Cat or dog person, what does it say about your psychology?

Are you a cat or dog person? What does it say about your psychology and personality if you prefer one over the other?

People tend to like traits in animals that they have themselves. Therefore, they value these traits. Let’s go into these traits on the big five personality traits model.

Personality Traits

Extroversion & Introversion

Extroverts are more likely to prefer dogs due to their love for everything social. Going out to walk with the dog can also be an excuse to go outside and socialize with someone. They are perhaps even a conversation starter.

Extroverts are also more focused on group loyalty, and dogs are known for being loyal to their masters. One of the most common criticisms that people have of cats is their perceived lack of loyalty.  Dogs will remain loyal to their owners no matter what. Cats, on the other hand, tend to shift their loyalty based on their situation at a particular time.

Extroverts are also more likely to be tempted by the need for higher social status and hierarchies. This is likely connected to the human motivation of wanting to control others. This could also include animals. The human is seen as the master or alpha in the human dog relationship.

Introverts value autonomy and independence, which they share with felines.

Agreeableness

In general, dogs would be classed as an agreeable animal. They want to please and cooperate. This likely comes from the fact that they are social animals; cooperation is good for the group and social cohesion. So, cat lovers could be more on the disagreeable side.

Conscientiousness

Dog owners tend to be higher in conscientiousness. Dogs require more work and more looking after in general. While cat owners can be a bit lazier.

Orderliness & disgust

Trait orderliness is believed to be highly correlated with the emotion of disgust. Those who prefer cats are likely to be higher in the emotion of disgust as cats are cleaner animals. This trait is also associated with perfectionism, and cats could be considered all round a more perfect animal when you consider their physical abilities.      

Neuroticism

Those higher in neuroticism may choose a dog as a pet/guard dog. So, it would have to be a larger dog. High neuroticism people think more about risk and negative outcomes, so, safety and security are often high up on their priorities.

Openness

Studies also suggest that cat owners are higher on trait openness. High openness people value freedom over being part of a structured group. They also tend to dislike rules, regulations, and any form of restriction.

Cat owners also tend to be more creative. This likely comes from being high in the interest in the aesthetics aspect of trait openness. Cats also generally look better, which is connected to aesthetic sensitivity. 

Those who are more athletic may like cats more because they appreciate that ability in others, (including animals) what they themselves possess.