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| Dog | 62% | 2634 votes | Total: 4222 votes | |
| Cat | 38% | 1588 votes |
Dog
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Add to FavoritesAs a life-long lover of fastidious, selfish, independent felines, I have no problem whatsoever in saying that dogs make the better pet. Having loved and lost several dogs since childhood, and more recently, a beloved, bad tempered 21 year old cat, however much I loved him, those dogs were, by far, the better of the two species.
It is difficult to split love into measurable amounts; it just doesn't work that way. I loved them all equally, but I do know that the cat only loved me when he wanted something. Sitting purring on my lap, he was looking for warmth and comfort - at that moment. As soon as he got what he needed, he would jump down, or if restrained, deliver a scratchy swipe or sneaky nip. He would greet me in the mornings, rolling over for his belly to be tickled (he learned it from the dog), and once I had fed him, he just didn't want to know me. Whereas dogs, well they just love you, full stop.
When I consider the laughing, smiling faces of dogs when they greet you, the sheer exuberance of their tails swishing with enthusiasm, the way they lay their heads on your knees when you cry, how they look up and offer wordless comfort, there is no contest. Dogs are the tops. Think also of the way dogs keep you fit. If you are a good dog owner, you can be seen in hail, rain, snow or blow, walking the dog, no matter what. That in itself is a great plus of having a dog for a pet. No matter if the weather is bad, just being outside in natural light, facing the elements and walking, is really good for the humans too. I know of people whose lives have been turned around, after suffering loss or trauma, simply by taking on a dog as a pet.
They are the most loving and loyal of any companions on this earth. They do not lie or cheat, they don't steal from you, they defend you against all comers, they sense your needs and moods, and they are there for you. Nor do they talk back! You might have the occasional harsh word over misdemeanours or stick-ownership, but in general, they give little trouble. In fact, they give more than they could ever know. Today, in medical facilities, dogs are used to help in the healing processes. They form part of animal assisted therapy, as indeed do cats, horses and small furry animals of other species. But children in long time hospital care, those dying of AIDS or cancer, elderly people in care facilities, all show a marked improvement when the therapy dogs come to visit. Easy to understand why, if you ever had a dog of your own.
Right now, I have no dogs and this is a great loss to me. All my childhood, dogs were part of my life, and now circumstances are such that I just cannot have one. I envy those who do, and at least know that my donations to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals might help to make life good for some dog, somewhere. Cats I love, horses, I can take or leave, but dogs, they are just wonderful creatures.
Learn more about this author, Dolores Moore.
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Cat
Cats definitely make better pets than dogs. Dogs do provide their human friends a sense of protection, opportunities for exercise, and constant companionship. However, cats make superior pets for a number of reasons:
1. Cats don't smell as much as dogs and require fewer baths. Along with this, they don't leave everything in the house smelling like animals.
2. Cats don't eat out of the trash or the litter box.
3. Cats don't snatch food out people's hands or beg. Occasionally, one of my cats will get on the counter to try to sneak away a piece of turkey or chicken, but they don't beg.
4. Cats can be left unattended for longer periods of time because they will stop eating when they are full. Dogs will eat until they throw up.
5. Cats can be left unattended for longer periods of time for another reason: they don't get as upset by your absence. Dogs will destroy all your belongings if they feel abandoned. Cats are content to be by themselves.
6. Cats are not usually perceived as a threat. Dogs who get off their leash or escape your yard may evoke strong emotions in a neighbor or passerby. If a cat escapes, people don't seem to care as much, if at all.
7. Cats don't have to go outside to go potty. They can use a little box with almost no training other than showing them where it is.
8. Cats don't bark or howl; they are much quieter. Even when they meow, it is highly unlikely that your neighbors will hear them.
9. A cat's purr is so relaxing and cats give good massages when they knead you.
10. They cost less money. For food, health care, toys, grooming, boarding, etc.
Our family includes four dogs, two cats, and a guinea pig. We have had both cats and dogs for a long time. While I love my dogs, they cause so much more stress than my cats. The dogs are always doing something they shouldn't. If it is not one dog, it's another that is getting into trouble. The cats' worst offense, on the other hand, is sleeping in the laundry basket of clean clothes.
Learn more about this author, Jennifer Paige.
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