Mini-Test: Do You Have a Dog’s or Cat’s Temperament?

How do noisy environments affect you?
D. No particular effect, I tolerate noise well
Dog owners, and their neighbors, are well aware that quietness is by no means a canine endowment. Dogs have a need to express themselves through the sound produced by their own voices, which is why it is very unlikely, if not impossible at all, for a genuine lover of silence and quiet to get along with them. A person who loves dogs and is simultaneously annoyed by noise is therefore a rarity.
C. I don’t like noise and prefer quiet environments
Felines are silent animals; they do not produce noise when they move, unlike dogs, and most importantly, they do not bark. Those who prefer quiet and peaceful environments, and feel the need to relate to a pet, are most likely to approach cats rather than dogs. An image that perfectly exemplifies the different approach of these two animal species is the one where there is a dog madly barking and running inside its fence, while a cat silently observes it from above, sitting on the wall.
What is your relationship with loneliness?
D. I prefer company and group situations
Dogs, in the collective imagination, play the role of faithful companions and friends. Those who like to be surrounded by dogs, consequently, manifest a strong social disposition, and such a need often arises from a certain sense of loneliness or inadequacy. In this latter case, the dog becomes a true substitute for human relationships, providing with its presence that comfort that its owner cannot find in other people.
C. I’m not afraid of it and sometimes I just need it
In contrast, cat lovers do not disdain solitude, although this is not an absolute rule. Since felines are independent animals with little inclination to be subdued, those who manage to peacefully coexist with them generally possess a more relaxed and equitable view of interpersonal relationships than those who, on the contrary, feel the need to impose themselves on their pet.
Dogs are man’s best friend. How do you feel about it?
D. Of course they are, if only they could talk!
The true dog lover would never be able to give an answer other than this! If they did so, they would feel that the foundational certainty on which they base their special relationship with their pet would be lost. There is undoubtedly some immaturity in this belief, yet it also suggests a debasing view of human relationships, which are seen as being inferior to those that can be established with an animal.
C. I disagree, I have another idea of friendship
Although this answer does not necessarily belong to all feline lovers, it is very rare for a dog-like character to share it. Those who choose it may do so for very different reasons, however underlying it is the understanding that humans and animals should not be put on the same level. This is a positive fact.
Do you like the idea of giving orders and taking control?
D. Yes, it feels good to be a reference point
The canine nature possesses two very strong complementary sides: submission and domination. On the one hand, there is a need to be part of a group by accepting submission to the pack leader, but, on the other hand, the dominator instinct persists. Those who mirror themselves in dog behavior tend to share the same instincts, finding in the pet the submissive element that allows them to assume the role of pack leader.
C. No, I don’t feel the need
Cats are known to dislike being ordered around and are very hard to train for this very reason. We could describe them as “rebellious” by nature, unlike dogs who seem to desire nothing more than following their owners wherever they go and whatever they do, for better or worse. As a result, those who do not seek power roles and do not have a need to give orders to others to feel important exhibit a more feline nature.
Are you bothered by excrement and the smell of urine in public places?
D. Not very much, however it’s not a big deal
This is a rough question for dog owners, we know. Here we enter the realm of civility and personal responsibility, and no one likes to be told that their behavior and that of their pet are inappropriate. The problem still remains, however, and denying it would only confirm the negative prejudices toward dog owners. There are areas in cities that literally look like dog toilets, where walking is a struggle and the smell of excrement and pee is unbearable. All that is left for the true canine spirit to do, is to downplay the magnitude of the problem…
C. Yes, I think there is a lot of incivility around
Those who give this answer may do so sincerely or hypocritically, as with anything else. Those who genuinely think so, for consistency’s sake, should thoroughly clean up both solid and liquid droppings of their dog whenever it soils outside its boundaries. Those who respond hypocritically, although they realize the problem, are nevertheless complicit in it. In feline and canine terms, dogs are definitely less careful about cleanliness than cats, if only because the latter cover their droppings with soil or sand after depositing them.