Pet owners know the emotional pull of their animals' cries all too well. New research shows that a dog's howl strikes cat and dog owners with the same sadness as a crying baby.
"Pet ownership sharpens our sensitivity to these sounds, which may explain why we pour time and resources into our furry companions. It also underscores why pet interactions feel so rewarding, driven by cues like purring, meowing, whining, or howling," said the researcher.
The team tested over 500 young adults and found dog howls rated more "negative" by pet owners than non-owners. Cat meows tugged only at cat owners' hearts. Across the board, dog howls outdid cat meows in sadness.
"Dogs seem to communicate fear to humans more potently than cats. Pet ownership heightens this emotional attunement, especially for dogs fully dependent on us for food and care," the researcher explained.
"While dog owners are often seen more favorably than cat owners, our study found no differences in responses to psychological measures among cat owners, dog owners, and those without pets," the researcher noted.
"Pet ownership showed no links to anxiety, depression, or relationship experiences in this group," they added.
