By: Eloi McMars
The Ultimate battle on which pet fits you and your personality.
Dogs and Cats are both clearly champions when it comes to preferred household pets. But this is not about figuring out who the real winner is, rather it is about understanding more about them.
Let us look at the "Tail of the Tape" and understand what makes them unique from each other and hopefully help you decide on who is the right champion for your homes.
1. Instincts and Behavior
Firstly, let's look at their instincts and behavior. Knowing this will explain why dogs and cat act the way they do. This will aid and help us understand them more so we can fulfill their needs as pet parents.
Dogs are Pack Animals
We always hear Cesar "The Dog Whisperer" Milan talking about the pack and how to become the pack leader. This is because dogs are pack animals, this means their nature is to hunt and work as a group to find food and provide protection. They are led by the "Alpha Dog" and instinctively follow wherever their pack goes which makes it easy for them to accept new experiences, such as travel or moving around. Dogs have a hard time when they are left alone because of this pack mentality. When you own a dog it feels like having a young child who longs to be close to you and always looking for your attention.
Cats are Independent Animals
Most cats in the wild hunt on their own. Cats are gifted with agility, they can easily jump, run and climb compared to dogs. This aids them to escape when they are in danger. Their agility is also topped up with retractable claws that helps them to hunt for prey and protect themselves. Cat's are territorial that is why we often see them mark their turf. It is a bit harder for them to accept changes in their environment. These abilities makes the cat independent animals that can thrive on their own with minimal caring. Some domesticated breed can be more social though and cats can get attached to their pet parents for sure.
2. Living Space
Evaluating our living space is a factor we also need to take into consideration. Ideally dogs needs more space especially for the bigger breeds. They need to be able exercise through exploration, play and even chores. But just because you don't have space means that you can't own one. If you live in a small apartment you will need to give time to walk your dog to rid off that excess energy they have and for proper conditioning. It is actually not only good for them but for both of you. It gives you a better bond and is actually a great start to train obedience to your dog... after all you are suppose to be the "Alpha".
Cats on the other hand seems to be a better option if you have a small space. They can always find their own special spot in the house if they want a bit of personal time. They are naturally clean animals so you can easily train them properly. Although they tend to spray their scent to mark their territory on your furnitures. Play is both bonding time and exercise for cats. You can easily taunt them with a small flashlight to keep them occupied and entertain yourself at the same time.
If you have a big space it could be quite a challenge to look for your cat at times. By experience cats tend to explore around big spaces to get familiarize with its territory and trespassers. They would even get into a fight to protect it especially for the male cats. But even though they go around they will always go back to their pet parents. It is a great idea to create your own way of calling them - like your simple unique "meow meow" call to prompt them to go back quickly because it is you who's calling for them.
3. Training and Intelligence
Dogs will definitely win over the cat when it comes to trainability. There is a reason why you see more trained dogs than cats. It goes back to their instinctive pack mentality that they follow and please the alpha which is us. Some breeds are much easier to train than others. Different dog breeds have different temperament and learning aptitudes, a bit of research on the dog of your choice can help on this. But most of us don't really train them to be ninjas anyway right? So feel free to choose depending on your liking.
Cats may not be as easy to train as dogs because of their willful nature. But you will have advantages when it comes to potty training. Cats instinctively knows where the litter box is, sometimes you just need to show them once. Did i say earlier that they are naturally clean animals? So keep you litter box clean all the time. As for dogs it proves to be more of a challenge especially for puppies. It takes more time and repetition to potty train them.
4. Costs
Dogs are often more expensive to care for than cats from the amount of food they eat, toys you buy for them, their training classes, pet sitter, and vet bills. Compared to cats which are independent by nature. They can care for themselves and only needs food from you. You literally just need a button tied on thread as toys for cats.
5. Protection
You definitely haven't seen a cat as a police sidekick right? Dogs can definitely protect you more than cats. Let us discard size... a dogs bark serves as warning to you that there might be trouble ahead or a call for help when their parents are in danger. Dogs nature is to protect its pack and they will definitely do so.
There are other more things to consider when choosing between dogs and cats such as grooming, energy, good with children, good for your age or even usage if you have disability.
Which is the right pet for you? Well it seems that it makes sense to also check your personality as well. According to Psychology Today, cat parents and dog parents also differ significantly in these areas. The majority of people who keep cats exclusively tend to be more introverted, less sociable, and more self-contained, whereas dog parents are more social, interactive, and open to new experiences.
Why stick with one when you can actually have both and enjoy the best of both worlds? No one is saying that dogs and cats can't live together. :))
Whatever your decision is, it will surely be a great experience that you should not miss. It's like asking yourself about your next relationship... Are we really compatible? Is he/she the right on for me?.. One thing is for sure, whichever pet you choose, love and loyalty most definitely will be given back to you. The "Pros" surely overpowers the "Cons" in having a furry buddy by your side when you need it.
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