Some states have more dogs, and others, more cats. See why being in a "dog state" or "cat state" hardly tells the whole story.
Does this pet map of cat states versus dog states tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Yes, and no — here's why:
A recent study on pet ownership conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association reveals that there are some states that seem to prefer dogs, while others seem to prefer cats.
As this map compiled from the study shows, the states marked in dark purple — such as Arkansas and New Mexico — have the most dog owners. States marked in dark green, such as Vermont and Maine, have the most cat owners.The problem is, many of those identified as cat states or dog states also have plenty of the opposite. For example, Kentucky and West Virginia have high numbers of both cat and dog owners. And Maine, which is identified as a top cat-owning state and even has its own state cat, still has about 300,000 dog-owning households.
The Warm, Fuzzy Truth
In reality, pet ownership is not so black and white, and as more households contain both dogs and cats, the line between cat owners and dog owners grows steadily more blurred.
Internet sensation dog and cat BFFs Hessel and Hannes are proof positive that this is not a cat versus dog world. And Louie the Dalmatian shows that dogs can share a happy home — and plenty of kisses — with a kitten. These are just a couple of the thousands of adorable examples of cat and dog cohabitation going on, not only across the country, but all over the world.
More and more pet owners are casting aside the cat person versus dog person debate and choosing both instead. With a steady increase in households owning both cats and dogs, maps like this will soon be a thing of the past.
Does your household match what the pet map suggests? Let us know in the comments!
