About 10.6% of humans are left-handed, while the remaining 89.4% are right-handed, according to research by Papadatou-Pastou and colleagues (2020). For years, scientists believed handedness was unique to humans, partly because it’s often measured by writing—a skill only humans possess. However, new research shows that many animals also prefer one side over the other when performing natural tasks, such as reaching for food with a paw or foot.
Examining Handedness in Animals
A recent study published in Laterality (Ströckens et al., 2025) analyzed hundreds of existing studies on limb preferences in animals. The research team looked at various species, including parrots (which use their feet to handle food), cats (which favor one paw for certain tasks), turtles (which show flipper preferences), and apes. The study covered a wide range of animals, from frogs and lizards to birds and mammals.
Key Findings: Handedness Is the Norm, Not the Exception
The researchers classified species into three categories:
Symmetry – No clear preference for left or right limbs (28% of species).
Individual-Level Asymmetry – Animals showed left or right preferences, but neither was dominant across the species (32.5% of species).
Population-Level Asymmetry – One side was significantly more common, similar to human right-handedness (39.5% of species).
Out of 172 species studied, 72% displayed some form of handedness. For example, in cats, 39% were right-pawed, 36% left-pawed, and 25% had no preference—meaning left-pawedness is far more common in cats than left-handedness in humans.
Conclusion
The study confirms that handedness is widespread in the animal kingdom, not just in humans. Whether it’s paws, feet, or flippers, many species show a natural preference for one side—proving that asymmetry in limb use is far more common than once believed.
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