Dogs vs Cats

[Sub-Zero MKA]

I've had neither a cat nor a dog in my life, but I find myself more fond of dogs than cats, if only a little.

Also, I feel compelled to show this, because:

[Holy Spirit]

I've had neither a cat nor a dog in my life, but I find myself more fond of dogs than cats, if only a little.

Also, I feel compelled to show this, because:

-Snip-

Glorious!

[Ghost]

I had a dog most of my life, she died a few years ago. Just got a 5 month old kitten last week. She's cool, but I definitely find myself worrying about her a lot more then the dog. Simply because I'm afraid of maybe leaving the door open by accident and she gets outside. Now, a dog couldn't get out of my yard..but it would be childs play for a cat to climb up the fence and escape.

Though she does have a chip in her.

I don't think she'd run off too far on their first time outdoors - kittens are very curious but it still takes a while for them to get used to a whole new enviroment.

We actually need to get our two youngest cats to go outside on their own soon - they're definitely old enough but we wanted to wait until spring came around. So far we've only let them be outdoors for a few minutes at time, and they tend to be nervous and stay close to the house. One of them actually seems afraid of the outdoors.

Experienced outdoor cats do venture far and occasionally vanish for weeks, at least if you live on the countryside, but that's the thing about cats - they usually do manage on their own.

[Ghost]

I've had neither a cat nor a dog in my life, but I find myself more fond of dogs than cats, if only a little.

I personally find I prefer cats. I won't say cats are smarter - I've known some really stupid cats - but there is just something undignified about dogs. A lot of their natural behaviour is undesirable so it takes a lot of training to get them to behave well, and most of their traits people tend to appreciate - loyalty, friendlyness, playfullness, etc - is still a result of them being emotionally dependant on their masters.

Cats have natural dignity and don't need a lot of training. (Which is good because teaching them anything is almost impossible.) They also don't really have that built-in compulsion to like you - unlike dogs they don't go neurotic if you leave them alone or ignore them for a while. But that also makes it more gratifying when a cat really seems to like you, or when you manage to befriend a cat who didn't seem to like you at first.

Also, I find that cats seem to have more personality then dogs - most dogs I've met act more or less the same, but I have seriously never known two cats with the same temperament and quirks.

Plus, cats smell a lot better. Somehow I really can never learn to appreciate the smell of dogs.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Glorious!

Indeed. Who knew cats were so evil?

[Holy Spirit]

I personally find I prefer cats. I won't say cats are smarter - I've known some really stupid cats - but there is just something undignified about dogs. A lot of their natural behaviour is undesirable so it takes a lot of training to get them to behave well, and most of their traits people tend to appreciate - loyalty, friendlyness, playfullness, etc - is still a result of them being emotionally dependant on their masters.

Cats have natural dignity and don't need a lot of training. (Which is good because teaching them anything is almost impossible.) They also don't really have that built-in compulsion to like you - unlike dogs they don't go neurotic if you leave them alone or ignore them for a while. But that also makes it more gratifying when a cat really seems to like you, or when you manage to befriend a cat who didn't seem to like you at first.

Also, I find that cats seem to have more personality then dogs - most dogs I've met act more or less the same, but I have seriously never known two cats with the same temperament and quirks.

Plus, cats smell a lot better. Somehow I really can never learn to appreciate the smell of dogs.

Hmmm....... I usually prefer dogs because I feel like they actually care out you.

With cats..... it's like they tolerate having you, around but you're a roommate they never asked for. Sneaky too.

I won't say cats are smarter - I've known some really stupid cats

Feats!?!

[Siriel]

I like both, though I tend to prefer cats. Especially young cats. I intend to get a kitten when I move out.

Mind you, I've only ever met one dog (and no cats) that didn't like me, so I can only speak from the perspective of being liked by them. No idea which is the worst to be disliked by.

[Kage Kisaragi]

Do cats include big cats? Tigers and Lions rip wolves and other members of the k-9 family yo pieces one on one, probably in groups too.

fiction wise, i dont know enough of either species to judge.

[abmccray]

Dogs are definitely the better of the two in a general sense; they're smarter animals by anything we can use to measure it, and they've evolved along with us (and guided by us) to the point where they're actual companion animals that UNDERSTAND us, even when it comes to nuances. Look at docs on how dogs read faces, or understand tone, and how we can do the reverse, and you'll see the advantage of that type of co-evolution. There's no comparison between the two for that reason - humans are just much closer to dogs in general.

You can easily "prefer" cats because they're generally easier to deal with from a young age, while still retaining the "cute and cuddly" aspects if that's what you're in for, or vermin control, though.

In fiction, because dogs are generally the more "beloved" animal, dogs tend to win that battle as well.

[IssunBoshi]

Best pet: I prefer seeing cats more myself, but I say it's overall even.

Fight #1: I dunno...

Fight #2: Dogs have the size advantage, but cats aren't limited to just biting since they can use their claws and agility as well. If we incorporate mythical/religious animals or beasts as "real-life" (rather than for Fight #1), then things get a bit more complicated.

[Guy Smiley]

Best pet?

Eh, one of these two animals (after spaying/neutering) can be trusted to be relatively quiet and not freak out every five minutes about somebody walking down the street a block away behind three fences and decide to alert the neighborhood, setting off a chain reaction if others of its kind can hear it. (i.e. are within several square miles)

The other is owned by my neighbors and half the people on my block, and are apparently so odious that they are never allowed indoors, no matter how bad the weather is.

Yes, I am a tad bitter.

[T51R]

Well I don't know which would win a fight, since there are some very small dogs and some very big cats(that are approved domestic pets) For instance, it would be a slaughter if we set a 9lbs regular cat up against a Belgian Sheperd, and in contrast a Chihuahua up against a Serval or a Coon.

As far as pets go I've owned dogs, and thanks to a member of my family also live with a cat. My neighbours in Oz also own cats, and so I've lived with both for several years, at the very least for a decade. All up I'd have to say that at least personally, it comes down to the individual animal; each animal is going to have its own personality. i.e. our current cat behaves very dog-like, and follows the same set of commands with minimal "training." He seems to have learned everything through observation and interaction. Its gotten to the point where I don't need to speak, and neither does he. This, after just over a year. Fortunately or unfortunately, he's grown quite large for a domestic Asian breed(which can normally be found in alleys and drains) and is very strong, to the point where a love tap can open a person up like a razor.

Our dogs(now deceased) showed elements of cat-like behaviour as well and were a bit notorious for climbing and jumping.

All our pets were very sociable, and all of them demanded a good portion of time. The only difference between the cat and the dogs are that the cat is much easier to manage; he doesn't need walks(which I miss) and taught himself how to use the litterbox. That isn't to say however that the cat cannot be walked; he takes to a leash well and behaves alright while on it. Note however that dogs can also use a litterbox. You just need a big one, and a dedicated litterbox for each dog.

So yer, comes down to the individual animal. It takes some experience to pick the right one out, so if in doubt you might want to go for either a mature animal whose personality has fully formed, or talk to the handlers(the former being the best bet for the first-time owner)

[Kuro]

I've always been extremely fond of dogs.

[Siriel]

Let's avoid talking about unnecessary details like that.

[Kuro]

Possibly the greatest act of loyalty ever shown by a single dog.