A new University of Texas at Austin study of 4,500 humans shows dog people to be more agreeable, social, outgoing, and less neurotic than cat people.
Sorry Catsters. Between our recent story on the AP poll revealing dogs are far more popular than cats, and now this study, this just hasnt been your week — even with all your “cats rool, dogs drool” comments on that post. (How are you liking the more well-thought-out retorts Dogsters are leaving on your kitty counterpoint article?)
Before you slink off to sulk in your kitty litter and lick (and lick, and lick) your wounds, read on for further details of this wonderful study, as reported in a CNN article:
It turns out that the “dog people” — based on how people identified themselves, not on what animals they actually own — tend to be more social and outgoing, whereas “cat people” tend to be more neurotic but “open,” which means creative, philosophical, or nontraditional in this context.
Dog people scored significantly higher on extroversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness measures, and lower on neuroticism and openness than cat people, the survey found. The effect persisted regardless of gender of the respondent.
“Once you know the findings, it kind of falls into place,” (Sam) Gosling (the studys lead researcher) said. “You think, ‘of course, agreeableness and extraversion — dogs are companionable, they hang out, they like to be with you, they like your company, whereas cats like it for as long as they want it, and then they’re off.”
Were starting to feel a little sorry for cats, so well throw you a bone. Your people are apparently a more creative lot than dog people. That explains all those funny little doohickey toys they make for you with feathers, and those hand-sewn catnip pillows they make.
As for me, Ill take a nice store-bought Kong from my social, agreeable, outgoing, conscientious person any day.
