People with this character trait understand pets best

Have you noticed that some people get along better with cats and dogs than others? Scientists from the University of Copenhagen explain the reason.

For a pet to bring joy, it needs to be properly trained, advises Doctorpiter. You should not hit, slap, or yell at your pet — this will only awaken an aggressor in them, and you will not achieve obedience. A kitten or puppy should be praised for good behavior and shown how upset you are by a puddle on the floor or ruined slippers.

You may have noticed that even if the pet is raised by all family members, it will still gravitate towards one person. Over time, their attention will become the most desired reward, commands will be followed on the first try, and the pet will show that this is my favorite owner.

Why does this happen? Which people understand pets best and know how to get along with them? Scientists from the University of Copenhagen conducted a study to find out who better reads animal emotions, for example, determining whether a pet is stressed or happy and cheerful.

The experiment involved 1,024 people from 48 countries. Participants were made to listen to how various animals “talk”: sheep, horses, pigs, cats, dogs. Then they were asked to evaluate the results. It turned out that people with a developed sense of empathy, who can sincerely empathize even with acquaintances, understood animals best and always know how to comfort and support.

— We noticed that the longer a person works with an animal, the better they understand it. This applies to experienced farmers — they know why a sheep has stopped eating or why a horse has become aggressive, — says Elodie Briefer, one of the authors of the study.

Age also plays a role. The results showed that people aged 20 to 29 understand animals best. Those under 20 understood animals much worse than those who were older.

An interesting fact: the older a person is, the worse they understand their pet.

— It was surprising for us that empathy towards people and animals is directly related. The more a person can empathize with their own kind, the better they understand other species, such as horses and dogs, — the scientists comment.

However, everyone can develop their empathy. The longer participants listened to animals, the more correct answers they had.

Scientists also concluded that education level, gender, and having children do not affect the ability to feel and understand animals. The claim that a mother of many children will get along better with a cat than a single man is a myth.