A debate as old as time: cat vs dog. Does “fight like cats and dogs” ring any bells> Owners have argued and squabbled for years over which animal makes the best companion. Many dog owners hold the belief that cat people hate dogs. While this may be true in some cases, this is not true for all. I am personally a cat person, but I don’t hate dogs. I just dislike the noise that comes with a dog.
Now, this article is to help those who seem to look at cat people and scoff, “Oh the crazy cat lady.” It’s meant to help those people better understand the people who love and adore the aloof feline over the out-going dog. Let’s start by looking at some distinguishing features that separate cats from dogs.
Cats are often smaller in size (except for the Maine Coon) making them more desirable for people who have smaller living quarters. Most dog experts say even little dogs require more room to run around and exert their energy. Cats are known to have their spouts of playful moods, but are more commonly seen as laying around and sleeping 18 hours a day. They do not need to be walked, but can be trained to go out on a leash for fun.
Dogs have to be let out every few hours to go to the bathroom. Smaller dogs can be trained to use indoor pads, which is essentially like using a litter box. Dogs are excellent guard dogs, protecting people from mailmen and fearsome rodents in the front yard. There have been numerous heroic stories of dogs backing down burglars (and a few deterred with treats). However, cats are also excellent home protectors if you get the right one. There are numerous videos of cats chasing bears out of yards as well as alligators.
Since we have looked more into the actual animals, let’s talk about the people that have accepted these cuddly on my own terms felines as their own pets. Surveys show that 41% of the population in the United States are cat people. According to studies done at the University of Austin in Texas, cat people are 15% more introverted than dog people, taking after their feline companions and finding comfort in time to themselves. The same study also showed cat people favored spontaneity over the scheduled-out day of dog people.
The University of Texas Austin also found more neurotic personalities, OCD, and other traits of the like 12% more in cat people than in dog people. However, they found cat lovers were 11% more open to exploring and trying new things over the people who favored dogs. The Huffington Post states that dog people have more personality to them whereas cat people exhibit more intellectual pursuits. The same study found that people who favored dogs were more outdoorsy and cat lovers preferred indoor activities, namely reading.
All this information is not to say one is better than the other. Each person is entitled to their own opinions on animals. I’m looking to provide insight into the minds of cat lovers and have a few more people understand where we come from so people do not continuously call us “crazy.” Anyway, whether you are a cat or dog lover, please love your pet and show pride in them! I know I love my kitty — pictured below!