Cat People vs. Dog People ... They Really are Different

PRNewswire/ -- Cat people worship felines like pharos; dog people talk to hounds like people. New research shows that cat and dog people really are different -- in marital status, economic standing and education among other things.

"Our studies have shown that there are some interesting differences between cat owners and dog owners," says James Flanigan, head of marketing at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). "Our surveys show that single people are more attracted to cat ownership, while dog owners are married with children. While the demographic information is interesting, some of it is concerning, too." http://www.avma.org/

The AVMA conducts surveys of pet owners every five years, and publishes the results in the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook. In the 2007 edition, the image of a dog as a family pet is shown to be true: 67.0 percent of dog owners are married compared to 61.8 percent of cat owners, and 52.6 percent of dog owners are families of three or more, compared to 47.0 percent of cat owners.

"One of the most concerning differences among cat and dog owners is cat owners are much less likely to seek veterinary care for their animals, they spend less, and this divide seems to be growing," Flanigan explains.

The Sourcebook shows that 82.7 percent of dog owners made at least one annual visit to a veterinarian, compared to 63.7 percent of cat owners.

As for what is America's favorite pet ... it depends on how you read the most recent pet demographic statistics. There are more cats, 81.7 million compared to 72.1 million dogs, but there are more dog owners, 43 million compared to 37.5 million cat owners. This is because cat owners are more likely to have more than one cat.

For more of these fascinating statistics from the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, visit http://www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/sourcebook.asp.

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AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day Events Unleashed

Are you interested in learning training and grooming tips from the pros? Or considering adding a new family member? Be sure to mark "AKC® Responsible Dog Ownership Day" on your calendar. This month-long celebration includes hundreds of organizations around the country holding free events filled with fun and engaging activities for every current or future dog owner. AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day events are held throughout September and are listed on www.akc.org.

"Due to the increasingly important role dogs play in our lives, practicing responsible dog ownership and training our dogs to be good citizens is more vital than ever. According to an AKC survey, 88% of pet owners consider their dogs family members," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "It is important for dog owners to be courteous and respectful of their neighbors so we can strengthen relationships between dog owners and non-owners in our communities."

Each AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day event is unique but many include obedience and agility demonstrations, Meet the Breeds, microchipping clinics, breed rescue information, therapy dog/service dog demonstrations, health clinics, safety around dogs for kids, giveaways and other entertaining and educational activities. If you want to show your friends and family what a respectable member of society your dog can be, take the AKC Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Test. This 10-step test certification rewards well-mannered, obedient dogs – and is offered at many of our events.

Listings of all events can be found and searched by state at http://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/events/. The site will be updated weekly to reflect new additions. Over 200 local events have been entered to date.