Phrase guide

dogs have masters, cats have staff

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

A dog will always aim to please and display loyalty to its owner, whereas a cat will always seek to be served and obeyed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dogs have owners, cats have staff

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The exact date of its first appearance and its author are uncertain.