Pet Talk
Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog and 33 percent own at least one cat, according to the Humane Society of the United States. With so many Americans welcoming pets into their homes, it’s no wonder that our four-legged friends have positioned themselves as some of the most beloved members of society. Despite their sometimes frustrating antics, pets have scratched, chewed, barked, meowed and wagged their way into our hearts. Even people who don’t own pets have trouble resisting puppy-dog eyes or the quiet purr of a kitten. Take a moment to browse through Thrive’s pet section and be sure to check out the adoptable pets!
Cats or Dogs?
The Great Pet Debate
Does a soft meow melt your heart or make you cringe? Does a hearty woof trigger a smile or feelings of fear? Just about any discussion among pet owners reveals the fact there is a clear distinction between cat people and dog people. In some cases exclusive in their preferences, liking either dogs or cats and loathing the other species. Apparently cats appear to be much easier to hate. Fifteen percent of the adults questioned said they disliked cats a lot while the number who said they disliked dogs a lot was only two percent. Pet owners tend to identify themselves as either cat or dog people, and numerous research studies have found that there is a link between the types of personalities that bond best with each breed of pet. Experts say research suggests there are significant differences on major personality traits between dog people and cat people. And given the tight psychological connections between people and their pets, it is no surprise that the differences between dogs and cats make each species more suited to different human personalities. The dog has been extremely adaptable to what humans want: hunting, guarding, sniffing everything from bombs to drugs, providing therapy, being the eyes for the blind, rescue, war and family protection. In addition to their vast and numerous job skills, dogs excel at human companionship. They are considered “man’s best friend.” Dog owners see themselves as being friendly, outgoing, assertive, self-confident and persistent, according to researcher Sam
Gosling at the University of Texas at Austin. They get very excited when seeing someone they haven’t seen in a while and are more likely to greet their spouse at the door in the evening—both habits of their canine. They are more tolerable of disorder and clean their houses only when necessary. Dog people are also more likely to be married, live in a house, and have children. The cat, on the other hand, is more of a loner, often invisible, usually appearing during the evenings. The cat occasionally engages in “play” with its owners, but its interest is limited. Cat people enjoy quiet, down time and consider themselves to be more independent, reserved, neurotic, timid and trustworthy, according to Gosling. They are finicky and want things their way, but are more risky and willing to attempt tasks like skydiving. Cat people need to have order and despise change. They do not need to be surrounded by people to be happy and they don’t particularly like meeting new people. Cat people want affection on their own terms. Therefore, cat owners are one-third more likely to live alone and twice as likely to live in an apartment. When it comes to relationships between Team Cat and Team Dog, there some interesting findings also. Although cat people can generally tolerate dog people as friends, according to Gosling they tend to become irritated with their constant affection and need for attention, whereas dog people often view Team Cat as too introverted. And what of people who own both cats and dogs? Gosling says they share more qualities with dog people. by Haley Armand
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Thrive Magazine for Better Living
September 2011