Cat Owners Tend to Be More Intelligent, According to a New Study

About 67% of families in the US have a pet, according to statistics. 69% of them own a dog, while 45.3% of households own a cat. It seems dogs are maintaining their position as man’s best friend, however, it turns out that owning a cat could indicate many interesting facts about their owners.

Bright Side looked carefully at the latest study about pet owners (cats, in particular) and is eager to share with you its unexpectedly interesting results.

Our pets are a reflection of our lifestyle.

Besides cats’ amazing ability to help humans lower stress, overcome difficulties, and cope with loss, having a fluffy feline friend by your side says a lot about your character and personality in general.

Surprisingly, people tend to opt for pets who complement their lifestyle and match their habits. And a recent study with 600 participants showcased how cat people performed better intellectually than dog lovers.

It’s research based.

It was Samuel D. Gosling from the University of Texas at Austin who first came up with the idea to compare dog owners with their pets. He managed to outline some common traits between humans and their best friends, but cat people were not on his list.

Next, Denise D. Guastello, an associate professor at Carroll College, together with Andrea D. Guastello and Stephen J. Guastello, held a large one-of-a-kind study that compared the personalities of dog and cat people. The main idea was to understand the relationship between human personalities and their preferences for a pet species.

The differences between dog and cat people

About 600 participants were involved in the study where other factors were taken into account, such as personality traits and interests. 60% of them said that they preferred dogs, 11% said they were devoted cat lovers, and the rest liked both animals.

Based on their answers to various questions, it was revealed that cat people performed better intellectually. It also seemed that they were more intellectually curious than dog lovers.

It’s all about intelligence.

Perhaps the most interesting trait that was spotted was academic performance. This paper declares that cat people are more likely to have a college degree and be more educated in general. They are also more likely to stand up for what they believe in and not care about what people think about them and their choices.

Love is the key.

All in all, whether you are a cat person, a dog person, or a fish person, it’s the connection with your pet that matters the most. These fluffy guys are always there beside you whether you are a nerd or an outgoing and open-minded person.

Do you have a dog or a cat? Can you confirm the results of this study? We would be glad to hear from you in the comments!