Should I get a cat or a dog?

Question

I really want a dog, but I'm a poor college student and don't think I can afford it. Also, I don't have a fenced back yard Here are my questions:
Is it hard to potty train a dog?
Will he run away when I let him out or will I have to stay with him on a leash?
Will he shed and tear up my house?
If I shouldn't get a dog, would a cat be as bad?

Just looking for pros and cons. Thanks!

Answer 1

Since you are in college, I am going to assume you do not have allot of time. At this point in your life if you would like a pet, and want one that you can interact with more than an iguana or parakeet - I would suggest a cat.

They are easier to take care of, you can keep them as an indoor pet only, and they usually do not require as much 'playtime' as a dog would.

In general, Dogs are not easy to potty train - but different dogs train at different speeds. You would need to spend ALLOT of time in training to be able to take them off a leash - and some breeds you CANNOT EVER take off the leash (my Siberian Husky is the perfect example - their breed was created to run.) Only a couple of breeds don't shed - most shed, and some shed ALLOT - depends on season, hair length and type. Tearing up your house - well, that depends on breed also, the working breeds love to chew and as puppies they really chew everything they can find because they get bored easily.

The only cat that my family ever had - was litter box trained in minutes, he didn't cost anything to train (because cats just don't "train" the way dogs do - I personally don't see PetSmart offering cat obedience classes LOL) and he ate allot less than the 8 dogs my family has had over the years.

Answer 2

Puppies need a lot of training. If you don't train them, they will "go" in the house, run away, and chew everything! Instead of getting an untrained dog, go to the local animal shelter and choose out a small grown dog. Get a dog that has all ready had their shots, and that will save you money on medical care. They will all ready be trained and it will give him a great home! Put a lot of thought into it though. Dogs still need at least two walks on a leash, not just a run in the yard. Also, get a yard line for your back yard if it's not fenced in. That way the dog still gets the whole yard and you don't have to worry about it running away.

Thought a shelter dog if cheaper and less time consuming, it's still a lot of work. If you don't think you can take it, adopt a cat from a shelter. but take it to the vet right after just in case. You want your new pet to be healthy.

Answer 3

get a cat, they cost less, dogs are really like kids if you go to college that means your often gone, your dog will need attention,food more$, if you have an exam do you think you'll be up for it if the dog want to go pee at 4:00am in the morning, trust me some people quit there jobs for there dogs! If you really want a dog wait till you graduate it will give you a good present for all that hard work and hopefully by then you'll have enough money raised to by a house, cause dogs need a yard to run on lol..... I promise if you get a cat everything is going to go just fine. There are pounds and places that have kittens that have no where to go. You can even look in the newspaper there often free kittens, the only thing youll need to buy is cat litter and cat food, and for that go to costco, you got a lot for a long time. so no stress good luck!

Answer 4

Dogs are great animals, I love em all. But, there are draw backs about dogs as well. A dog is more difficult to house train than cats. Dogs can bark excessively, that poses a problem with neighbors. Never let a dog outside with out a leash. Chances are they will just take off running. That's the hard part, chasing after them. Dogs get hit by cars and get seriously hurt, which means higher vet bills. They are great companions, no doubt. But, to me a lot more work than a cat.

Cats on the other hand are more independent. Give them food, water and a litter box and they are happy. Easily trained to use their box. They usually take right to their litter boxes with one visit. They are very clean animals. Always cleaning and preening them selves. They too are great companions, but much easier to take care of. There are things too about cats that humans don't like, I'm one of them. They can tear the h*ll out of your furniture, if you don't start them off right away to use a scratching post. They can wander if let out side. I had a cat that would stay away for almost a week at a time, just carousing the neighborhood. He would come back home with all sorts of cuts and bites on him. That is when I would have to mend his boo boos. Cats take up less room than a dog. I'd vote for a cat!

Answer 5

A dog takes more time, overall, than a cat.

It is not hard to potty-train a dog; but it does take a time investment--you need to be able to take your pup to his designated potty area very regularly, maybe every hour or two, depending on age, and then praise him whe he does his business there. Depending on species and individual personality and intelligence, potty-training can take from days to weeks.

A puppy will need to go out every four hours or so--less, for small dogs. As an adult, he will probably be able to hold it for six hours. That means that you need to go home once a day to let the dog out. I highly recommend crate-training, since a dog in a crate does less damage while his owner is gone; and a dog on his own feels more secure when he is in his "den" as opposed to having to "protect" a whole house.

Most places, you are required to have a dog on a leash or in a fence if he is outside. So letting him out on his own is not a good idea. (And, yes, the dog will run away.)

Most dogs go through chewing stages when they are getting their adult teeth, and will chew on anything. Again, training is important: You need to provide appropriate thigns to chew, and then watch your dog and redirect him to his own chewy things rather than your furniture.

Dogs need exercise. Most dogs require daily walks; some require more than that, or longer walks. The more sedentary breeds will be OK if they are simply let out into a back yard for a while; and the smallest breeds can get enough exercise in a house. But all in all, every dog needs exercise, because an unexercised dog develops behavior problems very easily.

A cat is probably better than a dog if you are not able to come home all the time; however, I would suggest that you get two cats and make them indoor cats. This way, they will avoid the danger of outdoor life--cars, diseases, pregnancy, et cetera--while still being able to socialize and exercise with each other while you are gone.

However, there is a strong argument against your getting any pet at all: You are "a poor college student". I am in a similar situation; and I know that pets take a lot of money to keep healthy. Food, dog chews, and kitty litter will be the least of your expenses: Both cats and dogs require sterilization (spay/neuter) for health and behavior reasons; there are vaccinations which must be paid for; and unforseen accidents or illnesses (less likely in the indoor animal, another reason why i would recommend a cat) will cost you money.

Regarding cats and shredding furniture: Declawing is not necessary (and can indeed cause behavior problems such as refusal to use the litter box); but cats do require training. A cat--especially an indoor cat--requires a scratching post tall enough to stretch out on, or else a horizontal scratcher (depending on preference). Put the scratchers near your cat's favorite sleeping places, rub a little catnip on them, and watch your cat carefully. When the cat begins to scratch anything other than the post, pick it up, take it to the post, and put its paws on the post. You can also "scratch" the post yourself to give the cat the idea (it looks very strange, but it's been known to work). As a last resort, you can cover furniture with blankets, move it into a room kitty does not have access to, or use any number of deterrents--sticky tape, bad-smelling (to the cat) sprays, water pistols, etc.

You may be able to indulge your love for animals without getting a pet. Working at an animal shelter is hard, often messy work; but the love you get from orphaned animals really is worth it.

Answer 6

Both cats and dog will cost you heaps to keep. Have you considered the real cost of food plus desexing, plus vaccinations, plus unexpected vet visits, teethcleaning etc not to mention kitty litter, registration fees, flea treatments, worming treatments... etc etc

Have you also considered the life span of both? Where will you be when you finish college? Can you take them?
Will you be home to spend time with them?

A dog is only for those who really have time, I would definitely advise against a dog. But a cat also needs some attention.

What about those weekends you want to go out or away??

If the real reason you want a dog or cat is companionship, then maybe you need to look at that issue.

Maybe you could try helping out at a shelter for homeless animals occasionally.. apart from meeting your emotional needs, you really would make a difference there.. Good luck, hope you choose wisely!! :)

Answer 7

'If you are looking for a pet who needs loads of attention...get a dog. If you are looking for a pet who doesn't need you except for a food source...get a cat. Cats require much less attention than a dog, however they do give affection, like a dog, but in limited quantities. You can let a cat go outside after a couple of days in the new place and they will come home when they are hungry. Dogs get bored and start to chew on things, so they will need lots of things to keep them occupied, especially if they are puppies. Puppies need to chew because they have more teeth growing in like babies do. Kittens will play with a wadded up piece of paper or even a dust bunny under your bed. So whether you want a pet that requires lots or little attention, have fun with whatever you choose.

Answer 8

Well, my own feeling is that if you live in a city its not fair to the dog, unless you have a park or some open nonpaved place to run around with them. I prefer doggies but I've had a cat here in the city and they are cool too. Yeah, it sheds alot and it seems to find its way into everything, but life is full of compromises. Pretty smart, I have a fair amount of music equipment around, and it has stayed away from that stuff without much prompting. At least when I'm around...

Answer 9

I would get a dog, because they are loyal as well as protecting.. but what the other people said is right-- a dog or a cat is a big responsibility and you have to be willing to make a few sacrifices. Dogs beg for attention, and cats are more laid back. I guess it just depends on what type of person you are.

Answer 10

I am a college student, I just bought a fish, I am 160 in the hole, and that is for a 2 inch Fish! Dogs and cats are expensive. Don't be one of those people who get the pet and never take it to the vet either. They need all thier shots and they need to be spayed or neutored. I would say on avg for a dog 1st year, they are about oh, i am gonna say 1500, and a cat prob 8-900. thats estimating everything-the cost of the pet. My fish is fun, you should look into them.