Cat and dog owners react differently to stress and have distinctive personality traits: study findings

A recent study has revealed clear differences between the personalities of cat and dog owners when faced with stressful or isolating circumstances. Researchers found that dog owners are more likely to be resilient in stressful situations, while cat owners tend to be more neurotic.

The study was conducted by Australian psychologists Jessica Oliva and Leah Michelle Baines from James Cook University in Queensland. They surveyed 321 dog or cat owners and were measured on personality traits including extraversion, enjoyment, openness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and resilience, MailOnline writes.

The results showed that dog owners showed higher levels of resilience, while cat owners showed higher levels of neuroticism, after controlling for age and gender.

"Contrary to our expectations, no other personality differences were found between pet owners," the researchers elaborated.

Interestingly, cat-owning women also had higher rates of neuroticism than cat-owning men. Although the reason for these findings is not entirely clear, more withdrawn or neurotic people may be genetically inclined to get cats, while more resilient people get dogs.

In addition, the experience of having a cat may cause people to be more neurotic compared to a dog. For example, because dogs like to go for walks, having one increases your likelihood of getting out of the house, leading to social interaction and less neuroticism.

In contrast, cats don't need this kind of grooming, meaning cat owners may not benefit from this level of interaction.

Having a cat or dog is unlikely to drastically change personality traits. Rather, most people simply choose a pet that fits their personality.

"Being a dog owner is associated with reduced loneliness in people living alone during periods of prolonged isolation, such as during quarantine through COVID-19, suggesting higher levels of resilience in dog owners," she said.

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