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Editorial

[Kaleidoscope] Are Koreans cat or dog people?


Traditionally, Koreans tend to prefer dogs over cats. Korean pet shops and animal clinics are bursting with dogs, which are far more popular than cats as pets. On the streets of South Korea these days, you can easily find people walking their dogs.
Koreans will seldom abandon "man`s best friend," but seem to rather easily throw out cats. As a result, Korea is suffering from the rapidly growing number of stray cats that rummage through garbage cans for food. Koreans appear to be dog people, not cat people, after all.
Perhaps Koreans value the loyalty of dogs. There are many stories and legends about faithful dogs that saved their masters` lives.
The most famous is the story of a dog in Osu, North Jeolla Province, that saved its drunken master, who had fallen asleep in the wilderness on his way home. As a wildfire approached, the dog made numerous trips back and forth to a nearby stream to sprinkle water on its sleeping master`s body, until the dog itself died of exhaustion.
Some time ago, a dog sold to a faraway city miraculously managed to find its way back home, walking alone for almost two weeks. Hearing the news, many Koreans were deeply moved by the everlasting loyalty of the dog.
Speaking of loyalty, cats are no match for dogs. Even if you beat a dog, it will return, yelping and wagging its tail vigorously as if it has already forgiven you. If you hit a cat, however, that`s usually the end of the relationship. Unlike dogs, the cat will remember the offense for a long time and be cautious around you, even shunning you.
Cats, shy and proud, do not respond to orders as quickly as dogs do. In Korean eyes, therefore, cats look arrogant and cold-hearted, and seriously lack loyalty. But this does not mean cats are not affectionate. At times, they quietly approach you and rub themselves against your legs. Although this may be a way of marking their territory, their touch is still nice and warm.
Koreans think that all cats are conspiring and hold grudges. They believe that when they abuse a cat, the cat will take revenge by bringing a dead mouse into the house. But this belief may in fact be a misunderstanding.
Perhaps the cat is trying to repair the damaged relationship by offering its favorite toy/food to its master, or is saving the mouse for later, in case its angry master decides to withhold food.
Or perhaps the cat is just releasing its stress by hunting and bringing its trophy home proudly. In any case, the cat`s action may not be revenge, but rather a gesture of goodwill, or a way of coping with an awkward situation.
Because my daughter loves cats, she used to have many pet cats at home. Personally, I find kittens much cuter than puppies. Cats are also so clean that unlike dogs, they do not need toilet training. They are quiet, warm-hearted, and intelligent animals.
When my daughter was young, she found an alley cat, named her Kitty, and offered her a home. Whenever my daughter rode her bicycle, Kitty ran after the bike just like a puppy.
Soon after, Kitty gave birth to four cute kittens. According to a reference book, a mother cat supposedly loses interest in her kittens after two months and no longer takes care of them. Three months passed, but Kitty still took care of her kittens.
When I finally gave the kittens away, Kitty mewed sadly all day, searching for her missing babies in and out of the house. Her maternal love was amazing and seemed stronger than some humans who abandon their babies.
Despite all their virtues, cats are not treated well in Korea. Koreans tend to think that cats are mean and sly, whereas dogs are loyal and reliable. Perhaps a Korean folktale, "The Cat and the Dog," illustrates why Koreans prefer dogs over cats. Once upon a time, a thief stole a precious ring from an old man. The old man asked his cat and dog to retrieve the stolen jewel.
The cat summoned all the mice in the neighboring village and ordered them to find the stolen ring. Soon, a mouse brought the ring back.
On their way home, the cat and the dog had to cross the river. The dog swam, holding the ring in his mouth and carrying the cat on his back.
Halfway, the cat asked, "Is the ring safe?" and as the dog opened his mouth to answer, the ring fell into the river. Disappointed, the dog returned home, but the cat remained on the beach.
When the cat caught a fish to eat, it found the ring in the fish`s stomach and brought it back to the master. The old man was so pleased that he let the cat stay indoors but kept the dog outdoors.
In this story, the cat is portrayed as more cunning and fortunate than the dog, and some may think that the cat unjustly stole the reward from the dog.
Yet cats deserve the same attention and affection as dogs.
Even among humans, there tend to be people with catlike personalities and others with doglike personalities. The former are introverted, taciturn loners, and the latter are extroverts with a good mix of social skills. Both types of people are worthwhile and thus should be respected.
Let us stop being discriminatory and embrace cats as well. Both canine and feline qualities are valuable in their own ways.
By Kim Seong-kon

Awe animals are individuals they have personalities. Cats are good demicers and deraters. I rather have stray cats around then stray rats.

I am more a cat person. I find dogs harder to take care of.

I'm more of a dog person. I don't know why but cats hate me. It's been like that ever since I was a kid. Sometimes they will hiss and stick out their paws. LOL. On the other hand, dogs and puppies will run up to me wagging their tails as if they known me forever. Take my neighbor's golden retriever for example. I've never met him until a few months ago. Back then, I saw this golden dog approx 50 yards away. He was walking with his owner. Just then he caught a glimpse of me. He immediately sat down and wouldn't move an inch even when his owner would tug at the leash. He sat and waited until I approached. Immediately he stood up whimpering, wagging his tail, and nudging his cute muzzle against me. I hugged him back and stroked his chest and talked to the owner a bit. He seemed satisfied and left with his master. He was so cute! I swear animals sense things about us that we don't expect them to know.

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I think if they eat cats more than dogs then they are cat people.

lol,. dude,.. you know,. you probably scared some people with that comment,. hahaha,.

Wow lol. An afganistan man told me 2 days ago..... "I know why asian people talk like cats, because they eat cats lol".