Here’s the truth about cat lovers and dog lovers:

Humans have kept pets for centuries now. As hunter- gatherers our pets were more for utility and not particularly for companionship. Just as we have evolved so has our relationship with our pets. Keeping pets is more of a cultural phenomenon than a basic human need. It is mostly influenced by culture but your genealogy might have a contribution too. Some species have shown a capacity to form strong bonds with humans. Dogs and cats being the foremost of such species.

So are you a dog person or a cat person. There are many of us who identify ourselves as dog people or cat people. You might be one of these people or might have a friend or two who do so. Cat lovers and dog lovers are pitted against each other the most. The debate is never-ending. It has led to many stereotypes. The science behind the stereotypes is as not so strong. Whichever camp you belong to you are foremost a pet lover. You have the capacity to love your pet as much as a human and in some cases even more. People who are pet lovers take pride in their pet and love them to bits. Caring for them and talking about them is a favorite pastime. You will find a lot of clubs and sites dedicated to pet owners like the ourpetspot.com. Sites like these are not only good for sharing about your pets but can also be used to understand your pet’s needs better.

So which one are you?

Here’s a quick checklist of qualities setting dog person and a cat person apart.

1. The world has more dog people than cat people
2. While cat people love solitude, dog people are more outgoing and sociable
3. Now this one is sure to cause debate; a cat person is more intelligent than a dog person
4. Dog lovers are known to be livelier. They are more energetic and friendlier. In most studies cat people did not exhibit these traits.
5. Cat people are more open-minded.
6. Dog lovers seek companionship more than affection. Cat lovers, on the other hand, seek affection over companionship.
7. Dog people are known to listen more and have shown to be more obedient. Cat people are similar to their pets, more expedient. Ever seen a cat come running when called?
8. Dog people tend to be more conservative than cat people. Dog people tend to lean more towards Republicans, while cat owners skew Democrats.
9. Cat people are more sensitive than dog owners. This might not be a bad thing but is a distinction between the two alright.
10. And finally, the two have different tastes in sense of humor. While a dog person might go for a fart joke a cat person tends to laugh at clever wordplay.

If you are planning to get a pet or just trying to throw shade at the other camp, the internet is full of fun stuff about the two camps.