-fetched to some, numerous observations and some preliminary studies have indeed shown a pattern. Like humans, animals also exhibit lateralization — a preference to use one side of the body over the other. In humans, this is often manifested as being right-handed or left-handed (about 13% of humans are left handed).
In the case of our four-legged friends, this lateral preference isn’t just a quirky behavior. It’s believed to be linked to the way their brains are wired. The brain’s left hemisphere, which controls the right side of the body, is generally associated with routine and familiar…
