While pets can make anyone’s life happier, a new study reveals it actually may depend on what type of pet you own.
The latest General Social Survey added a question about what type of pets people have, with at least 60% of households having at least a cat or a dog. The survey then noted the happiness scale of these pet owners and it seems the survey may make a case for why pooches are better than felines.
First off, the study actually finds that when it comes to happiness, there isn’t much difference between pet owners and non-pet owners, but for those who do own pets, your happiness is affected by what type of pet you own. In fact, dog owners are actually twice as likely to say they are very happy than cat owners.
Overall, those with dogs are the most happy, but only slightly happier than those who don’t own any pets at all. Cat owners are the least likely to say they are very happy, while those who own both fall somewhere in the middle.
But the truth is it may not actually be just the pet that is making a person happier. The study finds that dog owners are more likely than cat owners to be married and own homes, which could be what is making them so happy.
Source: Portland Press Herald