It's an age-old debate, a tale as old as time, a common icebreaker on first dates. "Are you a cat person or a dog person?"

The whole cats versus dogs saga has been going on forever. We tend to use the answer to the aforementioned question to separate people into two different groups: cat people or dog people. In the past, it's never really been clear just how much someone's choice of pet actually says about their personality or their lifestyle.

Now, a Mars Petcare survey of 1,000 dog owners vs. 1,000 cat owners is providing more concrete proof as to the differences between cat and dog people. It turns out that your preferred pet actually might say much more about you than a curious blind date or personality quiz ever anticipated.

According to the survey, dog owners tend to have a higher average income of $47,000.

This is good because they also spend an estimated 33% more on clothes or accessories for their pets, as well as 26% more on entertainment than cat owners. Luckily, dog owners are able to handle the expenses and plan their spending, because they're twice as likely to work in finance, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, cat owners are apparently more creative than dog owners.

They're more likely to enjoy documentaries, musicals, books, and gardening than dog people, who prefer action movies and travelling as well as activities like running, yoga, and dancing.

The difference in activity levels could be explained by the fact that 45% of dog owners said that their lives are improved through the exercise with their pets. Though cats aren't great at hitting the downward dog or busting a move, more of their owners admitted that they tell their pets their thoughts and secrets, which in turn may be why more cat owners credit their pets for reducing their stress.

No matter the different pets' best method of bonding, Jam Stewart, the vice president of corporate affairs at Mars Pet Nutrition NA, wants owners to remember that their pets play pivotal emotional roles in their lives. 

"Whether you are hitting your fitness goals thanks to a bit of a push from your dog, or engaging in a little therapy talk with your cat, it's obvious that no matter what furry friend you prefer, the benefits of pet ownership should not be overlooked," Stewart said.

In fact, of both groups, over a fifth said that they take their pets on vacation with them. A quarter of them said that they don't mind a little begging for food because they actually eat meals with their pets as company. And, of course, over a third buy their pets presents on holidays or birthdays.

These ways of showing love all help to answer that big question: dogs or cats? Though certain personality traits may differ depending on whether you're a dog person or a cat person, pets still mean the world to their owners. They're important enough that they may influence certain activities or decisions, but whether you're a dog person or a cat person, you share one thing in common: love for your furry friend.

You can view more from the survey below: