Which are 'better' pets, cats or dogs and why?

Answer 1

It depends. In some ways a cat is better because it requires less personal interaction. Many can be trained to "go" outside and they just hang around take care of themselves mostly. Of course, you have to provide daily fresh water and cat food. Otherwise, they are fairly low maintenance.

Some cats are very friendly and like to visit with you. Others don't give a hoot about you. Most are fairly sweet and are easy to take care of.

Dogs can be so different depending on the breed. I grew up with St. Bernard dogs which were sweet and beautiful, but they shed, slobbered, and ate us out of house and home. When I was young I decided that I didn't like dogs. Actually, I didn't like living with St. Bernards. Now as an adult, we have picked a small dog as out family pet. We picked a Shih-tzu. This dog always has a puppy dog/teddy bear face. He will always be about as big as a 4 month old St. Bernard and he has tons of personality. Much more than ANY cat I have ever owned. He is the baby in the family and wants to be with us all the time. He is more fun than a cat and provides us with more comedy and interaction. He is more work than a cat because we have to take him on daily walks so he can exercise...but that is good for us too. Also, I found that going on a nice relaxing walk with the dog is an easy way to meet a lot of people in the neighborhood. Everybody stops to ask about the dog and to pet and play with him.

The Shih-Tzu breed of dog has a lot of advantages as a pet:
* They do not shed
* They do not slobber
* They seldom bark
* They are VERY sweet and love everybody and every dog
* They are terminally too cute

The disadvantage is:
* They do not guard much (they are too friendly)
* They require regular hair brushing and frequent groomings
* They get very lonely if you are away too long
* They can be more difficult than some other breeds to potty train and obedience train.

Good luck!

Answer 2

It depends on a lot of things. First and foremost personal preference. Secondly where you live. If you live in a New York City apartment and are at work all day, you wouldn't want a big dog. But if you lived in a house with a yard then a dog, cat, or both would be fine.
My girlfriend has a cat just to keep mice under control. I have a dog because I hunt and my dog tracks down animals easily. I wouldn't take a cat to run a mountain lion up a tree. Just as I wouldn't buy a dog to control mice. Plus dogs have their advantages. Like security. My dog attacked a friend, whom he had never seen before, who picked up my son. He is very protective of my family but would not hurt any of us. He wouldn't have attacked him if I handed my son to the guy. And when I called him off he quit instantly and didn't hurt him that bad. If anyone broke into my house they had better fear for their lives, not because of the cat but the dog.
Cats also have an advantage. They are independent and don't need you to be home to let them out to go to the bathroom and give them attention. Their just fine on their own. A dog needs attention and love. Which is usually a given. A cat you have to earn their love and respect. They also control pest and are small and relatively easy to take care of.
So in conclusion neither are better. It's which one better suits you and your wants/needs.
I hope this helps a little bit. Good Luck.

Answer 3

there isnt anything as a "better" pet. it just depends on whether or not you are wanting a dependent pet, or an independent pet. A dog requires walking, grooming and lots of attention. A cat doesnt need that much attention as its nature is to come to you when it is in the mood, also you dont have to walk it. Both are rewarding animals to have around, but personallly I prefer a dog.

Answer 4

It completely depends on what kinds of things your looking for and what kind of life you live- If you have a busy life, cats are usually better by themselves than dogs. Also it's eassier to move anywhere with a cat rather than a dog. If your lookiing for something you can take out and run/play outside with, then a dog would be good... but no matter what pet you choose, expect to have it for 10+ years.

Answer 5

It depends on your lifestyle and preferences. If you have the time to invest in training a dog and being part of a pack, that is the pet for you. If you work full time or don't have a lot of time to invest in a pet, but like them, cats are more independent and might be the pet for you. Others might prefer birds, hamsters, or even snakes. It really depends on the person.

Answer 6

I would have to say cats. They are solitary animals which is a good thing especially if you're not at home a whole lot. We have 7 cats, I LOVE all of them. They are smart creatures, they understand when it is time to go to bed and when it is time to play. Cats are easy to take care of animals. They clean themselves, they go to the litter box by them selves. All you really have to do is clean the litter box every other day and give them food and water.

Dogs are social animals who love a lot of attention. Then need to be taken outside. They jump up and lick. Some people prefer dogs simply because they like someone that wants their attention that bad. We had a dog when I was younger, we had to always take him outside and if you ignored him he got extremely whiny.

Most of our cats, we've had since they were kittens so we got the opportunity to train the kind of personality that we wanted them to have, I love them and would never change how they are!

Answer 7

Dogs will give everybody unconditional love, because they have to fit in with the pack. With dogs, you are a part of the family, often higher in status than they are. Dogs will do anything to please you or get a treat.

If you raise a cat, they will love you, and pretty much only you. You serve your cats. They own you. They have their own sophistication and personalities. They can be trained, but not the way you'd train a dog.

I prefer cats. They are more selective in whom they love.

Answer 8

Cats are better b/c they don'y bark constantly, they are usually very clean and they always sleep. They are a much lighter responsibility as well. Although it is probably a good idea, you don't have to have a license for cats. You never have to take them out on walks and if they fall asleep on your bed, they take up way less space, and they don't try to run away! lol

Answer 9

Neither - rats are better pets. They are clean, they will use a litter box, they know their names and will come when you call, and they can be trained to more tricks than a dog can. Plus, they fit in a pocket without being annoying yappers.

And no, domestic fancy rats do NOT carry diseases.

Answer 10

i have had both with dogs you are family but with cats you are staff if you want family chose a dog if you want to wait on a cat get a cat