Pets
Related: About this forumDog owners are much happier than cat owners, survey finds
Source: Washington Post
By Christopher Ingraham April 5 at 6:00 AM
The well-respected survey thats been a barometer of American politics, culture and behavior for more than four decades finally got around to the question that has bedeviled many a household.
Dog or cat?
In 2018, the General Social Survey for the first time included a battery of questions on pet ownership. The findings not only quantified the nations pet population nearly 6 in 10 households have at least one they made it possible to see how pet ownership overlaps with all sorts of factors of interest to social scientists.
Like happiness.
For starters, there is little difference between pet owners and non-owners when it comes to happiness, the survey shows. The two groups are statistically indistinguishable on the likelihood of identifying as very happy (a little over 30 percent) or not too happy (in the mid-teens).
But when you break the data down by pet type cats, dogs or both a stunning divide emerges: Dog owners are about twice as likely as cat owners to say theyre very happy, with people owning both falling somewhere in between.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/05/dog-owners-are-much-happier-than-cat-owners-survey-finds/
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)That's funny!
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)marylandblue
(12,344 posts)Low pay, no benefits, and never a complement from the boss. But once I struck out on my own and hired a dog, it's much better. They work for almost nothing, accept pats on the head in lieu of benefits, and always say you are a great boss.
happybird
(4,608 posts)When we had dogs I got more exercise and spent a lot more time outdoors. We went on walks and interacted with people who wanted to pet my beautiful doggies. We went out to play fetch several times a day, or I would sit in the sun and read while they sniffed around.
After my dogs passed, having only cats made it easy for me to become a recluse. I adore my cats but overall, I think my life was happier with dogs in it.
Phoenix61
(17,006 posts)Studies show that moderate exercise is as effective a treatment for mild to moderated depression as medication. Then, as you noted, throw in the social interaction piece.
On edit
I am closely supervised by 3 cats, one of whom is 18 years young.
exboyfil
(17,863 posts)Means nothing to this 55 year old happily married guy. Arlo likes the pets though.
Should have got him when I was 16.
An old (single) roommate often offered to walk my lab for that very reason.
spooky3
(34,458 posts)their cats had just ralphed on freshly shampooed rugs.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,734 posts)and introverts don't always express happiness in the same way as extraverts. As an introvert with cats, I'm happy just to be left alone, and I'm not at all unhappy in general. Also, cats, being relatively low-maintenance and inexpensive as compared to dogs, are often the owners of people who are elderly, who live alone, or who have less money, and therefore might not consider themselves to be as happy as people who aren't old, alone or poor.
blondebanshee
(353 posts)qazplm135
(7,447 posts)follows me everywhere, is always next to me/trying to snuggle up next to me, hates when I leave in the morning and goes nuts with affection when I return from work at night.
Other than the walking outside bit, there's nothing a dog would bring that's better.
And I like dogs as much but as a single guy who works, I don't want to leave a dog alone all day.