c‘is who loves one because they are loving and obedientand who else, elegant and independent. The differences between dog and cat they are evident, to the point that humans practically recognize the skin that best suits their character. And, indeed, they identify with their favorite animal, transferring onto themselves some characteristics of their four legs. An operation to some extent founded.
Dog and cat, and “dog person” vs “cat person”
Exist ad hoc studies on the personality of “people who love dogs” (dog person) compared to that of “people who love cats” (cat person). But the picture has always appeared rather conflicting about the existence of two distinct types. Samuel Gosling himself declares it, professor of psychology at the University of Austin in Texas, deciding to examine the five prevalent personality traits in relation to the preference for dogs or cats. From the analysis of the answers of a group of self-professed individuals dog persons or cat persons however, he drew some conclusions. And that is that those who love dogs stand out for their extroversion and scrupulosity, while those who love cats are more introverted, neurotic and curious.
According to another 2017 study that appeared in the Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, those who decide to adopt a dog would have a more sociable, lively and cordial character, but would also be particularly attentive to rules and social ties. In reverse the cat lovers were more prone to abstract thinking, and on average more intelligent and independent and confident in their abilities.
Dog and cat: they are different in everything (or almost)
Convinced or not of the results of these researches, so much dog person That cat person they will have to agree on the polar opposite characteristics that we, as their owners, love and put up with. The expression “get along like a dog and a cat” comes from the very fact that the two species represent two opposite universes. Both in the way of being in the world and of building relationships, and of communicating. On the subject Roberto Marchesini, ethologist and zooanthropologist, and lover of both worlds, wrote Dog Cat. Comparing two styles (Apeiron editor). A book that is also a game understand the share of «felinity and canineness» that they may have passed on to usor who helped us express.
Home or family?
For the cat the house is sacred. Historically, man adopted the cat when he became sedentary, to get rid of mice and snakes. It is no coincidence that the cat is considered the patron deity of the house. To support this very special relationship with the territory, it is better not to introduce sudden changes (for example another cat) and allow the house cat to decide its spaces.
On the contrary, for the dog the home is the family. Historically it is nomadic, it defends the camp but, for man, it is ready to move at any moment. Hence the relationship of both with travel: tolerable for Fido, if he travels with his family, basically a tragedy for cats.
The cuddles: who takes the initiative?
The cat loves to be petted if he is the one to take the initiative, otherwise it tolerates little fuss: also due to the great sensitivity of its coat. This is why she loves the most shy “masters”.
The dog? He’s never full of it. If he belongs to some breeds (such as the Labrador) he is a real emotional black hole: they would never be enough for him.
The man, pastime or pack leader?
Simplifying, the cat stays with the man when he has nothing to do. He experiences it as an equal to him.
If, on the other hand, we consider that the dog descends from the wolf, the origin of the dynamics it puts into play in the relationship with the other members of the family is also clear. To him, I’m a pack, or a soccer team. Hence the importance of a harmony with his “mister”: only if the relationship of trust is stable, the dog trusts. If he “pulls” on the leash, it’s because he doesn’t “hear” the “mister” and decides that, at that point, it’s up to him (the dog) to “bring” the other (the master). Experience the game as a workout.
A space, two or three dimensions?
The cat is a trapeze artist, a tightrope walker, an acrobat. AND lives vertically, above all. In general, he hates crowds and novelty: when someone unknown enters, his first thought will be to go and hide. From there he will observe whether the news interests him or not. Picking him up is tantamount to making him nervous.
On the contrary the dog lives in horizontal. He loves open spaces but also parties and noise. He loves people, especially if they’re friends with his friends.
The relationship with food: bulimic or ritual?
The cat would nibble croquettes from dawn and, basically, even without respite. In reverse the dog eats at the right time and he loves food rituals: the bowl prepared for him, in a certain way, at a certain time.
The intelligence of dog and cat
A great question that animates admirers and detractors of the two species is that relating to intelligence. Science, as Marchesini points out, says that dogs have 530 million cortical neurons, cats 250 million. Since it brought researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville (Tennessee, USA) to affirm that the dog is smarter than the cat. As an ethologist, however, the Italian scholar is not convinced that this data is enough to give the dog the most intelligent prize.
And indeed distinguish between the two types of intelligence. On one side the more political one of the dognotoriously prone to sociability and capable of building hierarchical relationships, making mediations, organizing groups. On the other, the more intuitive one of the cat, which is also more flexible when it comes to taking action. If the dog’s intelligence tests were done on problem solving tests, the cat would be much more intelligent. In short, they are two different intelligences: that is, dogs and cats have cognitive structures capable of carrying out different tasks. In short, it is not possible to say which is the most intelligent animal.
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