Are you a cat person or a dog person?

Upon meeting someone new, we tend to ask simple questions to learn more about them and their personality. These questions are often simple, regarding things such as favorite color, where they are from, and what they like to do for fun. One of the most common questions is “Are you a cat person or a dog person?" This is a simple question, but one that gives a lot of information and potentially a deep insight into how a person thinks or behaves.

This question is so popularly asked that we have assigned traits and habits to the answer given. If a person announced that they were a dog person, people immediately viewed them as someone who is more outgoing, active and adventurous. However, if someone were to say that they were a cat person, they would be seen as more introverted, shy, and intellectual. People have started arguments or fights over these questions and answers, and many say that you can only be one or the other, not both. Personally, I have found there to be little to no correlation between the answers and the personality types of the people asked.

I love both cats and dogs, but I definitely favor cats over dogs. I grew up with both cats and dogs in my house, but I have always preferred cats. Cats are seen as being colder and more distant than dogs, who seem to live for playing. However, cats can be just as active and affectionate as dogs, and dogs can be moody and cold too. I think dogs take a lot more physical work to keep, as you have to walk them often, and play with them a lot at home too. Training them is very important and is something that is very easy to make a mistake with. Cats do not need this level of training, but they still need to learn what to do and where to do it.

Overall, I think cats are a lot cleaner and more independent than dogs. But dogs still have many good points too. Many people say that seeing how their dog greets them as they arrive home every day after work is the happiest feeling in the world to them. Dogs are also great if you’re trying to stay in shape, as they make great running partners, or even just good company for long walks. Dogs will almost always be happy to join you in any activity you are doing. This can be problematic, as they may try to join you when you are busy working, or they may want to play with you at inconvenient times. Cats are also guilty of this, but they can be left alone safely for a much longer period of time than dogs.

If I had to choose a side, then I would say I’m a cat person, but I’d be a happy with a dog too. Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep a pet in Tokyo, but I would love to adopt a cat sometime in the future.

Fergal

Vocabulary
insight (noun) - an understanding of what something is like
trait (noun) - a particular quality in your personality
introverted (adjective) - more interested in your own thoughts and feelings than in spending time with other people
correlation (noun) - a connection between two things in which one thing changes as the other does
stay in shape (verb phrase) - to stay healthy; to not gain