Dogs or cats: the study showed whose owners take care of their animals more
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Dog owners care more about their pets than cat owners, both emotionally and financially. However, the size of the gap depends on the specific country.
This was reported by Science Alert with reference to a study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
An international team of researchers surveyed 2,117 people in Great Britain, Denmark and Austria: 844 dog owners, 872 cat owners and 401 dog and cat owners.
Respondents answered questions about animal insurance, willingness to pay for their treatment, emotional attachment to pets, which was measured using a special scale.
| Photo: AllaSerebrina/Depositphotos |
The results showed that in all three countries dogs are valued more than cats. The largest gap was found in Denmark, smaller in Austria, insignificant in Great Britain.
“Although people in all countries care more for their dogs than for their cats, the degree of difference between countries varies greatly. So it does not appear to be a universal phenomenon that people care much less for their cats than for their dogs.
We hypothesize that the difference may depend on cultural factors, particularly whether the animals spend a lot of time with their owners at home.” – says co-author of the study Peter Sandoe.
Overall, dogs benefited in terms of both emotional and financial investment from their owners. However, in Great Britain, for example, there was not much difference between the willingness to pay for the treatment of dogs and cats.
“The British are often portrayed as a nation of cat lovers, which our research certainly supports. The Danes still have a long way to go, but they may eventually get there.” – says the researcher.
Scientists say that there may be several reasons for this attitude. In particular, cats often behave aloof, and dogs require a lot of attention from the owner.
Also important is the factor of urbanization of the country, when people began to lose touch with agricultural herbs. It was the earliest in Great Britain, the latest in Denmark.
“This raises interesting questions about what comparative studies in other countries might reveal. Perhaps there are countries where the level of care and attachment to cats is actually higher than to dogs.” – says Sandoe.
We will remind you that earlier we talked about which dog breeds are best for people with allergies.
Read also: Diapers, snacks and lack of free time: what you should know before taking home a puppy
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