Are cat owners really top dogs for brains?
By Fiona Macrae
Lower IQ: Dog owners, such as Paris Hilton, aren't as clever as cat lovers, according to scientists
It is a claim calculated to have rival pet lovers fighting like cat and dog.
According to a scientific study, cat owners tend to be cleverer than their dog-loving counterparts.
It found that university graduates were more likely to favour feline companionship - possibly because they work longer hours and have less time to go out for long walks.
Those with degrees were 36 per cent more likely to have a cat than others, including dog-lovers.
The contentious allegation - from a catloving researcher - follows the first large-scale attempt in 20 years to estimate the number of pet dogs and cats in Britain's homes.
Using census data, information on household sizes and a phone survey, Bristol University cat expert Dr Jane Murray concluded that the nation's hearths are home to some 10.3million cats and 10.5million dogs.
Around 26 per cent of households own cats and 31 per cent have dogs. And many don't stop at one.
This week's Veterinary Record reports that one in 60 households has between six and 12 pet cats and one in 100 is home to between six and 17 dogs.
Concerns about fur flying mean that just 7 per cent of families have both cats and dogs.
Families with young children are less likely to have dogs, perhaps because they lack the time to exercise a pet.
Dr Murray, an expert in cat diseases, said: 'These findings contradict the widely-held belief that many families acquire a dog for the purposes of educating their children about pet ownership, at least at a young age.'
She added: 'The study has shown many common factors relating to cat and dog ownership, such as a garden and rural location, but it has also identified some notable differences. In particular, the difference in the level of education achieved by a household owning cats and dogs.
Feline clever: More cat owners have degrees than dog lovers, the study claims
'The reason for this association is unclear. It is unlikely to be related to household income but it could be related to household members with longer working hours having less time available to care for a dog.'
Chris Laurence, veterinary director of the Dogs Trust and director of the Feline Advisory Bureau, had a message of reassurance for dog owners.
He said: 'I don't think they should be miffed - the relationship between a dog and human is probably closer. If you've had cats and dogs, you'll know that the cat owns you and not the other way round.'
The Kennel Club said its own research shows that five per cent of dog owners credit their pet with helping them find love and one in three has forged a friendship with someone met while walking the dog.
Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: 'We are a nation of dog lovers, and so it is no surprise that people are more likely to strike up a friendship or meet a new partner with a shared love and passion for dogs.
'They enrich our lives in so many ways and, as well as helping us to make new relationships, they still retain the title of man's best friend.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1248907/Are-cat-owners-really-dogs-brains.html#ixzz188D1ZK4I
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