Are cats the pet of choice for intellectual/gifted people?

[lat192004]

Hello all,

I read about a survey once that came to the conclusion that intellectuals, including musicians, artists, writers, even computer programmers, prefer a cat over any other pet. Do you think that this is true? I'm not trying to say cats have snob appeal, just want to know:are cat owners more likely to be intellectual types, people who are more likely to be deep thinkers? Or would you say no, that cat owners are no different than dog owners. Thanks for your input........

[aly]

I don't think cat owners are more intelligent than dog owners at all. I really don't see a difference in intelligence between the two.

I do notice a difference in personalities. Cat owners tend to be a bit more introverted than dog owners.

(I think the results of this poll may be skewed since this is being asked on the cat side .. hehehe)

[lat192004]

Yes, I admitt it, it's coming from a cat lover(ME). LOL.

[Randy_K]

I suspect the appeal of cats runs across the spectrum of careers, educational levels and intelligence levels.

[sirrahbed]

I tend to agree with Aly, that cat owners seem to be more introverted but I do not think it has anything to do with intelligence - but gifted people ARE often introverted so who knows? I voted no, though. Hmm...maybe I will make a poll to see if we ARE introverted....

[Kirsten]

Well, I actually think dog owners and cat owners are different, but of course there are always exceptions from the rule.

I don't know if I'm gifted in any way, but you can say I rather use my brain than my muscles...

Kirsten

[catmandu]

I dont think that there a lot of differences , the only reason , that my family chose Cats, is that our Dogs tended to roam , and had to be picked up , at the Dog Pound , which didnt happen with cats, and Cats dont tend to need to be watched , as much as Dogs!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by aly
(I think the results of this poll may be skewed since this is being asked on the cat side .. hehehe)

What, me biased because I own two of the bestest kitties in the world? Bah!

But of course I picked yes because I would like to be categorized as an intellectual/gifted sort of person. What am I talking about, of course I'm an intellectual/gifted sorted of person.....aren't I?

[Randy_K]

Perhaps the real difference is that cat owners (and I use the term "owners" very loosely) are better able to understand subtlety. I frequently hear "dog people" say that cats are too independent, emotionally inaccessible and only need you for food. They miss the dependence, the need for affection and cuddling and play and all the other non-verbal communication.

[catnapper]

I have both a dog and cats. I am very artistic and expressive. Am I more intelligent? Depends on what type of intelligence... there's social, emotional, logical, etc. When it comes to math - forget it. When it comes to the arts - I am a walking art history book, walking art technique advisor, you name it and I can help you so long as art is involved.

I don't know if thee's a difference... my husband knows nothing about art and is a math whiz... yet we share the same pets.

[Karen]

I know lots of people society would consider "intellectual/gifted." They are not any more likely to have a cat than a dog. In fact, many have both. So there.

I do not find any stereotypes to be true about cat owners versus dog owners. There are people who own dogs for various reasons, from the superficial to the sublime, from companionship to comfort to comic relief. Same is true of cat folks. The only difference is that I do not know anyone who owns a cat specifically as a working animal, unlike police dogs, guide dogs, herding/farm dogs, and dogs people have for home security/protection.

Where was the survey done, by whom, and of how many people? I am just curious.

I pose that bunnies are the pet of choice for intellectual/gifted people!

[lat192004]

Hello Karen,

I heard of this cat/intellectual people connection through listening to all night radio show years back, and the results came up similar to what shows on the poll at PT right now. Funny thing about me, I did not like cats until I met my wife, she got a seal point Siamese, and I was hooked on cats after that. The wife and I split, but that cat bond stuck. The poll I mentioned about was not official, just the results of a long ago lost radio show from about 1972. There is a great story, although a bit long, from Rudyard Kipling written in 1902 about cat domestication. Go to the link....
http://exn.ca/cats/kipling.cfm..., it is gerat reading for any cat lover. While you are there, check out....http://exn.ca/cats/home.cfm ... This is Discovery's site for cats. Karen, I don't know if cat people are any smarter than other pet owners, but they sure are different. You don't own a cat, fiqure that out and you will work out fine as a cat lover. I have worked around animals, had all kinds of pets, but never anything like a cat. Cat people are different, that is a person who only prefers a cat as a pet...Thanks for letting me post this Poll, and I love this Pet Forum!!......

[Kfamr]

I voted NO, again.. I don't think this is correct.

Talents aren't related to preference in pets.

[Logan]

Cats are "easier" in many instances, and are definitely "easier" to leave when other things arise. But I would have to vote "no" to your question Heck, I have both, love both (dogs and cats) and wouldn't have it any other way!!!!

[carole]

Well I Would not consider myself an intellectual , but yes I am introverted, so maybe there is a grain of truth in the statement, but really its just a big generalisation, or stereo-typing for want of a better word, so NO I don't agree with the statement at all.

Its a mixed bag IMO, some cat owners are gifted etc, some are not, some are introverted , some are not, etc etc.