When it comes to the longtime debate between being a dog person or a cat person, it’s generally thought that dogs need more TLC while cats are the aloof ones.
So, people often think cats are more self-reliant and aren’t as invested in human companionship compared to dogs. But is it true that we actually take care of dogs more attentively than cats? New research from three European nations suggests that yes, we do.
That said, the study also points out that attitudes toward dogs and cats aren’t universal; they differ significantly depending on the country. For example, in the UK, people are nearly equally fond of both pets. However, in Denmark, dogs clearly win the popularity contest.
Before this research, previous studies suggested that pet owners were less emotionally invested in their cats and less willing to spend on their healthcare compared to dogs.
However, those earlier studies often had limitations, such as relying too heavily on unrepresentative samples and not taking into account cultural factors that might affect attitudes toward pets. In order to provide a clearer picture, Dr. Peter Sandøe from the University of Copenhagen set out to conduct this study.
“We and others have found that people are willing to spend much less on their cats than on their dogs. We wanted to find out whether cats could eventually end up having the same high status as dogs do today,” he said.
To delve into this issue, the researchers partnered with a survey firm to gather a diverse group of adult pet owners from Denmark, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
Although these countries share some similarities, they each have a distinct timeline when it comes to urbanization: the UK led the way, Denmark followed most recently, and Austria fell somewhere in between.
The study’s authors hypothesized that a country’s historical relationship with rural animals could play a role in shaping modern-day attitudes toward pets.
nataba – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual cat or dog
The completed study drew from a sample of 2,117 pet owners, breaking down into 844 dog owners, 872 cat owners, and 401 individuals who have both dogs and cats.
The survey included a wide range of questions designed to explore multiple aspects of pet care. It even incorporated the Lexington attachment to pets scale, a measure used to assess the emotional bond between owners and their pets.
Additionally, the survey asked participants about their willingness to spend on veterinary services and what they expect in terms of medical care for their pets.
The research did echo the findings of earlier studies, revealing that people in all three countries appeared to be more attached to their dogs than their cats on all fronts.
Dogs scored higher on the attachment scale, and their owners were more likely to insure them. Furthermore, people generally expected a wider array of treatment options for their dogs and were more willing to splurge on healthcare for their canines.
Even so, the researchers emphasized that there were notable differences in pet preferences across the countries surveyed. In the UK, the favorability toward dogs over cats was only slight. In Austria, the preference was more pronounced, while in Denmark, it was the most significant.
“While people care more about their dogs than their cats in all countries, the degree of difference varied dramatically between countries,” Dr. Sandøe underscored.
“It doesn’t, therefore, seem to be a universal phenomenon that people care much less about their cats than their dogs. We suggest instead that the difference is likely to depend on cultural factors, including whether the animals spend a lot of time with their owners in the home.”
The trend was consistent across various metrics. In Denmark, the emotional divide between dog and cat owners was the widest. Danes were also significantly less likely to insure their cats compared to their dogs. Furthermore, when it came to healthcare expenses, Danish pet owners were less inclined to invest in treatments for their cats.
“There seems to be no natural limit to how much people will end up caring about their cats compared to their dogs,” concluded Dr. Sandøe.
“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.
The researchers suggest that Denmark’s relatively recent shift from an agricultural society might be influencing these attitudes. In that setting, dogs often had roles that brought them into closer contact with humans than cats.
However, the study acknowledges that other factors could also be at work. For instance, people in any country might simply be more likely to insure their dogs because canine healthcare tends to be costlier.
Additionally, the stronger emotional ties to dogs could stem from their more interactive lifestyle. Unlike cats, dogs are usually more involved in their owners’ daily activities, like going for walks, which could enhance the bond.
“Our study only looks at three countries located in central and western Europe,” added Professor Clare Palmer from Texas A&M University, who was a co-author of the study.
“It raises intriguing questions regarding what comparative studies of other countries might find. Perhaps there are countries where the level of care for and attachment to cats is, in fact, higher than dogs?”
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, visit the link here.
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