The great dog vs. cat debate...

[analog]

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?

[warrrreagl]

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.

[Siege]

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

[Carno]

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.

[Min]

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.

[ryfo]

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!

[spectre]

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.

[Grancey]

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.........

[longbough]

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.

[JStrider]

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.

[Elphaba]

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.

[spindles]

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)

[Ch'i]

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 . 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.

[ShaniFaye]

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

[longbough]

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.

[warrrreagl]

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.

[Deltona Couple]

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.

[rockogre]

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!

[JustJess]

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. 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.

[ShaniFaye]

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

[Toaster126]

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.

[JustJess]

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*

[lurkette]

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.

[roachboy]

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.

[Willravel]

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.

[stevie667]

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.

[Ustwo]

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.

[healer]

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. Their son, Ridge, is a bit of both.

[ShaniFaye]

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

[frogza]

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.

[hambone]

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.

[laconic1]

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.

[Crack]

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

[shoegirl]

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.

[MexicanOnABike]

Originally Posted by ShaniFaye

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

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.

[stevie667]

Originally Posted by mexicanonabike

i still prefer my rabbit i had 8years ago. even if he's stupid

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.

[Daniel_]

I'm a cat people.

[Infinite_Loser]

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.

[Rekna]

Originally Posted by Ustwo

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.

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

[ShaniFaye]

Originally Posted by Infinite_Loser

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.

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