Get in touch: Do you care more about dogs than cats?
- Published
- comments
Are you a dog lover or are you cat person? Back in 2019 we asked some of you why you love your pets
Pet owners are generally more affectionate towards their dogs than their cats, but how big that difference is depends on which country you live in, according to a study.
The research carried out by the University of Copenhagen was based on the answers from lots of pet owners living in Denmark, Austria and the United Kingdom.
The aim was to find out how much money owners were happy to spend on caring for both animals, as well as how emotionally attached or affectionate they felt towards them.
The scientists said people seemed to care more about their dogs than their cats in all three countries, across all the measures.
But while dogs were only slightly favoured in the UK, in Austria there was a much greater difference, and in Denmark the change was greater still.
Danish pet owners were much less likely to have bought pet insurance for their cats than their dogs, in case they had an accident or got sick and needed treatment.
The research also found Danish pet owners were less willing than in other countries to pay for medical treatment for their pet.
Let us know in the comments below whether you agree with the findings of the study.
The scientists employed a survey company to recruit representative samples of adult pet owners from the three countries.
In the end more than 2,000 pet owners took part: 844 dog owners, 872 cat owners, and 401 who owned both dogs and cats.
They were asked to answer questions aimed at understanding the different aspects of animal care, and attachment to their pets, as well as questions about how much they invest in veterinary care and their expectations for available care.
Why do people care more about their dogs than their cats?
Dogs have a reputation as being more loyal than cats
The research team think it might have to do with the amount of time the animals spend at home with their owners.
This ties in with the findings of previous studies, because cats can be viewed as being more independent and needing less care in return, compared to dogs.
Are you team cat or team dog? Or do you love both animals equally?
Another possible explanation is the different roles the animals played in society in countries with a more agricultural past than the UK.
In agriculturally dominant societies, traditionally animals were kept at a greater distance from people, with the exception of dogs, who worked directly with humans, unlike cats.
There seems to be no natural limit to how much people will end up caring about their cats compared to their dogs.
Dr Peter Sandøe who led the study, said: "The British are often portrayed as a nation of cat lovers, which is certainly confirmed by our study.
"The Danes have a long way to go but they may eventually get there."
Scientists are now curious as to whether people in other countries, apart from the three surveyed, care for cats more than dogs, or whether stronger affection for dogs is universal.
Let us know in the comments below whether you agree with the findings of the study.
- Published27 October 2022
- Published17 January 2023
- Published7 August 2020
