dogs have owners, cats have staff
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Synonym of dogs have masters, cats have staff.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
There is a saying that "dogs have owners, cats have staff." This must refer to the fact that dogs are inherently eager to please.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dogs have owners, cats have staff” mean?
Synonym of dogs have masters, cats have staff.
Is “dogs have owners, cats have staff” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.