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There are numerous commonly held beliefs about companion animals, such as cats urinating on beds or clothes out of spite or dogs trying to be the “alpha.” While research has shown that many of these beliefs aren’t supported by evidence, they continue to impact the relationship between companion animals and their guardians. For instance, when guardians believe their companions are intentionally misbehaving, they may punish them — even though the behavior might actually stem from fear, pain, or illness. This is why it’s so important to have accurate information to better understand and care for companion animals.

This research aimed to investigate widespread beliefs about companion animals that persist despite the scientific evidence against them. Researchers conducted an online survey between October 2021 and July 2022, collecting data from 224 English-speaking adults recruited via social media from around the world. Participants indicated how much they agreed on a five-point scale with 24 statements about cats and 44 statements about dogs. Afterwards, the researchers provided the participants with an information sheet that laid out the existing scientific evidence for each statement.

Most participants were from Australia (42%), the U.K. (25%), and the U.S. (17%). The vast majority (92%) were female. They ranged from 24 to 77 years of age, with an average age of 48.5 years. Almost every participant reported being a companion animal guardian (93%) or having been one in the past (7%).

The researchers found that while participants generally agreed with statements supported by evidence, a few incorrect beliefs still had notable agreement.

Read on: https://faunalytics.org/how-informed-are-we-about-companion-animals-needs/