There are two types of people in this world; those who love dogs, and those who love cats. It is common for people to have both, however it has been proven that an individual tends to have a favorite.  

So what makes people want a dog or a cat? There have been many studies about this with one clear problem. There are no definitive character traits of a dog person or cat person, only common tendencies. A study done on 100 college students asked questions about personality in correlation to pet preference in order to get an idea on why people choose the pets they own.     

So let’s start with the “dog lovers.” According to the study, dog lovers tended to be the people who are energetic, lively and outgoing. Contrary to popular belief, dog lovers also tended to be the rule followers. Think about the people you meet a party; the dog lover is most often the person who will be the host or hostess running around making sure everyone is having a great time.  

In contrast, “cat lovers” tended to be more introverted and self-aware. According to the study, “cat lovers” also tended to break rules more than dog people and be more open minded to deep thought and other cultures. They also tended to be more sensitive than “dog lovers.” Think back to the party mentioned earlier, the “cat lover” is the person who is behind the scenes making sure everything goes according to plan. They tend to be running the kitchen making sure all the food is set up or cleaning before hand. Is there a reason for the difference? Researchers believe that the environment people live in has a great deal with the pets they choose. According to the study, “dog lovers” wanted to be outdoors and near recreation while “cat lovers” enjoyed quiet solitude indoors.   

While studies may tend to be subjective at times, the fact of the matter is that both types of people are needed to make a great party.