More than 600 people were followed, interviewed and studied for a research project comparing cat and dog lovers, and the findings have some people barking for an explanation.
Denise Guastello, of Carroll University, says “dog people” tend to be energetic, outgoing and likely to follow rules.
“Cat lovers” are more open minded, non-conformist and sensitive, according to the study.
And LiveScience reports there is one more claim that may really get under the collar of dog owners. According to the study, cat owners tend to be smarter.
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Scientists think the pets themselves and how they are cared for could explain the differences.
Dog owners often go on walks with their four-legged friends, which gets the owners outside in social settings.
Not many people walk their cats outside. In fact, most house cats stay inside a great deal of the time, allowing their people to do the same.
In similar research in 2010, Psychology Today reported that 60 percent of respondents said they favored dogs and 11 percent preferred cats.
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