by Perry McCarney

Created on: February 08, 2011   Last Updated: June 16, 2011

On the basis of personal preference, there is no legitimate answer to this question. For those who prefer cats, cats are the better pets; for those who prefer dogs, dogs are the better pets. This is blatantly obvious to every single pet owner of either a dog or cat. And for this reason I have not only not previously written an article to this debate, I have not voted for either side previously either. Until just recently I thought this debate irrelevant, my apologies for that, until I actually took a lengthy period of time to give it serious thought after a specific event involving my cat.

Those who have both cats and dogs in their families may be torn in making such a decision, or more reasonably, simply refuse to do so. A purrfectly dogmatic response to such a basic question that might be considered to be asking: who do you love the most?

Quite simply, on the basis of human emotional response to the two predominant pet species of our society, we cannot answer this question. Some will favor dogs, some will favor cats, and quite a large percentage of humanity don't want to be involved with either. As an animal lover, that is the most abnormal attitude I can imagine! To pet-lovers it almost seems to be a self-depriving insanity.

Nevertheless, is there actually a valid answer to this question, and if so, can we actually find it? Should our determination be based on emotional preference, and if not, what should be our determining factors?

As a person who has delighted in associating with both dogs and cats, the best I can do in this debate is offer my opinion. One that is certainly influenced by emotion, but not controlled by it. The opinion of an animal lover, a person that readily adores many other pet species and wild species as well. Without feeling any need to physically interact with those wild ones, including many unloved by most people, such as arachnids like spiders, frogs and even snails, which have a majestic fascination all their own.

To provide any reasonable answer to this question, we not only need to consider the attributes of both dogs and cats, we need to define what we actually mean by "better", when it is in regard to those species we readily and lovingly include in our families. By better, do we mean which pet is the more ethically acceptable or just better for our lifestyle?

Domestic dog breeds and mixes are instinctively pack animals, they never desire to be solitary, they require social interaction to remain sane. Most canine behavioral problems

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