Now here's a truly silly concept that might actually have some grain of truth in it: that our choice of pet in some way correlates to our political leanings. In particular, I'd like to suggest a very weak correlation between cats and liberals, and between dogs and conservatives. The basis for this weak correlation is that cats are more popular with urban dwellers, while dogs are more favored in rural settings. Urbanites tend to be bluer while rural areas are redder. So that suggests a weak correlation.

Now, there's lots of contradictory anecdotal information. I have 12 cats and 2 dogs -- does that make me liberal or conservative? And how does my pig enter into this calculation? Or my ducks? I had some emus before the mountain lion ate them -- would they make me Libertarian or Green? I suspect that many people here have multiple animals. I would therefore suggest that this is not so much a matter of adding a couple of data points here and there, but rather consulting our overall life experiences. My own experience is that there is a portion of the conservative population that's strongly pro-canine and anti-feline. But I know plenty of conservatives with cats.

Certainly there's a weak case for the conservative-canine connection; after all, dogs are the very embodiment of loyalty, a virtue particularly emphasized among conservatives, along with respect for authority, another conservative ideal. And cats like to pee on important places, a trait that some of my liberal friends seem to share -- although only metaphorically. Dogs slobber a lot, a trait that some of my liberal friends associate with conservatives. Cats are snotty and elitist, a trait some of my conservative friends associate with liberals.

Many questions remain unanswered:

1. Do liberals do anything like cats covering up their feces?
2. Do conservatives like to chase liberals?
3. Is liberal caterwauling worse than conservative barking?
4. Do conservatives like to stick their heads out the windows of moving cars?
5. Do liberals have any behavior analogous to throwing up hairballs?
6. Are liberals like Garfield, and conservatives like Odie?
7. Or are conservatives like Lady and the Tramp, and liberals like the Siamese cats?

But the question for debate is:

Are liberals and conservatives like cats and dogs?

Are liberals and conservatives like cats and dogs?

Erasmussimo I don't know. My guess is that one has to be a bit more tolerant to live with cats than dogs. Dogs, for example, tend to come when you call or whistle for them. Cats on the other hand seem to come when they get ready.

Sometimes I think cats are pretty tolerant. Does that mean liberal? They let me stay here and unlike humans, they seem to enjoy it when I sing to them.

I tend to consider myself liberal and I prefer dogs. Cats are no fun to to have (in my eyes).

I find it interesting our country is so divided that we can label each other different animals? Whats next, if you like McCain your a pit bull, if you like Blank Blank your a ....

Lol, in my eyes, I do not find cats to resemble liberals or dogs to resemble conservatives.

I consider myself a pretty strict constructionist. I therefore consider myself conservative when it comes to the Constitution and I would never, ever own a dog. They are messy and needy. Cats are independent, know when you want love, and know when to leave you alone. Sounds like the poster animal of Libertarianism. So does that fit into your scenario anywhere? (Can't say I actually followed what you were trying to get across with your 'unanswered questions.' )

I live with twelve cats, and I'm a textbook liberal. I don't think there's much conncetion between these two facts. I don't care for the company of dogs, although I certainly wish them no harm.

I have always taken a fancy to cattle.

No, cats and dogs are animals, not people.

I have one of each. They are certainly different creatures but I like both of them. Dogs are pack animals that sleep at night. Cats are lone hunters who sleep all day and jump on me (in my bed) all night.

I say their need for attention is about the same. Dogs are quicker to come to you when you come in, but when you look at a 24 period, my cat may actually come around more to get her belly rubbed. My dog (a lab) does like to be petted for extended lengths though, no doubt.

I was trying to find a link between the dog/cat behavior and conservatives and liberals but I couldn't. Sorry.

I cant find it either, but I get the joke of the questions. Perhaps a more creative mind can come up with examples.

There is one thing for sure- to be effective with a dog you need to take a more authoritarian stance or you may have a problem dog. This can be disconcerting to liberals with their freer, live and let live philosophy. Dogs do not 'get' equality, there is an alpha and if you are not they will be and thats no good in doggie world for you.

I remember when 'we' got 'my' puppy (lab-husky mix). There suddenly had to be rules and strict obeyance, training. Things like waiting at the door, sitting for meals, performing tasks and often meant all night whining in a kennel during potty training. My partner (also way liberal) could not deal with the control issues and refused to comply saying he was just not 'into' that much control over an animal that should be 'free' to live. It took a whole lot of convincing about pack mentalities and some jealousy of my attentions and he never did become an alpha. She loves him like her own personal pet and bargains with me for his affection but Im the only alpha in her doggie world and Im the only one she actually listens to. I am also who she pertains to in her world, others are satelites to her.
Its just the way dogs relate to each other, so you have to do it. Children are much the same and respond in the same way to structure and non-emotionally induced boundries Ive found. (eek)

I always had cats and adore them, but the love of a dog is something extraordinary. However, being a liberal I can get into trouble allowing my dog off leash too many times when more conservative types think a dog should be enslaved all its life on a cord. This I feel metaphoric. Conservatives like control (of everyone else).

I will say that liberals do cough up hairballs often, because the belly becomes just too irritated with all the crap they are expected to swallow on a daily basis.

I am with you Jaime I am totally a strict constructionist and I adore cats.

Dogs are messy and needy (all those walks!). Cats are independent and beautiful and they adore their owners. Especially tabbies -- they are so darn cute.

I have to admit that I found this absurd, but then I did the thing I am told I do too much I thought to deep into it... it doesn't seem as absurd...

I never have had cats so it is harder for me to pinpoint how they are related to liberals, but I find that dogs do resemble how I view conservatives both good and bad.

Loyalty... Conservatives seem to have a loyalty to the the status quo that is just unquestionable at times. A faith in the status quo that is almost awe-like. To me it reminds me of my faithful canine companions at times. Where in this case the status quo is the master and the conservative is the faithful pet... leashed, led, directed, and faithful... protective, and to an extent loving . They are vicious to those they don't like, or worse, those their masters sick them on , and obeying to those that they see as authority . Dixie chicks say something bad about our President..... Get'em Boooooy!!! Get'em Giiirrrl!!! ssssssssskit'em!!!!!!! Being controlled isn't too bad, as long as they are getting food an water!! Goood boy!!! Gooood Girl!!!

Now cats seem to have no respect for authority to a fault at times, I guess, but I'll let a conservative relate it through their perception.

Interesting topic! I am a libertarian and I own a cat. I've had him for 10 years and I love him dearly. However, I also love (and have owned) dogs in the past. The only reason I don't have one now is my current rental agreement. I have also owned cockatiels. They often flap their wings alot and can have an annoying screech (not un-like "liberal" protestors).

But back to cats and dogs. Perhaps it's true that cat's are more "liberal". When I pull into the driveway after work, my cat Loki is always sitting in the front window with what you might think is a look of deep love and concern for his caretaker. As I walk in the front door, it's all I can do to avoid tripping over him as he rubs up against and between my feet, purring loudly and slightly drooling.

This lasts about 2 seconds until he bolts into the kitchen and plants himself in front of his empty food bowl. In the same timespan, his facial expression and overall body language has changed...Gone is the wide-eyed cuteness of love and appreciation, replaced with a suspicious scowl that as I try to pet him seems to say..."yeah yeah, I uh love you too. Feed Me Now! Or I'll call the Humane Society!"

When finished eating, he will disappear for several hours without so much as a thank you. Sometime later he will reappear by jumping in my lap unannounced demanding a full body massage/scratching session. If I fail to deliver, he will repeatedly jump in and out of my lap until (what he must consider) his feline "rights" are complied with.

Dogs on the other hand are useful contributors to human welfare as family/business guardians, guides for the blind, and in search and rescue operations (to name just a few). As a libertarian however, I am dismayed that a few "extreme right wing" dogs from a few breeds have allowed themselves to be brainwashed into become drug-sniffing lackeys in this abominable War on Drugs...

I guess I don't get the comparison. I view cats as disaffected more than political, especially liberal. Cats just don't care, I can't see them as anything other than apolitical, using the premise for this topic.
Dogs, on the other hand are more along the lines of liberal, by the definition of the posters here. Dogs are good natured (mostly), they are loyal (how is that only a conservative trait?), and they help others. Do we have any seeing eye cats or search cats?

Now, I think dogs are more easily trained, manipulated, tricked, whatever......after all, you're not likely to see a cat team in the Iditerod. As far as tolerance while living with them, cats have litter boxes, making them more independent (conservative?)......and if you've ever raised a puppy and had to house train it, you know tolerance!

I grew up with a cat, but I've been a dog owner as an adult.....hmmm, maybe I'm more lieral than I thought. But how do i square that with what one poster said: Conservatives like control (of everyone else).

Now that I have a rare opportunity to agree with lordhelmet I might as well take it.

I like both dogs and cats and have owned both. One of my favorite dogs was Border Collie. I loved him dearly, but he drove me crazy barking all night long. One of my cats also jumps on me in the middle of the night--the gold one, but not the other.

The gold one is also needier than the white one. If, I’m watching TV, for example, I like to get up and move around during the commercials. The gold one has it timed so that he appears and jumps up in my lap just as the commercial break starts.



This is an accurate observation. There is a different set of things to tolerate with each. Cats, like to scratch up upholstered furniture—even when you’ve jujst spent $10.00 or maybe $20.00 on a scratching post. Both of my cats are declawed and never leave the house. On the other hand, dogs chew things up.

My cats have a puzzling behavior one of you may be able to explain. They will sometimes interrupt whatever I’m doing and rush to their foods dish. Often the dish still has food in it.

I'm going to say that both cats and dogs are conservative in that neither seem to like change.

I like both cats and dogs, but I identify with cats much more, and understand how they think. Dogs are fun to play with and pet, but I'll never be able to think of them as furry people the way I do cats, because the pack mentality is so alien to me, which is probably also why I have no emotional connection with team sports.

I'm libertarian, not really conservative or liberal, but I'd choose conservative over liberal because I'm a libertarian of the right. Old Whig would be accurate though obscure. I'm not sure how that relates to pet preference.