Pets 'reflect the personality of their owner'

Posted : 29-10-2007

Choices of pet can reveal information about their owner's characteristics, a new study has suggested.

Research carried out by the University of Hertfordshire has suggested that owners of tropical fish are the happiest and most content individuals.

Some 60 per cent of fish owners believed that their aquatic acquaintances have a personality and sense of humour.

Professor Richard Wiseman, leader of the study, commented that animal choice can reflect personality, such as more playful individuals preferring dogs to cats.

But he also noted that there is evidence that personality can be contagious over time.

"If you live with a neurotic person for 20 years, you're likely to become neurotic yourself. The same might apply to pet owners and their pets," he added.

Pet owners wishing to ensure that their like-minded animals are fully protected might wish to invest in comprehensive pet insurance so that potentially costly veterinary bills may be dealt with more easily.

A recent study by the RSPCA noted that people look for similar characteristics in their pets as they do in a partner, such as loyalty and being affectionate.


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