DOG PEOPLE VS. CAT PEOPLE

AN AGE-OLD DEBATE  AND NEW SURVEY

“Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us.”

-Winston Churchill

 

The people have a habit to split things into the categories because it is sometimes easier way to understand the unknown or at least, to try to understand. The modern world is crazy about labelling people or putting them into the groups they should or they already belong to. The same is with psychology that grounds its perspective on human mind, based on preferred pets. In other words, choosing to have dog or cat, neither one or both one, actually can tell a lot about personality and lifestyle. We have used to hear that someone is “dog person” or “cat person” but we usually think that is only related to their choice of beloved pet.However,  it is linked to many points that could reveal the person’s  deepest life story.

According to case study that has researched the households in the USA with dogs and those with cats, there are definitely  more dog people than cat lovers. The homes with both pets are those known to be bi-petuals.  Just as a reminder, the people who have both animals are those who belong to dog people because cat people will never tolerate the idea of having a dog. If we analyse the economical conditions, the cat people are usually people who live in big cities, have demanding and stressful highly intellectual jobs and they are not so easy going and opened for new social contacts. On the other side, dog people are friendly buddies who live in country or countryside, enjoying freedom and nature, outdoor and social interactions.  What does it mean ? Dog people are simply and beloved while cat people are difficult and mysterious. That is a big difference that opens the whole book of antagonistic human psychology.  I found one amazing article  on Psychology Today , signed by  Peg Streep  who researched those issues :“It’s obvious that canines and felines are different in many ways: Owning a dog is by nature a social experience, thanks to the need to walk them. A cute dog—especially a puppy—or one with an expressive face or impressive ears provides the engine for all manner of social interactions with young and old potential admirers. Impromptu friendships spring up in parks, at dog runs, and in elevators, not to mention on suburban streets and country lanes. Dogs are also a lot more work than cats, which says a lot. Does it mean that the dog person is by nature more accommodating, willing to work harder at  relationships, and lives a more complicated life than a cat person? After all, like those who bring the mail, neither rain nor sleet nor heat nor gloom of night deters the dog owner.On the other hand, the cat person enters into a longer contract, since cats generally live longer than dogs . Is the cat owner someone you can trust for the long-haul commitment and quiet evenings at home? It’s worth saying that cat ‘owner’ may be a misnomer since cats tend to own their people; that, too, differentiates the cat person who may not have the control issues a dog person might, may be more self-sufficient, and might not need the external validation a dog person gets.”

It was also funny to follow the diversity of research in this field. Some psychologists even wrote that dog people are more masculine while  cat people are more feminine. This goes further and let us know that men are like dogs while women are like cats. The basic pet psychology has been modified through the gender aspects. I am wondering if bi-petuals will be seen soon as diverse? Anyway, the new age science comes out with conclusions that dog people like simple jokes and companionships and cat people are more interested in creative affection, intelligent humour and quality. The dogs are pets that want to obey to the rules and to follow the alpha leader. The cats are pets that despise the rules and make their own, turning their owners into the slaves.  I don’t claim that cats are manipulative animals but their softness and loving nature that is boosted with great self-confidence can tell us lot about those who call themselves cat people.  It is very sensitive to give theories about people’s personality grounded on their pets but it is something there. I must say that I am amazed by dogs and cats at the same time and as “bi-petual” I can’t imagine life without any of them. At this moment, I am a cat person because I have no dogs but I am missing them and I guess I could never be a real cat person. For me as an animal lover, understanding that cat people hate dogs while dog people tolerate cats is just a big challenge because all animals are there to be loved and accepted just the way they are. The same is with people. I don’t believe that cat people would ignore the pain of dogs or refuse to help them. It is just about psychology that likes insisting on black and white, like grey has never existed or like rainbow is not possible.

The fact is that dog people are definitely those who are ready to sacrifice more for love and those they love. They accept the dogs without measuring the whole work that they get together with dog, in one package. They are aware of responsibility they will have to share for a complete dog’s life and all  potential risks that can come on the road. The cat people like comfort and they would never change it. Having cat is easier as having dog because cats can be disciplined  without you working with them and teaching them. The cats simply have their own rules and you like to play accords own their piano.  It is one good symbiotic harmony that cats and their owners never question about.  The dogs are there to make you happy and even if not, to make you reacting on them. They need you and you need cats. We can call this as a magical circle or we can call it as a circle of  mutual love and interdependence.

Personally, I find dogs amazing pets because their loyalty is one of a kind. I also find cats authentic and if you win their love, it is almost a gift. The both are unique and need love and care. The animals come into our world to teach us about unconditional love, care and faith. They give us so much to look up for and they have never found categories or try to divide people. Each of them show love in a different way and I am pretty sure that dog people and cat people are both wonderful because having big heart for animals turn them into compassionate and special human beings. Everything else is just an outcome of society that lives on labelling.