Study challenges ‘cat person, dog person’ conventional wisdom

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There may be no such thing as a ‘cat person’ or a ‘dog person’ after all.

A new study by Ball State University has found that matching yourself with a pet suited to your personality may be more important than whether that pet is a cat or dog.

The study of 266 pet owners found that a majority of cat owners see themselves as having cat-like personality traits, such as being independent and being at the center of attention, while most dog owners believe they have the characteristics of canines, such as being friendly and social.

‘Many people perceive themselves as being either ‘cat people’ or ‘dog people.’ These people often think they relate to their pets because they share similar personalities,’ Lucinda Woodward, a professor of psychological sciences and personality researcher, said in a news release. ‘Yet, not all dogs and cats have traditionally perceived personalities. There are friendly cats that want to be around their guardians all the time and dogs that don’t crave constant attention.’

Woodward offers advice for those looking for a cat or dog:

‘... ‘cat people’ should seek independent pets that are also low on submissiveness while ‘dog people’ should seek pets high on friendliness and low on dominance,’ she said.

Or if you already own a dog, check out Woodward’s dog personality survey.

--Tony Barboza

Photo: By MKW, submitted on Your Scene