410 Cat and dog

犬型の人間、猫型の人間、という冗談半分の言い方がありますが、犬のように忠実で人なつこく、集団で生きることを好むとか、猫のように気まぐれで自由でものぐさ（に見える）とか、彼らの種としての特徴や性質を人に当てはめると確かに言い当てた感じはします。実際には個体によって差はあるわけですが、確かに犬は盲導犬や救助犬や警察犬など社会性を帯びた役目を訓練によって担えるのに対して、猫はその高度な身体能力や特性にも関わらず、牧場や空港や軍隊で活躍する猫というのはあまり聞いたことがありません。

一方自分は犬型ですか、猫型ですかと問われると、たいていの人は自分は人間であるけれども敢えていうとどの種に近いのか、などと真剣に考えることなく（当たり前ですが）犬と猫とどちらが好きですか、なれるものならどちらになってみたいですか、という質問とほぼ変わらない答えを返すわけです。あまり深い意味はないのですが、どちらも大変身近な動物だけに、このたぐいの質問はそれなりに人気があります。

では改めてこんな質問ならどうでしょうか。一方はどこまでもタフに早く走れる俊足と優れた持久力を持ち、幅広い視野と動体視力に優れ、また何事もトレースできる鋭い嗅覚を備え、高い知能と学習能力にも秀でる。もう一方は驚異的な柔軟性と跳躍力、瞬発力に富み、また反射神経とバランス感覚を備え、夜間でも不自由しない高い視力に聴覚を備える。犬と猫の身体能力だけを引用してみると、どうも人間がもっともものぐさな動物のような気もしますが、さて、自分はどちらのタイプでしょうか。

Are you a dog-type, or a cat-type?---the question is just a joke thing, but it somewhat describe certain side of humanity well when these characteristics and features of dogs, being loyal, amiable and sociable, or of cats, whim, carefree, and apparently lazy, would apply to natures of human. No doubt it's up to individual, but surely dogs can perform social services such as seeing-eye dog, rescue dog, or police dog through training, while cats never become famous for working at ranch, at airport, or in the army even though they enjoy their excellent physical abilities and features.

But when you're asked "which type do you think you are, dog or cat?" no doubt you never think seriously like "while I am a human being, to which species I could be possibly closer?" You will just flatly answer to the question as if you're asked "which do you prefer?" or "which do you like to become?". Whatever it doesn't mean much, but these questions is popular since both cats and dogs are so familiar to us.

So, what do you think these question; Are you a dog-type or cat-type--- one with power and swift foot that enables you to run to anywhere untiringly, broad sight and dynamic vision, keen nose that can chase everything you want, and high intelligence as well as splendid learning ability. And the other with surprising flexibility, jumping ability and agility, fine reflexes and superior sense of balance, strong sight working even in nighttime as well as hearing ability. If we look at only their physical abilities it makes us feel shame that we human being seems to be the laziest creature compared to them.  Which type do you think you are?