Cat People vs. Dog People
I won't write up any of my own analyses here, though I'll definitely participate in the comments! It's not that I'm lazy (this time), I've just got about five things going on at once right now. And it's all been said before anyways. I like both cats and dogs and respect everyone no matter which they prefer (as long as they're not cruel to the species they dislike). I can see both sides of the matter and appreciate the good qualities of each, though I'm most definitely squarely on the "cat person" side of the fence. I love doggies too, especially labs and happy breeds like that, but they're too much maintenance for me (it's nice when other people have them and you can play with them or pet them for a little while and then leave!) It's amazing how up-in-arms some people get about the whole "argument" - silly actually. Some links:
http://dir.salon.com/story/books/feature/2002/08/29/pets/
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/purebred_dogs/15590
http://www.secondbreakfast.net/archives/003403.html
http://www.hawaiistories.com/kane/2002/10/22/cat-people-dog-people/
http://www.mbticentral.com/forums/bonfire/1203-cat-people-dog-people.html
There're scads more but you can look them up for yourself. Feel free to sound off on your own preference and why! Don't come in weak either, if you've got a preference, be proud of it!
9 comments:
I'm first! I've had both, but not cats for a long long time. After living more than half a century and experiencing both, I prefer small dogs that don't shed. I like dogs because they show their feelings more than cats do. One big problem is that it's similar to having a child - you can't leave them alone too long unless you happen to have a dog that cares less. Many have separation anxiety (make your pet a part of the family, but then you get what comes with that - a lot of responsibility). I STILL love having a dog and would even like to have another or no animals at all (freedom). No cats for me unless they're toilet trained, don't shed, and never go outside.
Dogs rule. Cats are second best.
Dogs depend on us, cats couldn't care less.
Dogs are friendly, cats are stand-offish.
Dogs clean up their own poop, cats leave it in the kitty-litter.
Dogs will eat anything, all the table scraps. Cats are picky.
Dogs bark, cats meow and purr.
I guess I just like dogs, probably because I grew up with them.
Hey! ByteDoc is back. I guess we know where you stand, hehe. I like the part about dogs picking up their own poop. Would be nice huh? That's actually a downside of pooches for me. I'd hate to have to walk them all the time and then on top of that, when they decide they've got to arch their back and do the wallaby waltz, I'd havee to reach down with a glove/bag thingie to pick up a fresh steamer right out of the over. Gross.
Empath, you could get a hairless type like a Spynxh or a Cornish Rex or Devon Rex (hehe on the last one, I know one of those! He's usually a Bristol Rex though) to solve the shedding problem. You could get two so they'd play and keep them indoors all the time. They like turn into affectionate pets that would sit on your lap and purr while you watched movies, and sleep by your feet like Marie does. Any believe it or not there are sites I've been too and I've heard from other people in the past that you can toilet train cats. Some pickup on it more readily than others, and of course you'd have to flush (unless you could jimmy-rig a solution for that, like the IR-sensors that flush for you at the airport and movie theaters). Get an automatic food and water dispenser and voila! A completely maintenance free pet. Just add love.
Meow!
My opinion on dogs is similar to that of children, I like the well-behaved, less-demanding ones but would still never want one of my own
I'm most definitely a cat person, and proud of it. Cats can be just affectionate as dogs, but you have to earn their trust and respect first - they're not going to come running just because you fancy a stroke, why should they? There's nothing like having a purring cat on your lap - you know s/he's there because you have both spent time to develop a rewarding relationship, whereas, give a dog a tasty morsel and s/he's your friend right away. As an added bonus, a cat's fur is softer and much more pleasant to stroke, especially if you're lucky enough to have a cat that trusts you enough to let you at it's belly.
Cats are sleek, graceful, independent, clean animals (mine have no litter tray and are all trained to go outside). I get hours of enjoyment from just watching them move and play. I have three of them and two often try to follow me when I go for walks and on occasions have accompanied me up to a 45-minute walk away from the house. One in particular is very attached and will yowl if she's made to stay behind. The third one is very communicative and will frequently talk to me in a series of chirrups, meows and grumbles. Sometimes she wants something, sometimes it's just to be friendly.
Also, I've been bitten by cats before - sometimes in play, sometimes it's been a warning they'd like to be left alone - and recovered quickly, however, I still have a lump on my leg where I was bitten by a territorial Alsation who was 'guarding' his master in the supermarket I was trying to enter.
Give me cats any day.
Raelha, you couldn't have put it better. I feel exactly the same way. There is far too much dog poop everywhere and litter trays really aren't necessary unless you live in a high rise apartment or something. Maybe it's more of an American thing but when I lived there, I was amazed at how few pet cats were actually let outside to do their thing.
I personally find dogs way too demanding and annoying and I don't like the way they smell. I'm happy to pet my friends dogs but really wouldn't want to own one. Cats every time for me too.
Great summary, Raelha. I agree wholeheartedly.
Cats aren't standoffish the way dog people think they are. They just form their own opinions about you based on how you treat them (most of them anyway, there will always be exceptions that hate or love everyone).
Dogs on the other hand are usually TOO eager to please, which annoys me no end. But I like easy-going big dogs that can be good indoor companions and you can forget their there for awhile when you want to - they don't stare at you 24/7 waiting for your next move. Some dogs are very laid-back and that's nice too.
Like I said, I can't get into any kind of war, because I've lived with both all my life, and love them both. Just in my current circumstances and at the point tempermentally I am in my life, cats suit me much better. A cat seems more of an equal friend than a pet (assuming you don't pamper and spoil them).
*they're.
Ha ha. That was funny! I was just thinking to myself, 'He put the wrong they're' :-D
I don't like cats, they eat birds.
I don't like dogs, they keep running up trying to sniff you.
Give me a nice colourful parrot any day.
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