Research overview: self-control and delay of gratification in cats

Self-control tasks, such as choosing a larger delayed reward over a smaller immediate one, probe impulse regulation and have been studied across many species. This overview surveys the limited research applying such paradigms to cats, including detour and inhibitory-control tasks and how impulsiveness, a recognised feline personality dimension, relates to performance. It discusses methodological challenges, individual variation, and comparisons with dogs and other animals. It connects self-control to predatory behaviour, where inhibiting a premature pounce can be advantageous. The topic addresses an underexplored area of feline cognition and how inhibitory control might vary among individuals and relate to temperament and hunting style.