Yes, surveys and studies suggest dog owners report higher levels of happiness and are less neurotic than cat owners, with one significant survey finding dog owners twice as likely to say they're "very happy," though researchers caution these are general trends, not rules, as both pets offer unique benefits like companionship and stress relief. Cat owners often experience reduced stress and loneliness, while dog owners tend to be more extroverted, creating different pathways to well-being.
The 3:3:3 Rule: Help Your New Cat Adjust to Their Home The 3:3:3 rule explains some general expectations for the transition process and some tips on how to support your cat through each stage: 3 days for initial acclimatization, 3 weeks for settling in, and by 3 months, they should be comfortable and at ease in their ...
When choosing an owner, it will rely on its instincts to choose the right one. The primary way of doing this is through vibrational matching. It works the same way as we like to spend time with people who are on the same vibrational level as us. It is the same between us and our pets.
The social psychologist Samuel D Gosling of the University of Texas has studied the personality traits of self-identified “dog people” and “cat people”. He found that cat lovers score higher on neuroticism and openness to experiences, whereas dog people are more extroverted, agreeable and conscientious.
People who own dogs are statistically happier, on average, than those who own cats. New York research: ``However, pet owners would be more satisfied with life, and people who have dogs scored higher on all well-being aspects than those interviewed who own cats.'' British research:
Best Pets for Reducing Anxiety and Depression
Researchers examining the differences between "dog people" and "cat people" found that feline fans score higher on intelligence tests and are more introverted, open-minded, and sensitive, LiveScience reports. On the other hand, "dog people" are more outgoing and energetic, and they prefer to follow the rules.
House soiling in cats, also called feline inappropriate elimination, is the most common behavioral complaint of cat owners. Problem behaviors can be urine and/or stool deposited outside of the litter box, or marking behaviors.
They found that most respondents who identified themselves as introverted and sensitive were cat lovers, while those who said they were extroverted and agreeable were more typically dog people.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often going undetected until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), which damages organs without obvious signs until blindness or seizures occur, notes Muirfield Animal Hospital, Pet Health Network, www.springwoodvets.com.au, Close Veterinary Clinic, Killarney Animal Hospital, Physicians Mutual Insurance, Sykesville Veterinary Clinic, Mona Vale Veterinary Hospital, Nimbus Pet Hospital, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Covetrus North America, ASPCA Pet Insurance and PetCareRx. Other serious conditions include Hyperthyroidism, Heart Disease (like HCM), and Fatty Liver Disease (Hepatic Lipidosis).
Cats can experience stress and confusion during a rehome, especially if the change is sudden. But sadness, as we experience it, isn't quite the same for cats, and they usually settle once they feel safe.
A cat chooses you through affectionate behaviors like slow blinking (cat kisses), head bunting (marking you with their scent), kneading ("making biscuits"), grooming you (allogrooming), bringing "gifts," following you, sleeping near you, and exposing their belly, all signs of deep trust and family inclusion. These actions show they feel safe, see you as family, and want to bond, indicating you're their favorite person.
Offer Affection and Praise
You can say the words, “I'm sorry,” but a more effective strategy when apologizing to cats is to offer them lots of love. Scratch them in their favorite spot and tell them how wonderful they are. You can also try speaking their language by giving them a nice slow blink.
Cats are incredibly sensitive to their environment. Major changes such as switching owners and households can be dramatic and very stressful. Cats are aware of even the smallest changes in your household.
Peterson suggests that this is a model for life in general. If you take care to notice opportunities such as petting a cat—or other small, good things—you are better able to affirm the goodness of Being, without denying the suffering that's always present in Being, too.
It's true! According to a study on the subject among 600 participants, it's been shown that cat owners, and those who are drawn to the feline kind in general, are reported to have a higher IQ. To conduct their research of cat and dog preferences, the researchers at Carrol University in Wisconsin analyzed 600 students .
10 Signs Your Cat Is Stressed
Most Affectionate Cat Breeds
Cat behavior red flags signal potential medical or emotional issues, including sudden changes in eating/drinking, litter box problems, excessive vocalization, increased hiding, aggression, lethargy, or changes in grooming (like overgrooming or stopping). Because cats hide illness well, any significant deviation from their normal routine, such as increased thirst, appetite changes, or unusual hiding, warrants an urgent vet visit to rule out serious underlying conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or pain.
Stimulating smells, such as catnip, reduce a cat's anxiety. You can use catnip toys or sprinkle catnip in your cat's relaxing area. Hiding treats is another great way to incorporate your cat's sense of smell. If you only put your cat in this space when they're stressed, they may associate the area with their triggers.
Direct eye contact. Cats can find direct eye contact quite threatening. They wouldn't look another cat straight in the face unless they were fixing for a fight.
Of all breeds, Border Collies consistently come out on top in terms of intelligence. Border collies proved more capable than even Labrador Retrievers at social cognition, inhibition control and spatial problem-solving.
The results were surprising. About 64% of the cats showed signs of “secure attachment”, meaning they trusted their owners and felt safe in their presence. That's actually a higher percentage than dogs, who scored 58% in similar studies.
Based on several studies, behaviorists believe an adult cat's intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human toddler. Studies have shown cats have object permanence recognition, an awareness of objects that aren't directly visible.