How To Tell If You’re A Dog Person Or A Cat Person

If you think your pet preference says nothing about you, then you’re barking up the wrong tree! Studies show that whether you choose to welcome a cat or a dog into your life can reveal a lot about your own, ahem, purr-sonality. We’ve gathered a series of traits common to cat owners and dog owners to help us decide whether it’s true. Are researchers just chasing their tails?

Cat people are neurotic

According to studies, it’s true! In 2010 the University of Texas carried out an online poll with 4,565 people that indicated those who preferred cats were more prone to worry and anxiety than dog-lovers.

It makes sense, right? Cat-lovers are introverts, so they spend more time with their own thoughts looking inward. And out of the window of course, but it’s much warmer indoors!

Dog people are less likely to be stressed or anxious

Do dogs ever look stressed to you? Their main concern is where the next meal comes from, or where their human tossed that stick: the same apparently generally applies to dog fans.

Well, they’re not so concerned with sticks, but for better or worse, dog people tend to be a bit more thick-skinned than their sensitive feline-loving friends. It would be a “paw” world if we were all the same.

Cat people prefer sci-fi and fantasy

If you want someone to cuddle up to and watch The Lord of the Rings, a cat person’s a better bet, according to a 2016 Facebook study, which compared data from 160,000 pet owners.

“Cat people are disproportionately fans of sci-fi and fantasy,” the researchers blogged. It wasn’t just movies either: they gravitate towards books of the same genre, too. Maybe they just like tall “tails?”

Dog people love rom-coms

“Dog people show a preference for love stories,” the Facebook blog revealed. When it comes to novels, dog people generally like something that stirs the heart: Eat, Pray, Love or The Notebook, anyone?

Movie-wise, Marley & Me is the order of the day! But they’re also into rom-coms, and have an affinity for the… err… racy film, Fifty Shades of Gray. Maybe they thought it was fur-fty shades?

Cat people are more likely to be single

No, we’re not suggesting the “crazy cat lady” trope has any weight to it. Quite the opposite, in fact. Although cat-lovers are more likely to be single, gender or age doesn’t influence the findings.

And to be honest, there’s not much difference between the cat and dog owners here. According to The Guardian, only 24 percent — purr-cent? — of dog people are single, against 30 percent of cat owners. So it’s only by a, er, whisker.

Dog people are more attractive

This one comes from a 1,000-person strong survey from the dating site EliteSingles in 2017. Among its users 63 percent of them found dog owners more attractive. Hey, don’t blame us, we love you all equally.

And if it’s any consolation, 57 percent of EliteSingles found pet owners in general were more appealing than their pet-less counterparts. Cheer up cat owners, no reason to be such sourpusses!

Cat people are more intelligent

Dog-lovers might have the looks, but you cat owners have got the smarts! The annual Association for Psychological Science studied 600 students in 2014 and apparently, cat fans mostly had better intelligence test scores.

Does that mean that cat owners were naturally more intelligent, or did owning a cat make you smarter? We all know what the cats would say if they could voice their opinion. They’d say, “Meow.”

Dog owners are happier

It’s probably no surprise to find out that our pets make us happier, but if the 2016 study at New York’s Manhattanville College is anything to go by, it’s official.

They studied 263 people and discovered that it’s true. But of the two pet-owning categories, dog-lovers recorded higher levels of happiness. They probably just looked for all the wagging tails!

Cat owners go gaga for George

George who? What are we even talking about? We’re only discussing one of the most famous Georges of all! Some studies discovered that cat owners have preferred musicians among The Beatles.

It would seem that most people who like cats best tended to gravitate towards George Harrison. The feeling was mutual: Harrison owned multiple pets and was renowned as a famous cat-lover.

Dog owners prefer Paul

If you’re a dog fan, research suggests that when it comes to The Beatles you’re more likely to prefer Paul McCartney. There might be something to explain this logic, though.

Do you know the song “Martha My Dear?” It was about a dog! McCartney famously revealed, “[Martha] was a dear pet of mine. I remember John being amazed to see me being so loving to an animal.”

Cat people claim to understand their furbabies

Everyone talks to their pets, but “The Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People Report” studied 1,000 cat and dog owners in the U.S. and found some interesting things!

Fully 91 percent of cat owners say they can identify what their cat’s vocalizations mean. According to Petplan, cats will use the same meows to let humans know what they want. So they might be right!

Dog people talk to their furbabies more

When it comes to verbally communicating with their pets, dog owners are by far the most vocal. In fact, they talk to their best friends so often during the day, they couldn’t even count the exchanges!

Meanwhile, cat owners converse anywhere from one to five times a day. Oh, and dog fans are 2 percent more likely to say hello to their pets when they return home.

Cat people are independent

If you’ve ever had a cat, you know how much they love to do their own thing. They come and go as they please, and ask for attention when they want it.

Well, it’s a trait they have in common with their owners. Cat fans must see themselves in their furbabies, because as per The Times of India, they tend to handle things alone, too. Until they get hungry, of course!

Dog people love company

While cat owners like to keep their own company, dog-lovers are quite the opposite, again as per The Times of India. They enjoy being around people and their sociable attitude helps them fit in. It’s like being part of a pack!

That means they generally put others ahead of themselves and volunteer for activities more than their feline-loving friends. Yet unlike their pets, dog owners don’t usually indulge in territory-marking or butt-sniffing!

Cat people are sarcastic: what a surprise!

If cats were people, you could expect some dry wit and sarcasm, and Sam Gosling from the University of Texas study says that the same is true of their owners.

Cat fans love a joke and particularly appreciate smart ones. So if you’re hoping to win over a fickle friend, try some satire, a bit of irony, or bring out the sarcasm.

Dog people prefer physical comedy

The University of Texas study wasn’t the only one interested in cat- and dog-owner humor. Hunch.com’s 2011 poll of 200,000 animal-lovers also largely backed up the findings of the first survey.

The results concluded that dog fans were 30 percent more likely to prefer more straightforward comedy like impressions and slapstick humor. Well, there’s no harm in enjoying the smaller things. Squirrel!

Cat people are creative

Cat owners can tell you how difficult it is to keep their pets out of their food bag. That’s because felines love solving problems, and if you prefer cats to dogs, you probably do too.

Research cited by website petdoors.com suggests cat fans and their pets share creative leanings, and they put that delightfully devious mind to good use when coming up with new ideas or seeking solutions. Me-wow!

Dog people are practical

Whereas cat people tend to out-think a situation with creative solutions, dog-lovers are more likely to find practical ways around a problem, again as per petdoors.com. Why wonder where the stick has gone if you can just chase it?

That’s not to say they can’t be creative of course, nor that cat fans can’t be practical. But it certainly seems like pet owners share the traits of their preferred furbabies.

Cat people are adventurous

Sure, cats like a nice warm place to nap, but they share a conflicting quality with their owners too: they yearn for adventure, just like Dreamwork Animation’s Puss in Boots!

What this means, reckons petdoors.com, is that cat-lovers are open-minded and more likely than their canine-preferring counterparts to try new things. Everything belongs to them after all: why not survey their kingdom?

Dog people are social

One of the best features of dogs — assuming you like to interact with people — is seeing other like-minded folk when you’re taking your best pal for a walk. It’s like the whole world is your social club!

Petdoors.com says the majority of dog-lovers see this as a good thing because they like to mix it up with other people. And hey, if you both have dogs, you know you have at least one thing in common, right?

Cat people are cautious

Cats can be jumpy: by and large they’re more on the flight side of the fight-or-flight scale. Both cats and their owners share this trait, according to a study by Wisconsin-based Carroll University’s Association for Psychological Science.

Cat people like to dip their paws into experiences before they dive in too deeply, and they veer on the side of caution. Better to be safe than sorry, right? They only have nine lives, after all.

Dog people are selfless

Dogs dedicate their lives to their owners, and as the internet has said many a time, we don’t deserve them. But hyperbole aside, this trait appears to have rubbed off on their owners.

For example, Gosling reports that 68 percent of cat-lovers said they wouldn’t accept a puppy gifted to them as a pet, whereas 70 percent of dog owners would happily take in a kitten.

Cat people are affectionate

We all know that cats are affectionate only when they want to be, but it’s those loving purr-filled moments that cat people love. Maybe it’s because they see something of themself in their furry friends?

As per — or purr — petdoors.com, people who prefer cats as pets are an affectionate bunch. Sure, they might not rub their head against yours or sit on your keyboard when you’re typing, but they like a good snuggle.

Dog people are loyal

As you’d expect from someone who owns a pet famous for its unswerving loyalty, dog people appreciate that in others, and it’s what you can expect from a dog-loving friend.

According to petdoors.com, dog fans are “true friends and protectors,” so if you have one in your life you can expect them to stand by you through thick and thin. And bark at your mailman.

Cat people enjoy quiet

Cat owners don’t have to take their furbabies for walks, so they’re not exposed to other people by necessity. That’s probably for the best, because if you like cats then apparently you prefer the quiet, says The Times of India.

Cats are famously silent creatures — apart from when they’re meowing for their food, of course — so why wouldn’t people who seek silence prefer to own quiet pets? They’re the cat’s pajamas.

Dog people are party animals

While cat lovers enjoy peace, dog-lovers in general are the opposite! They can make just as much noise as their barking best friends because, as per thoughtcatalog.com, they tend to have more dominant personalities.

At their core, they have more confidence and tend to make friends quicker than the more reserved cat-lovers. Just don’t mention walkies, or you’ll never hear the end of it.

Dog people are dramatic

Considering how they’re more extroverted than feline lovers, it only makes sense that dog people are more dramatic. We’re not talking about stage acting: we all know cats are better at that.

No, we mean that those who prefer dogs, as per The Times of India, are more likely to voice their concerns and complain a lot more than cat owners. The latter tend to keep their quibbles to themselves and seethe in silence.

Cat people are sensitive

The Association for Psychological Science study found that cat fans are sensitive souls at heart, which isn’t meant as a bad thing. In fact, it can even have its advantages.

It arguably strengthens their connection to their feline friends. In the “Secret Lives of Cat People and Dog People” report, 52 percent of cat owners admitted that they’d rather be with their cat than other people.

Dog people like teamwork

Yep that’s right, the people who like dogs prefer to be in a litter! Seriously though, because of their more outgoing natures, dog owners are more likely to be team players, says The Times of India.

They can be pretty competitive, too — perhaps they’re eager to prove they’re the alpha? Or maybe they just want to chase the ball and get it before all their teammates!

Dog people aren’t prone nervous conditions

The University of Texas study that found cat owners were more skittish of course discovered the opposite was true of canine fans. They tend to have thicker skins — or coats!

It’s probably because dog owners don’t usually get quite as overwhelmed by their emotions as their sensitive feline-loving friends do, but whatever the reason, they’re apparently generally less prone to anxiety.

Cat people trust deeply

So, do you find that a cat owner is difficult to win over at first? Well, stick with it. Those who do manage will find the effort is worth it because when they do trust, they trust deeply, claims GQ India.

Cat owners can be more emotionally invested than their loud and extroverted doggo-owning counterparts. Once they find something to care about, they really sink their claws in and don’t let go.

Dog people prefer social hierarchies

In a 2015 Australian study involving 1,000 cat- and dog-lovers, those who were team canine admitted they like to know where they stand when it comes to their social hierarchies.

This reflects in their choice of pets, which is one of the reasons socially dominant people tend to prefer dogs: they’re mostly good at obeying commands. Have you ever tried training a cat? It’s not easy!

Cat people are non-conformist

The same Australian study also revealed that in stark contrast to dog owners, cat fans in general aren’t interested in social norms! They march to the beat of their own drums.

Obviously, the appeal of having a pet that’s on the same wavelength as you is a factor here. And just like their big-cat-descended pals, cat people like to walk on the wild side.

Dog people prefer the outdoors

The fresh air, the wind blowing through their fur — err, we mean hair: dog people just love being outside with their best pals. And that comes as no surprise to Carroll University’s professor Dr. Guastello.

The academic told CBS, “It makes sense that a dog person is going to be more lively, because they're going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog.”

Cat people are curious

Oh no, curiosity killed the cat! You’d think that would be one emotion for feline friends to avoid, but as per Psychology Today, studies show cat owners often just can’t rein in their inquisitive natures.

The University of Texas found that cat people were 11 percent more open than dog people, and curiosity fell under the umbrella term for this trait. It’s not surprising, but it is interesting.

Dog people are self-disciplined

In its study the University of Texas also discovered that dog people rated 11 percent more conscientious than their cattier friends. This rating reveals a lot of different things, with self-discipline being among them.

Maybe it’s because they like structure? Whatever the reason, dog people tend to be better at keeping to their schedules and driving themselves forward free of distractions. Unless a fast-moving object comes along!

Cat people are open-minded

We already know that cat-lovers are creative and somewhat refute social norms, so why shouldn’t they be more open-minded? They’re expectations are wonderfully different after all, so it makes sense.

If you have a cat-loving friend, the University of Texas study indicates that they’re 11 percent more likely to accept new ideas than the often more rigidly-minded doggo owners. Just be yourself!

Dog people are agreeable

Remember how we said that dog people tended to be more comfortable socially than many cat owners? Well, that also reflects on their agreeability, according to our friends at the University of Texas.

It’s not a massively high number — dog fans only rank 13 percent more agreeable than their cat-owning counterparts — but it tallies with their bigger affinity for social activities. Dogs just love to please!

Cat people go with the flow

Why follow rules when you can make them up as you go along? That’s cats for you, and when it comes to their owners it’s also a behavior they can share with their furry friends.

The 2010 University of Texas study found free-willed cat-lovers weren’t generally big on forward thinking: they pretty much took things as they came and made up their plans as they went along.

Dog people are good planners

When it comes to planning for the future, dog people were the opposite of cat owners, the same study found. They liked to know where they were going and when so they could keep to their schedules.

They didn’t just like to do it though, they were also really good at it! Thanks to their self-discipline, dog owners generally stuck to their plans. They knew when it was time for walkies!