Dog or Cat: My home is home to two dogs and two cats. One older cat and one older dog. One younger cat and one younger dog.
Don’t assume I’m trying to make a rhyme there. Because I’m not. My wife always gets a cat anytime I get a dog. Apparently, she likes cats, but I love dogs. So, once I bring home a new pup, expect her to bring a kitten the next day. Competition, heh? Well, not exactly. Just everyone bringing their favorite pet into the fold.
If you live alone, you probably won’t have the same issue. But what if you love cats just as much as you love dogs? Which one will you bring into your home?
I know a lot of people love more than one pet. Some love birds, rabbits, Guinea pigs, Turtles, etc. If such people decide to bring more than one pet into their home, no one will object. But how do you make the ultimate choice between a cat and a dog? In my case, my union with my wife helps us decide – everybody invites their favorite pet home. But in your case, how would you decide?
Let’s find out.
Dogs – man’s favorite best friend – The Pros and The Cons
Dogs are amazing, and they occupy more homes than cats. According to the numbers, more than 38.4% of households own dogs, whereas cats are present in only 25.4% of homes.
Based on this view, it is understandable if you choose to follow the crowd and bring a dog home before a cat. But before you make that call, you should at least weigh the pros and cons first.
PROS
1. Dogs are the closest to a human friend
Universally, dogs are regarded as man’s best friends. That’s because of the excellent companionship they offer. Dogs of all sizes have this habit of filling in the role of a loved one, thus not making one feel lonely. If you live alone, dogs make excellent companions. You can talk, play, and laugh with them.
2. Work out buddies
If you exercise a lot, you need a dog more than a cat. Forget about your love for cats; when it comes to physical activities, dogs are the best option between the two. From walking to hiking to swimming, dogs are more active and energetic than cats.
3. Better Health and Therapy Support
Dogs like Goldendoodle are known for being great therapy pets. Their smartness and alertness allow them to offer good companionship to older owners and special needs kids. If you or a loved one have health-related needs that a pet can help with, dogs are better at offering such support than cats.
4. Less medical problems
Although both creatures get their fair share of illnesses, cats are often associated with more viral infections than dogs. This is according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
If you don’t want to visit veterinary hospitals near me often, dogs should be high on your list of preferences. By the way, you should check out nearindex today to connect with the best vet specialists anywhere in the world.
5. Security Purposes
This one is a no-brainer. Dogs are better security pets than cats. Certain breeds aren’t called ‘watchdogs’ for no reason.
If security concerns are amongst the reasons you’re getting a pet, dogs should be your inevitable choice.
CONS
1. Dogs are attention-seekers
Dogs want to be involved in everything. Whether you’re eating, sleeping, hiking, walking, sitting, or fixing things in the compound, dogs want to be a part of everything.
That is no problem, provided your type of home and what you do in the house permit that. If you’re the work-from-home type, you may have trouble managing your work with a dog in the house, especially if it’s the type that has access to the house.
2. Dogs are more demanding
The bigger the dog, the greater the quantity of food you’ll have to feed him. Also, big dogs cost more to procure than small dogs and cats. Besides that, dogs are generally more expensive to groom than cats, especially those ones with fancy furs and designer coats (Hi Goldendoodle).
3. Dogs demand more care
Cats can look after themselves to some extent better than dogs. Dogs demand more care and attention. You have to walk, train, groom, and even play with them.
Cats – Second most popular pet – The Pros and The Cons
Pros
1. Better independent creature
Cats are generally independent – or at least, they like to feel like so. Unlike a dog, a cat may not demand your attention every five minutes. She can be rooted in her litter for hours without necessarily coming to disturb your space.
This is good for those who work 9 to 5 and don’t have time to watch over a pet all day long.
2. Good companionship
Like dogs, cats make great companions, too. They can curl up with you for a nap in bed or snuggle in your arms on the couch. If you need some pet playtime, cats are happy to do all the running and jumping, allowing you to watch and laugh comfortably from your space.
3. Ease of carriage
Because of their size, cats are generally easier to carry about than dogs. If you do a lot of road tripping or you love to bring your pet with you everywhere, cats will be a great choice.
4. Less grooming needs
You don’t have to spend the whole day grooming a cat. Once you’ve trimmed their nails and brushed their hair, you’re good to go.
5. Make your house pest-free
The legend of the cat and the mouse is one that dates back generations. Having a cat in the house guarantees that rodents of all sorts will not infest your home.
Cons
1. Not good for security purposes
From a security standpoint, cats won’t chase intruders away.
2. Not easily trainable
Unlike dogs, cats don’t really take to training
3. They are not necessarily obliging
Because they are not pack animals, cats may choose not to please you every time. He may decide to be in his space even though it’s obvious you would like to have his company.
Dogs vs. Cats: The Verdict
If you love both so much that you cannot seem to make a choice, we suggest that you should consider your lifestyle. Go for cats if your job doesn’t allow you me-time. Go for cats if you want to do less caring, grooming, and petting. However, go for dogs if you need a physically active companion.
