Are you a dog person, or a cat person?

[rolanni]

Interesting article here (thanks to kinzel for the pointer) -- and a Whole New field of scientific study, anthrozoology.

So, which are you -- cat person or dog person?

Comments

[lagilman]

Hrm. I grew up in a household with both dogs and cats, and while I am currently pwned by two felines, I am also heart-owned by the time-share puppy, who thinks I'm her big sister.

I guess I'm more a cat person, though, because much as I love Mei Chan, and still miss my long-dead Shana, the neediness of dogs would wear on me, if I were the only person in its life. It takes a pack to raise a puppy.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I grew up in a dogs-only house; my mother loathed cats, and I never really got to know one until I was an adult. I learned a lot from the dogs and miss them still, but I connect with cats.

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

As my husband puts it- I'm an animal person.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Cat person. Cats (domestic version, anyway) rarely consider bicyclists as prey.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

To amplify this, a strange cat is not usually aggressive. A strange dog, on the other hand, is guilty until proven innocent in that regard. Humans have bred and trained dogs to be aggressive. Even cat-sized dogs will charge and bite.

[pedanther]

I have a cat person's opinion of dogs, and a dog person's opinion of cats.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I'm a cat person. Although there are some dogs I like, they are generally 'working' breeds, like Border Collies, and tend to be more independent.

I've noticed that all of the women I fancy seem to have qualities in common with cats, even the ones who are cat-allergic. Not, usually, purring or shedding hair *g*...

[(Anonymous)]

I'd be a cat person, but I'm allergic. I'm not quite as allergic to dogs, but I don't have the patience to see to their daily needs. Cats don't need to be walked outside in all weathers......

Mary

[kahva.livejournal.com]

Cat person! Always have been, always will be. :) :) :)

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

Grew up on a farm with both cats and dogs. I am a cat person!!!!! I have had Maine Coons for the last 30 years.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Cat person, definitely. I don't *get* extroverts. I understand they're the majority, but I just don't get them.

[seabat4.livejournal.com]

CAT, but I like individual dogs (such as my grandpuppy, Tucker).

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

Mammal person. My house currently has two dogs, four cats, two hamsters, and a ratgirl. Oh, and a couple of children and a husband as well as me ;)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I like cats, but am way allergic. Otherwise, I would likely have one if it could live with dogs and vice versa. But if I had to choose, I would pick dogs.

[baggette.livejournal.com]

I like both, but I'm not allergic to dogs.

[nicoli-dominn.livejournal.com]

DUDE. I've been saying stuff like that for years. It's nice to feel validated now.

[nicoli-dominn.livejournal.com]

Uh...sorry. To edit: I'm a cat person. I was raised around a cat, which could be part of it, but I'm also introverted, neurotic, and creative. Used to be outgoing, but the neuroticism pretty much killed it.

[(Anonymous)]

Definitely cats with room for our half of a dog.

I'm allergic to cat dander but by the grace of allergy shots have developed an immunity. My allergist, on the other hand, has been known to recommend pictures of cats on the wall.

[sraun]

Dog person. Although I wouldn't be surprised to find some people claiming I have some cat person in me. But I'm allergic to cats - that does bias the answer.

I grew up with Chihuahuas - I know just how hard it is to get them to be the family dog rather than (usually) Mom's dog. They're very territorial, which is why, as much as I love them, I'll never own one. I like to entertain too much - we'd drive each other nuts!

I went looking for non-territorial toy breeds - this led me to the Havanese, which led me to Shih Tzus, which I own. (Many people will claim Shih Tzus are as close as you can get to a cat while owning a dog.) We get along very well.

I am not an extrovert, although that might surprise people. I do like to entertain, it just takes a lot of energy that I need to recoup the next day.

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

The most cat like dog I have ever known was a borsoi, amazing in one so large.

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

I'm a dog person, though I like cats, too. If I could only have one, it'd be a dog.

Eh. Dog/animal person

[(Anonymous)]

I grew up with dogs but I have looked after cats too. My brother and I were the kids the neighborhood went to when they wanted their pets fed/walked/loved while they were on vacation. They knew if there were vet issues, we'd take care of it properly and our parents would back us up. The only time I worried was when I found the elderly poodle I was minding making whoopie with the Jack Russell from across the street (he got in through the cat door). I worried she might not be in menopause and I would have to find homes for the puppies. :/

There are some cats I SWEAR were dogs in a previous life! They are
just too, too DOG-LIKE to be Real Cats. You probably know some -
they come when called, play every time they're asked to, incredibly
socialised, etc, etc. Strange.

I like the article - thanks!
Lauretta

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

I like cats, and cats seem to like me. But I am and always have been a dog person.

Woof!

[growlycub.livejournal.com]

I have to say the article reads rather unscientific to me. Might be the journalist's interpretation, but if even half the quotes are correct I'd have to say I'm not convinced that the researchers know what they are talking about. Some of the utterances sound rather unscientific.

I had a parakeet as a kid and I dislike birds extremely. I more or less lived my teen years in a Golden Retriever person's house (came home to do homework and to sleep, rest of the time I spent with her and her 16 Goldens, helping around the place). I always thought I'd be a dog breeder, but then she up and died on me before I finished college.

All the while, I always wanted cats. I finally have them and just as there are needy dogs and independent dogs, there are needy cats and independent cats.

These survey studies need to be very closely examined, because self-reported results are very rarely reflective of reality. This one makes all my 'oh, really?' antennae wiggly wildly. :)

[anghara.livejournal.com]

Currently owned by two cats, and enjoying it (and them) immensely. But give me a big dog and I'll drool all over it. The golden retriever belonging to our cross-the-street neighbour knows that I have this special dog THING going, and that dog has loved me unreservedly since the day we met. If I go anywhere near him, he'll bounce up (he's elderly - he doesn't bounce for his own people!) and trot up to me retrieveing... something... anything... just something to bring me. We have an understanding, he and I. We love each other.

Cats are more self-sufficient - it's possible to leave a couple of cats for a weekend with someone dropping in periodically to make sure they have enough food and water and check the kitty litter. One can't abandon a dog in this manner. A dog goes with you, or goes into a care facility. And I don't currently have a fenced yard and while indoor cats are fine an indoor dog is not an option and i can't just "letit out", it would be two or three daily walks. I don't have the spoons for that right now, and I don't want a dog if I can't do right by that dog. So although I am devoted to dogs (and my totem animal is a wolf) I can love cats, and be loved by them. There's room in my heart for both.

[hapaxnym.livejournal.com]

I'm with growlycub -- that was an immensely silly article, about on par with one discussing how "redheads are feisty." Self-reporting, lack of rigor, vague terminology, and hand-waving of any exceptions to the "rule" -- all red flags.

Of course I *would* say that -- I'm neither a dog nor a cat person. I generally prefer either to people, however..

[(Anonymous)]

I really don't think people, or pets for that matter, can be pigeon-holed like that. I love cats AND dogs; and I've lived with both species long enough to know that there are degrees of neediness and independence in both.

We live with a couple of 'fluffies' at the moment, which is what my vet calls small long haired dogs that are generally maltese crossed with something else. The littlest one behaves so much like a cat at times we wouldn't be surprised if she miaowed.

[(Anonymous)]

As I understand it, about 50 thousand years ago canis lupus familiaris domesticated itself and joined human culture and lifestyle rather than the other way around, while felis silvestris was avoiding us until a little over 9,500 years ago. We humans have a longer history with dogs than with cats.

For the past 45+ years I have shared my life and home with a series of canines (several of whom were excellent 'mousers') and a mate of my own species. Cats don't "take" to me nor I to them, I'm regret to say.

-Eta

[scaleslea.livejournal.com]

Definitely a cat person.

Doc