Cat versus dog: Which is better and why?

It’s the question that stirs debate and emotion among pet owners. But the results are not even close, according to the latest poll.

Jens Meyer / AP

Cats may be the most owned pet in the U.S. by number, but, according to a recent poll, dogs have won the hearts of voters. 

By: Curtis Rush News reporter, Published on Wed Jun 19 2013

It’s the question that tends to stir hot debate and hair-raising emotions among pet owners: Which pet do people prefer, dogs or cats?

Cat lovers may want to stop reading here.

The result is not even close, according to a poll released by U.S.-based Public Policy Polling.

Canines are the winners hands down, with 52 per cent of people polled saying they prefer them over cats, who got just 21 per cent of the vote.

Jim Williams, a polling analyst with Public Polling Policy, told the Star that he is disappointed with the results on a personal level.

“I’m a big cat person, so I was hoping for more a cat-friendly response,” he said.

“This was a little surprising to me because I heard that cats are the most-owned pet in America by number, but it would appear that dogs win this round.”

This was the first time the Raleigh, N.C.-based company has conducted a poll on pets.

Since 2001, PPP has conducted surveys for politicians and political organizations, unions, consultants, and businesses.

But although the dog-loving world can lap up these results, there was some relief in the poll findings for the cat camp.

The stereotype about the “crazy cat person” wasn’t widely supported, according to the results.

Just 23 per cent of those polled agreed with the statement “Cat owners are weirder than dog owners.”

Here are some of the reasons that may indicate why cats are less popular.

11 per cent of those polled are allergic to cats.

5 per cent of respondents are afraid of cats, but just 3 per cent are afraid of dogs.

8 per cent say they should all “live in the woods.”

When asked which would make a better U.S. president, based on personality, 37 per cent of those polled chose a dog, and only 19 per cent picked a cat.

10 per cent of respondents say that black cats are bad luck.

23 per cent say their cats are not friendly to visitors.

The biggest reason why cats win out with some people? Eleven per cent of respondents say that cats “make you work for their affection and don’t sell out like dogs do.”

Here are some other data collected by Public Policy Polling.

One in five respondents say they prefer to spend time with their pets over most human beings.

Americans are more terrified of snakes than any other animal. Alligators were a close second, with sharks third and bears coming in fourth.

Although sharks are scarier than bears, most people think a bear would win out in a fight with a shark.

When picking what they’d like to have as an exotic pet, most people chose a tiger.

10 per cent of those polled say they’d like a hippopotamus for Christmas.

Bambi wins out as “favourite movie animal,” beating Lassie, Garfield, Nemo, Free Willy and Jaws.

18 per cent of respondents say they think the Loch Ness Monster is real.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 603 registered voters between June 11-13, 2013. The margin of error was +/- 4 per cent.

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