help me pick my first pet. dog or cat?

Question

ok
my parents never let me have any pets growing up
and i wanted one so bad all my life
now that im in college and living on my own in my apartment
i really want a pet
im still debating if i should get a cat or a dog
at first i was gonna get a cat since half the day ill be at school and cats dont need as much attention (and more independent i heard) my friend tells me cats don't do anything and they get boring (you can't play chase or stuff like that as you can do with dogs) and cats can grow up and completely ignore you too. I am planning on adopting one and cats are alot cheaper which is better for me since I'm a student.

help me choose a cat? or a dog?

Answer 1

not true about cats! I have a cat that is just like a dog! You just have to raise them properly - a lot of people that have cats don't interact with them. they feed them and don't pay any attention to them. I talk to her, and she understand what certain words mean.

my cat will run after a ball if you throw it, she has lots of toys that she carries around the house (then howls when she wants to play) she always greets me at the door when I come home and wants a cuddle (even if i've been down the shop for 5 minutes)... people say cats have no personality - but mine has so much personality and attitude!!

They are generally independant (which is good) but if you raise it properly, it will also want your attention (but not quite so full on like a dog)

Dogs: need to be bathed or they smell, long haired types need to get clipped, often require more vet visits than cats, bark, you have to walk them.

Cats: bathe themselves, are a good mixture or dependable and independant, if they are an indoor cat (like mine) don't require as many trips to the vets (I have only taken mine to get 'fixed' and for an occational check up)

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, and I want to get one eventually, but cats are a lot less trouble than dogs. They make a better first pet.

Dogs require a lot of time and money, and are more expensive to feed .

You need to think about the long term too. Also if you rent a house, cats are more acceptable than dogs are.

Do you go on holidays much?

Oh and you should consider getting two cats at the same time (if you can afford it) because it is so adorable watching them play together and grow up together.

But please, whatever you decide to get - get it desexed!

And a little tip from me to you: girl animals are better than boy animals... male's tend to 'mark their territory' (yes cats too). But thats just my personal preferrence.

Feel free to email me, if you want any other advice :)

Answer 2

Perhaps since you are in college and don't have a lot of time, you should not get a cat or dog right now. Not only do most pets require lots of attention, but you are in school- are you financially ready to take care of something? If that dog or cat gets sick, are you able to drop a few hundred to make it better again? What if it is injured, or need to be neutered?

I'm a vet tech, and I've seen students and young people with pets and they CAN NOT usually pay for these services. I saw a cat once that fell out of a window, and the owners were 4 college girls, and they could not afford to get his 2 broken legs fixed, so they had to euthanize it. Can you handle that emotionally right now? I've seen others at the university hospital that need to pay for neutering, deworming, heartworm pills, vaccines, etc, and they usually cannot afford it, so they end up not doing anything, and then wondering why the dog is sick. Can you handle that?

If you are not home a lot during the day, you shouln'dt have a dog or cat. Start out with something that doesn't require as much attention like a hamster or lizard. That way, you get used to taking care of something, but you can still have a life, and they are not as expensive to raise and care for. Rabbits and birds are also social animals and should not be left alone for long periods while you are at school.

True, cats stay in the house and dogs need to be walked. I know someone that works in a shelter near the university, and she told me that every fall tons of students come in to adopt kittens, and then each spring there is this influx of 2-3 year old cats that were given up because they graduate, want to move back home, and no one wants to take the cat with them. Pets are forever- think of them like children.

I understand the want to love something, but right now, you may not be in the best position to properly care for an animal. That's nothing to be ashamed of- one day you will be, and you can have as many dogs/cats as you can handle. But you have to think of the well-being of the animal as well, and right now, you don't sound like you can give a dog or cat the proper attention or FINANCIAL responsibility. Please think about it and don't consider what I've said to be an attack on you personally, but rather, encouragement to do what's best for an animal.

Answer 3

First, check that you'll be allowed to have either in your apartment, if you rent from a landlord or college association. Many don't allow tenants to have pets. What about when you move, either at end of term or when you graduate - how easy will it be for you to compromise on where you live and what you can afford to pay to ensure you're able to house a pet?

Cats and dogs are very different. Both need a lot of attention, but dogs need far more attention, socialisation, training and care than a cat. Housebreaking a puppy, socialising it, training it to essential standards, walking - do you have time along with your studies? Can you be committed?

I was a student, once. College loans and grants plus whatever you get from your parents won't cover the hundreds or even thousands of dollars that adequately providing for a dog needs. They may not even cover a cat, if expensive vet bills come up; either way, health insurance is a necessity.

Answer 4

Cat's aren't boring and they don't "not do anything". I should know, I've had plenty. They are very loving; when you're both tired, there is nothing more satisfying than curling up with a warm kitty in your lap.
You can play with them, just differently than dogs. A cheap, one-dollar toy will satisfy, and it's fun to watch a cat play. Also, you can play with them using your hand just by moving it back and forth on the carpet in front of them.

However, not all cats are alike and some of them are downright hateful. No different from dogs, however, as I have met some mean dogs.
Back on subject, it sounds to me like you should wait until after college to get a dog. There won't be anything stopping you then, and dogs can be very demanding at times. When you're tired and hungry, the last thing you want to do is go out and walk your dog. However, they, like cats, are rewarding as pets.

Like cats, they are fun to play with and it's satisfying to curl up with one. It's fun (sometimes!) to take them on walks, and to teach them tricks, and satisfying once they learn them.
When everything seems hopeless, there is almost nothing as satisfying and good as a happy dog with its tail wagging, basically saying "I love you; I don't know what the world did to you but I'll make it all better".

In the end, both are demanding and they both make very good companions that will stick around for years.
However, I think you should start with a cat, because they are less demanding, and not only are you in college, you are a first-time pet owner, which means you need a pet that won't put so much responsibility on your shoulders.

Answer 5

You can play with cats just as much as you would with a dog, they just don't fetch or play dog games.

Animals need attention like people. Unless you have an active lifestyle and would look forward to taking your dog for a walk once or even twice a day no matter how you feel or what the weather is outside, I recommend a cat.

Don't think that you can just leave a cat to its own devices either. Your furniture will suffer for it!

I'd suggest not to get any pet at all unless you're prepared to give a lot of your time to them.

Answer 6

Choose a cat. I have a cat and they can be very active when youm play with them- just give them something with catnip in them. And my cat is completely loyal to his primary owner which is my dad- he actually greets him at the door when he gets home from work and he follows him around the house until my dad sits down and the cat will sit with him. So if you're worried about loyalty- don't be.

Cats are also easier to take of which is nice for a college student (being a freshman in college I know). They use a litter box and don't have to be walked three times a day. They also clean themselves which is a blessing.

A cat is a good bet for you right now- perhaps later in life you could get a dog but I suggest adopting a cat. I love cats.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Being in school and having a dog is probably not a good idea since they need a lot of attention and a good schedule. I think you would enjoy a cat and they aren't as boring as people may say, it all depends on how you treat them. I have two cats. One, is fat and lazy, but the other one always cracks me up. You just have to spend time with them and play with them with different toys and in different ways to build their personality. Male cats seem to have a lot more of a personality and are more "human-like". I would recommend getting a male kitten. I always look forward to getting home to my little buddy, they become part of your life. I think a cat is a wiser choice for you as well because if you have studying to do, a dog won't leave you alone until it gets what it wants, and if you have a big test, there's no way around but ignoring your studies for your dog. A cat can study with you by simply just sitting on your lap and may actually comfort you while you are up to your nose in books. I think a cat is a great idea.

Answer 8

cat
because you are in college and a dog is a lot of work
you always are tied down with a dog
cats do not have to be boring! they like to play and love to curl up and sleep by you. they can be independent also but a dog is the opposite. they want to be with you every second!
i have 2 cats and a 6 month old puppy.
i was (and still am) very surprised at the amount of work a puppy is! they are like children, you must watch them all of the time! i love my dog and cats,my advice for you is get a cat now. get a dog when you are done with school. cats are less expensive and much easier to care for. and if you wanted to stay out late or leave for the night a cat can stay in your apartment with food, water, and litter box. not so easy with a dog.

Answer 9

I have both and many of each as well. 5 cats and 5 dogs! Crazy I know! They were all strays that were found by the city hall in our town ( my mother used to work for a humane society and alsoway ends up taking care of the animals she found, then we end up keeping them =/). Depends on what type of person you are and if you are wanting a lot of responsibility with an animal. Dogs are better companions and are more fun of course, but cats are cleaner and you really just have to feed them and change theri litter daily. Give them love too of course, but a dog needs more attention. I prefer cats just because when I was a baby my folks had a cat that slept with me all the time. I used him as a pillow much of the time that he was alive. He was my best friend my whole childhood. So people's opinions are going to vary mainly on experience. So there's mine!

Answer 10

dog's are awesome but sounds like you need a cat. If you'll be out half the day then a cat will definitely be better concidering they are MUCH easier to litter train. My boyfriend's family has 7 cats and as long as you bring them up right and always give them positive attention they will always stay playful and not grow up to ignore you. My friends that have they're own apartment off at college come home everyday to something chewed or piss on.