| T |
|
|
|
Welcome to Tuesday’s Cats.com Newsletter. |
People have some pretty strong feelings about their pets. Some even go so far as to refuse to date someone whose preferences for cats versus dogs don’t align with their own. But are “cat people” and “dog people” really so different? Let’s talk about it. |
|
Must Read On Cats.com: |
|
|
I Thought I Was a Dog Person. |
My dad grew up with dogs, so he wanted his children to as well. My parents brought home their first puppy, a Golden Retriever named Alexandra, two weeks before I was born. A few years later, Jasmine came into the picture, and Ginger after her. |
Because I grew up with them, I always assumed I was a dog person. It wasn’t until I adopted my own dog that I realized the truth: I am actually a cat person. |
Don’t get me wrong—I love my dog, Archie. But I’d owned cats for almost a decade before he finally came around. During that time, I came to discover that numerous aspects of my own personality were reflected in my cats. |
My cats and I just get each other. |
Reflecting on the relationship I have with my cats versus my dog, I started to wonder: Do most “cat people” share similar personality traits? Let’s talk about it. |
|
Dog Person vs. Cat Person Characteristics. |
When people throw around terms like “dog person” and “cat person,” it’s usually just about what kind of pet they prefer. But if you look a little deeper, you may start to notice a pattern. Certain personality traits seem more common among cat people than dog people, and vice versa. |
There’s not a lot of research on the subject, but I did some digging and I’m eager to share what I learned. To start, the results of several studies gave validity to the following perceptions about people who prefer dogs to cats: |
They tend to be more extroverted. They are self-confident or sometimes dominant. They tend to be active or energetic. They like structure and prefer to follow the rules.
|
| |
|
People who prefer cats to dogs, on the other hand, were shown to prefer low-energy activities and had smaller social circles. Some research also suggests that cat owners are more independent or self-reliant. Cat people are often open-minded and free-thinking but also tend to be more anxiety-prone than dog owners. |
What do you think? Do you recognize any of these characteristics in yourself or in other pet owners you know? |
|
Is Your Soulmate a Cat? |
While some people don’t think of their pets as members of the family, I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you probably do. Whether you’re a dog person or a cat person, you love your pet deeply and care about their well-being. |
You might even prefer their company over that of other humans … I certainly do sometimes! My oldest cat, Munchkin, is such a perfect match to my personality that I sometimes refer to her as my soulmate. |
My favorite thing I learned in my research is something I strongly identify with: Cat people seem to understand and accept the independent nature of their cats. In other words, we respect our cats as individuals and create an environment where they can just be themselves. |
If you want your cat to be the most authentic and confident version of themself, here are some things you can do: |
|
|
|
|
|
We’d love to hear about your feline soulmate! Shoot us an email or engage with us on social media to let us know what being a cat person means to you. |
Cats.com receives a commission on purchases made through this product recommendation. This helps us to continue our mission of giving you the best cat information on the web. Thank you for your support! |
|
EXPLORE OUR TOP GUIDES: |
|
|
A Sneak Peek At Friday's Newsletter. |
It’s completely understandable for your cat to get upset if you accidentally step on their tail. But cats don’t hold grudges the way people do. In Friday’s mailer, we’ll talk about what it means when your cat’s behavior changes and what to do about it. |
| |
|
| Meet The Author. | Kate is a pet food nutrition specialist and writer who has been part of the Cats.com family for over three years. She is the doting owner of three cats - Bagel, Munchkin, and Biscuit - and often shares stories about them in weekly mailers like this one! |
|
|
|
|
|
Check your inbox every Tuesday, Friday & Sunday for another round of exciting cat news! |
Have questions about your cat’s health, diet, behavior, and more? Visit our Cats.com community. Our team of expert moderators is available to give you answers and advice specific to your cat’s unique situation. |