The great dog vs. cat debate...
 

I've noticed that some people really are just "dog people", or "cat people". By this I don't mean some hideous hybrid furry humanoid thing, but those people who prefer and only love either dogs or cats.

So, what's your preference? Are you a dog person or a cat person, or do you love them equally? Or is there another animal that you really like? If so, what kind of animal is it?

As for me, i'm totally a dog person. To begin with, i'm badly allergic to cats, so they're out of the question anyway. lol

I have a jack russell terrier, and she's 12.

What kind of animal person are you, and what kind of pets do you have?

I'm a cat person. I've had dogs and I'm not good with them. What I mean is that I'm not good at raising them and I do everything wrong and the dogs become impossible to live with.

On the other hand, I've always instinctively known how to raise and treat cats. I don't know how to pick out a kitten (lots of duds and morons picked out by me), but I'm good at everything else about them.

I prefer cats, but i've never owned any pet myself.

I prefer dogs over cats. Cats are like kids; they're just little creatures that live in your house that you're only vaguely aware of. Dogs are just so much more fun than cats. I like larger dogs though, in the >100 lbs variety.

Plus with going into the military, and the friends that I have, even if I wanted a cat I would catch way too much shit for it to be worth it.

I grew up with dogs and enjoyed their companionship, their guardianship and protectiveness not to mention obedience. I, personally, have only owned cats because my work schedule prohibits me from being around enough for a dog to be well-tended. My history with cats has been largely unpleasant as I seem to have owned the most misbehaved of their species. I know to give an animal love, attention and a good home but they didn't really seem to give two farts for it and would rather destroy my property and maul me.
To be fair, I did have a nice brother and sister pair that were model felines. They actually respected my furniture, books and other sundry items their fellows did not , as well as, actually adhered to 'no' such as when they were eating wires and just being 'naughty kitties', without having to reinforce it with anything else. If I could have a set like that again, I wouldn't be nearly as reticent as I am now about owning a cat.

Thus, I sit and wish I had more time to breath so I could have another dog. I too, prefer the large, hearty breeds so much more fun to play with in the park.

Both! Dogs are great company and mates for walking and playing, nothing better than snuggling up to a cat on a cold day! I have the best of both worlds!

I like both, but prefer dogs, but certain dogs only because some dogs and all cats tend to really bother my allergies. I've always seemed to get along pretty well with both fairly easily though.

I've always had cats. I've had dogs in the past, but I'm basically a cat person. At the moment I have four cats. My cats are loads of fun, and they each have very different personalities. Sophia can fetch better than any dog I've ever had, and she is also the only lap cat I have. She is always sitting in my lap, as she is right now. Baxter is an extremely gentle creature who loves everyone. He greets all visitors at the door and hangs out keeping everyone company, even my two year old niece who he loves. My two older cats are Jade and Grancey. Poor Jade would be happy as an only cat, but she is stuck with the rest of them. She and I are in constant competition for my chair. If I get up, before I can blink she will steal it from me. I'm too soft to make her get out. Grancey is my wise caretaker. He does not trust other people, but he is always around to protect me from what he sees as danger. And he is always at his chair next to the door to say goodbye when we leave.

And playful? When I am downstairs it sounds like I have horses running around upstairs. They are always playing with each other, or with us. And these babies do not like to be alone. Wherever we are, they will come find us. I really understand how old women get to be "cat ladies". It could easily happen to me, but I believe my intelligence and education would stop me from getting carried away.........

I'm a convert. So I've lived in both cat-world and dog-world.

I used to be a pure cat person. I hated dogs because I saw them as uncouth and demanding. I thought cats were sensuous and calm ... just my pace.

Then I met some dogs I liked. Over time I converted ... now I'm more of a dog-person. Why? A cat is sensuous as a "lover," but a dog (especially the right dog) is attentive and playful as a "buddy." A good dog-buddy will protect you and stay by your side when you're lonely. Cats can be more selfish and spiteful - while charming sometimes ... can get annoying. Maybe it's because I've changed.

my mom doesnt like cats, so as a kid I never had any... I grew up with dogs. They were always reasonably well trained and good tempered... lots of fun. My Siberian husky has charmed a lot of people that didnt like dogs or were afraid of them.

But I have always enjoyed cats when at friends houses and living at my grandparents for the summer.


What will probably determine what pet I get is where I'm living. If I'm in an apartment I'll get a cat, it just seems cruel to keep a dog stuck in an apartment, even if they are a small dog. but once I get a house with a backyard I'll probably get a dog.

Vanilla was the only good kitty I owned and that was back in the '70's. Siamese are beyond insane and I was unfortunate enough to be put in the position to adopt two of them. I will never own another cat again.

Dogs are my joy in the pet world. They give much more that they ask in return and they are actually intelligent enough to learn (unlike a cat).

My cat buddies here are going to hate me. :)

We are a two cat family. My wife has always had dogs but I think cats are way funnier. Watching a cat chasing a moth or bug around the house is hilarious.

They are way cuddlier than dogs too - it is rare in our house to watch TV alone - there is nearly always one lap cat...

I just don't get the whole dog thing myself - they seem so much less intelligent than cats...(though my comment about chasing bugs kinda has me wondering)

Me and cats don't get along; I must have been attacked by a cat at least ten times. One of which found itself flying into the neighbor's pool :D. Most of the cats I've met seem to have an air of arrogance. They honor you with their prescence, and decisions are made on their terms. Don't think I haven't extended the olive branch either. Invariably I end up offending them in some way. Maybe I just don't understand cats, or visa versa.

Definately a dog person.

totally a cat person....we had both when I was growing up and I just dont identify with dogs at all. I much prefer the way a cats mind thinks, processes and behaves over a dog

I have a charming cat story and a charming dog story - which sums it up for me ... Although I prefer dogs over cats - I'm probably more "bi."

1.) How my brother's cat wakes me up in the morning:

I was cat-sitting for my brother when he was away. In the morning Mackie, the cat, wanted to go out so he kept scratching the door. He had an indoor litterbox so I knew it wasn't an emergency and kept pretending I was asleep. Mackie then jumped on the bed and started meowing as if to say, "Hey, wake up!" I didn't stir. Then he jumped up onto a high bureau (I could hear him) - and started knocking items off to make noise. I still didn't stir.

But then it got quiet ... Obviously this cat was up to something, but I didn't know what. Suddenly this furry beast does this cannonball dive right onto my stomach - right over my bladder to be exact! What pain! I woke up with a big "YEOW!" Mackie won and I let him out.

I called my brother and, before I could finish the story, he said, "...Oh, did Mackie do the bladder dive on you? You're lucky. For me he'll get his paw and pry at one of my nostrils with a single claw."

2.) How my dog woke me up in the morning.

Oliver, my beloved border collie and late fur-friend, was the most even-tempered, considerate and smart animal I ever knew. Every night when I turned off my light to go to bed he'd always get up and check on me. I'd hear him come in the room and then I'd feel his furry face plop on my stomach so I can pet him a few times. Then he'd go back to his bed.

In the morning, if Oliver wanted to wake me up, he'd come in the room and sit staring at me face-to-face. He wouldn't bark (he only barked at strangers coming to the house) but would wait patiently. I'd pretend to sleep and, opening my eyelids just a "hair" I could see him looking at me. Then he'd nudge his face close to mine and touch his cold nose to mine. Oliver would remain there with his face on my pillow nose-to-nose for a minute ... then he'd sigh a periodically and wait patiently until I got up.

Oliver wasn't a demanding animal at all ... he passed away unexpectedly almost 3 years ago and it still makes me cry. I miss him.

The cat that my wife described, Jade, also has some interesting alarm-clock techniques. For one thing, she knows that my alarm goes off at 4AM and she anticipates this by trying to wake me up at exactly 3:45 each morning if she's in the room. She does this by going to all the cabinet doors in the room and pulling them open to let them "BANG Bang bang" shut. She keeps doing it until I'm awake. If I need to sleep later, I have to block all the cabinet doors before I go to sleep.

Not that we don't HAVE both, heck, we even have a pair of ferrets, but I prefer my dogs. My favorate one by far is Max (short for Maxamillion, and he fit his name PERFECT). When I got him he was a 4 month old Rottweiller, and weighed in at maybe 20 to 25 lbs. He was the runt, and I always loved the runts. Now in the 6 years that we had him (he unexpectedly died of a snakebite in the backyard one night) he grew into a 175 lb BEHOMOTH! And he was the gentlest little thing. My daughters when they were younger used to ride him like a horse, and the youngest would actually BITE his ear, and he just shrugged it off. He never showed any distemper at all to anyone in the house, resident or guest. You could walk right up to the backyard and pet him, even if you were a total stranger!.....Until it got dark. Somehow he just KNEW that at night, NOBODY had any business near the fence. I mean if you came near it he would go NUTS barking at you, even if you were a friend of the family and he knew you. Now if you came into the house, and we went out the back door together, he would love you just as usual, just DON'T come to the fence at night. It was uncanny the intelligence of Max, and I miss him so much....Now our next Rottweiller after him is Zeus....and what a totally different dog. He barks at ANYBODY that even is walking down the street, he barks at the trees if the limbs are blowing in the wind, he even attacked a tree once when a pinecone fell out and hit him in the head one time...it was SO funny. I swear if dogs could be born with a mental disorder (i.e. 'special' kid) then he is a perfect example. But I still love him.

I have two huge dogs, (old Zeke weighs in around 127 pounds), and three free ranging outside cats. Actually they all stay outside. I'm pretty much a dog guy, but I admire the cats. I don't own them, they seem to think they own me. The five of them hang together a lot and sometimes I will find the whole pack out in the woods, looking to kill stuff I guess. Anywho, I like em all!

I've had both all my life (along with lots of farm animals), and I love them both. But right now, we are a two-cat family. Punkin and Sabrina (both fall adoptions). I would enjoy a dog - they're simpler, and they just love love love, but we are in the city, in an apartment, and I would never do that to a dog. Not with my schedule!

My cats are friendly and loving and follow us everywhere... not annoyingly, but you get up to go pee and suddenly one or two just happen to be wandering into the bathroom. Verrrrrry casually. :p They come when called, sleep with us at night, keep us company when we watch TV or study or are on the computer. They are as comfortable being held as they are just hanging out. ... they're pretty awesome. I love 'em.

I dont see dogs as being simpler than cats lol I've never had to go walk my cat so it could go to the bathroom

I'm making note of the cat people. Like Santa does for the bad children.

I love dogs. Especially the big ones... like say over 70 lbs. fully grown.

Noo, I meant "simpler" as in personality. They definitely take more work!

And Toaster, I agree - I've never had a dog less than 80lbs. My last one, and she was mine! - was Shadow. 160 lbs of Newfie lovin'. She was sooo sweet and intelligent. I miss that dog. *sniffle*

I love them both. Dogs are more work but they're also more fun. Cats are sweet and cuddly, but they shit inside your house and have minds of their own. Not like dogs don't, but they're so much easier to train. And nothing beats hiking with a dog in the great outdoors. Except maybe snuggling with a cat under a blanket.

i don't see what debate there could really be about this.
i like both.
i would have cats now except su tong thinks cats are lunch.

I'm a dog person. I've gotten along with every dog I've ever come into contact with. I'm dangerously allergic to cats, and they don't like me.

I grew up with two cats, so they're my pet of choice. I don't like dogs, they require far more looking after and general maintainence, and they don't purr.

Edit: i think i just put myself down on the poll as a dog person dangit.

I've had extensive experiance with both.

The problem with dogs is they are like children who never grow up and die young. You have to make sure they are watched, get home early to let them out etc.

Cats might not be as social but can still be quite friendly, and you don't have to be home by 8 to prevent them from shitting on the rug. They also clean themselves, and while you can't train a cat you don't NEED to train a cat.

I'd have to vote for cats, but I have no pets now and none in my future plans, I did enough of that as a kid.

I'm definitely a dog person. Can't stand cats. There's something sinister about them. Plus cats don't fetch anything. :)

I have a small family of dogs all living in the backyard. The dad, Skip, is a miniature short-haired Daschund. The mom, Sandy, is of an unknown pedigre...if ya know what I mean. :p Their son, Ridge, is a bit of both.

I've had several cats that fetched (including my current one)

I am dog person. I like all animals but as far as a pet goes, besides the lizards, snakes and fish I've got to go with a dog. I love hiking with a dog. Hiking with a cat just wouldn't work out so well.

Oh definitely dogs.

Don't have one of my own, due to the apartment. But grew up with a Golden Retriever who is still around at my parents house.

Even if I weren't highly allergic to cats I would still be a dog person. To me they are just much more fun to be around.

Dogs are too codependant. Most (if not all) need therapy.

I love both dogs and cats! I've lived with both, but I'll only ever own cats. They're pretty independent and I don't have to worry about being home at certain times to make sure they can get outside to go to the bathroom. Maybe one day I'll change my mind, but I doubt it. I'll just continue to love all my friend's doggies. :)

haha! mine is doing that now. it's really weird!
...
but i voted others. even though i like cats(i had 2 in my life), and dogs are cool to be outdoors with, i still prefer my rabbit i had 8years ago. even if he's stupid, he was more affectionate than any dog/cat i've seen. i had trained him to laydown, to jump on the couch, and he was trained to wake me up at 7am when his cage was open. i loved that bunny!

edit: and rabbits are softer than any cat/dog! they also clean themselves which is a bonus.

That cracked me up so much, i'm just watching my axolotl try to eat a log in his tank, hasn't quite clocked onto the idea that its about 50x his size, but i do love him for his stupidty.:lol:

I'm a cat people. :)

I prefer dogs.

In my opinion cats aren't much of pets, as they usually wander off for days on end, show up when they get hungry and then go back to being MIA for a few more weeks.

Ustwo i think this is the first time you and I have ever completely agreed on something....

only when you let them be outdoor cats...indoor cats dont really do that much :lol:

Our cats never seem to wander far. I can ususally stumble across them somewhere on the place.

And, you can't OWN a cat. The cat will decide if you are worthy of being considered as more than just the food source.

I am definitely a cat person. I've had a dog when I was a kid and at the time that was great because both my brother and I were younger and loved to play, but now that I'm older and working full time, I just don't have the time or attention to devote to a dog (seems to be the typical response). Cats are independant but still require some attention - definitely closer to what I have to offer. I've always had cats at one time or another throughout my whole life and I just find that my personality meshes much better with theirs so ya, I voted for cats! :D

I voted both, as I've owned both. I think cats have been easier to get on with for me. Dogs are like kids, and cats are more like people. I think that's the difference. Both companies are nice, only different. I also have the best of both worlds because my cats act a lot like dogs in many aspects - the good ones of course!

Looking back at this thread, I came up with a better way to express myself... having a cat is like having another roommate, dogs are like having a pet.

Speaking only in BROAD generalizations, I've noticed that the dog people continue to express their love of dogs AND their disdain for cats, while the cat people only express their love of cats.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Yeah, I've noticed that too! I love all kinds of animals, what's with the hating on cats? Not all cats are aloof and cold (see my bragging thread) just like not all dogs are slobbery and dumb!

My alpha female Abby is, well, *sigh*.
If I stay up too late she lays her paw on my leg and meows telling me its time to go to bed.
If I am sick or sad she will come cuddle with me and purr until I fall asleep or get over it.
I can say "Abby, bedtime" and she comes running to go to bed.

All 4 of my cats are fabulous and I dont know what I would do without them.

Dogs are too needy (I know ive had a couple)

Parrots are.... they talk back.... I say my birds name and she says... "WHAT?!"

(Insert nanny nanny boo boo here)
CATS RULE AND DOGS DROOL!!!!
*runs and hides*

I like cats, dogs, and birds but in different ways. Dogs are nice because of obvious qualities: loyalty, protectiveness, obedience, etc. I love birds, always have. But I think they (with a few exceptions) make horrible pets. They take the most care out of the three, cost the most (usually), are the loudest (again usually), and can give a puppy a run for its money in the amount they can chew up. Cats are nice, cute, and clean(ish) but that's it, they don't really do anything. I would have to lean toward dogs out of the three because they are the most practical (by that I mean they actually can serve a function, protection.)

If I wasn't including practicality, then I'd go for cats, and if I didn't have to take care of it or listen to it (when it decided to squak for 10 minutes straight) I'd go with a bird. So they all sort of have their own ranking. But in real life I'm only likely to ever own a dog again.

I must admit I was a cat hater. I've always had dogs but now have 2 Labs and 3 cats. I enjoy them all but hope no more cats show up hungry. I planned on shooting the first cat that scratched on my door. That cat ended up inside the house with us for 10 years. I've heard that cats adopt you instead of you adopting them.

I think everyone knows my stance on cats so I'll just avoid that whole thing for now ;)

Dogs are amazing. The quickness of learning and ability to put their learning into action says alot. I mean shit, if cats were soo much smarter then why don't the cops have a cat unit? :p I have big dogs. Hell my dog D'Artagnan is only 7 months and he's already about 65 lbs. The thing though, is he's attentive and can sense things. Cats may have some senses that are better but what can they do about it?? Someone breaks in your house.. OH NOES!! I'm getting hissed to death!! :p Oh yeah I said I was going to avoid the cat hating thing.. sorry.

I just find Dogs more fun, smarter, and more adept at various things and they are more my style and personality.

I'm a bird lover. I've had pet birds since I was 11, and I will probably always have birds. In fact, if we ever end up buying a house, hubby knows that I want an extra bedroom to convert into my own little aviary. Birds can be very devoted pets, and while not as cuddly as a cat or dog, many like to be petted or preened by their owners, and they will do the same. We have a cockatiel now that "preens" us like she would another bird.

As far as dogs and cats go, I have a phobia of dogs...I've learned to control it more as I've gotten older, but I really have no desire to have one as a pet. Hubby loves dogs, so this is an issue for us (again, when we get a house...dogs are not meant for apartments). I also hate the way dogs smell...I'm not talking about improperly cared for dogs...just that innate "dog smell" that lingers even if fresh out of a bath.

Cats are ok. We had lots of cats growing up...some were sweet and loved to be petted and snuggle, some were aloof and only came around to eat. I would consider having another...but since I don't like keeping them outdoors, and they don't mix well with birds...I don't see having any more cats in my lifetime.

Really? I was thinking the opposite. Makes you go HURMMM, doesn't it? :)

At my parents house they currently have 7 dogs on about 5 acres so the dogs are very happy there. I love to interact with the dogs when I visit.

BUT

At my house we have 5 cats:) Cats are just easier to take care of and we really find them very entertaining. However I am thinking that one day in the future when some of the cats pass on, I will own a small dog. Overall though I have turned out to be a cat person....there is just something about felines that I find interesting. I also like the fact that nome of my cats have any "odor" to them, versus dogs who almost always carry around some sort of "dog smell" unless they are bathed on a regular basis.

File this under "Warrrreagl, you're a jackass," but I just can't resist saying this today, for some reason.

I totally believe that if I took any of my four cats and dropped him off deep in the woods and left him there, he would eat a fresh kill before sundown. I have no concern about my cats' survivability in the wilderness.

Dogs, on the other hand....

The reason I say this is because deer season is approaching (in November where I live), and a large number of bastards, er um I mean deer hunters, hunt with dogs. This involves turning a pack of dogs loose in the woods to find a deer and then collecting the dogs at the end of the day. Sometimes, one of the dogs doesn't make it back in time, and the hunters ALWAYS simply drive off and leave them there to die. I say, "to die" because I see all these hunting dogs wandering helplessly along the side of the highway morning and evening during hunting season and it's obvious that they got left and that they are starving to death. If you drop off a perfectly healthy dog in the woods, he ain't gonna make it.

Bastards.

Sure a dog will make it in the woods. They are just waiting for your cats to do all the work for them ;)

As far as smell goes.. woah. Cats are way more putrid than..well anything. Cat piss is the stench of all the is wrong in the world.

Dogs, dogs, dogs.

Big dogs, not fru-fru little toy dogs either. German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Belgian Malenois...

why isn't there an option to vote for hating both cats and dogs equally ?

Maybe it's just plain luck, but when I had a larger dog, I never needed to worry about getting home in time to let them out. I had the doggie door so he could come and go as he pleased, and he never messed in the house.

There is- it's called your "Back" button. ;)

If there's another animal you like more, there is an option for that. If you don't like animals at all, then go ahead and articulate that. This, like any other thread in General Discussion, is for discussion. So, by all means- tell us why you don't like animals. :)

I also have an incurable love for Belgian horses!

So sweet and docile... steady on their feet... Nice broad backs you dont have to worry about falling off of...

Oh my...the pure physical power of the Clydesdale has me in awe.

I'm a pet trifecta.... I have cats, a dog and a horse and I love all three of them equally, but in different ways.

different kinds of pets can bring out many and various smiles and emotions. My cats are totally snuggle love bugs, my dog is just a fun spunky little whirly being and my horse and I have a relationship based on respect. Horses bring out something different in people, they have a special center to them.

sweetpea

Cats and dogs both taste great in a stew...


I have both a cat and a dog and while both are great for different reasons, if I had to choose I would choose the cat.

They are just a little more independent.

as a CAT person ( I always have 2 and some times 4)..I find it strange that dogs love me and are quick to make friends and attach themselves to me???

the cat is the ultimate pet... loyal,loving ,yet totally independent ....

currently I have 2 cats,Tiger...ie.Tiger Lilly Woods ( a fat ,kinky tail tabby) and Rex..ie. tyrannosaurus rex( a lean orange short hair).who have totally buffalo' d Desi(ie.... desperate) a 7# Maltise rat dog we got at the pound.

....................xoxoxoo:icare:

btw...horses and girls are just beyond my ability to comprehend !!!!:eek:

Bobby? Let me say that I can always count on you to make me laugh! What a great person you must be in the non-cyber world.

Second, take this as the funny ha ha it was intended to be please...

You have 2 and sometimes 4????????? I always knew you were kinky!

(Im primarily a dog person- but I love young animals- kittens, dogs, etc on any level) A past girlfriend gave me a kitten for a house warming gift years ago. It was a really cute male and for the first two days things were great. I woke up in the middle of the night to find him pissing on my face. I brought him back to her within 20 minutes.
I think allot has to do with how both are raised in how their persona will turn out. IMO the level of loyalty is higher with a dog. Both make great mediums for love, but my dog would give their lives to protect me, I cant see a cat ever doing that.

I can't really think of any animal that I don't love in some way.
As for having as pets, I think dogs & cats both rock. Dogs may be a tad more fun... I say this simply because I can take them more places with me.