The real difference between dog people and cat people

There seems to be a feud between cat people and dog people, with each type of person thinking their choice of pet is the best, and there are many stereotypes about how being a cat or dog person reflects your personality. 

First of all, the classic dichotomy that separates the two groups is the idea that dog people are extroverts and cat people are introverts. While there may be some truth to this, I think it’s time we dive a little deeper into this surface-level analysis. 

Let’s take a look at dog people first. Owning a dog is a big commitment, you have to have a certain lifestyle that can accommodate for making sure they are taken care of. Not everyone has the time or energy to go for a walk with an excitable animal every day, especially early in the morning or after a long day at work. So in this sense, yes, dog people are arguably more outgoing. 

Owning a cat, on the other hand, is a lot less work. Cats are very independent animals, so they work well for people who perhaps have a busy or stressful lifestyle but would still like some company. However, I think labelling cat people as introverts isn’t necessarily correct.

Instead, I think we should look at how dog and cat people receive love from their animals. Dogs are naturally affectionate, often showing excitement towards their owners. Contrastingly, cats are more reserved. It’s therefore plausible to consider that dog people actively seek love and validation; they need reassurance which can be provided by dogs.

Cats are, in most cases, the complete opposite. You have to earn their love, which I believe makes the connection between a cat and their owner much deeper. Cat people are more self-assured, they respect that cats have their own life and don’t need explicit affection to feel loved by their pet. 

Another difference I have very often observed is that a lot of the time dog people hate cats whereas cat people can also appreciate dogs. As a cat person myself, I still think dogs are cute. Cats get bad press; people have one bad experience with a cat, or get impatient that the cat doesn’t immediately show affection, and that’s enough to put them off forever.

I think dog people need to give cats another chance, because they truly are a wonderful pet. Either way, one thing cat people and dog people definitely have in common is constantly taking photos of their pets and showing them to anyone who will give them the time of day!