If you were to go to the pet store and get a pet tomorrow, what would it be? Chances are, the answer to that question is most likely a cat or a dog, but the real question is: what should you get? Cats and dogs are two of the most common household pets, with about 66.9% of households in the U.S. owning at least one. Since these two pets are so popular, the question of which is better has become one of the most debated topics among cat-lovers and dog-lovers. Through this comparison between what it is like to own a cat versus what it is like to own a dog, it will be shown that while dogs are a loving addition to many peoples lives, there are many reasons why living with a cat is a much more interesting and desirable experience.
The first topic of comparison to be discussed is the topic of sleeping arrangements. Dogs and cats have very different views of the classifications of a bed. Dogs are usually pretty good about knowing that their bed is their bed, and they sleep in it. Almost every dog owner has a nice, soft pet bed for their furry
friend, and more often than not, they will find that friend sleeping inside of it, as shown in the picture to the left. Cat owners, on the other hand, seem to be very familiar with the occurrence of discovering their cat in pretty much every single place that is not a cat bed. A lot of times, cats will end up taking over its puppy-sibling’s bed if they have one, but they also claim many places as their own under the “if I fits, I sits” idea. This idea is exemplified in the pictures below. Most cat owners are used to the expectation of their cat sleeping or sitting somewhere that is definitely not meant to be their bed. While this can sometimes be seen as an inconvenience, it’s actually just one of the money and space saving perks of owning a cat. As shown in the picture below, dog beds, depending on the size of the dog, can sometimes take up a large amount of space. Since cats will sleep anywhere, there is no need to take up space in your house for a pet bed. This information proves that cats are the ideal pet for someone living in a small space to just looking to save space.
Another comparable subject between owning a cat and owning a dog is toys. Most dog owners have a stockpile of balls, rope toys, stuffed animals, and squeaky toys to entertain their pups. Aside from the occasional shoe, dogs seem to refrain from playing with things that aren’t their own toys. As an owner of a dog, it is your responsibility to supply your dog’s favorite toys, which probably only last for about a month until it is in twenty little pieces strewn around the house. As a cat owner, it is very likely that you will rarely ever need to buy a cat
toy. Americans spend $47 on dog toys and just $28 on cat toys each year (time.com). Every once in a while, you will see a toy at the store and give it to your cat as a Christmas or birthday present, but don’t worry, if you don’t, your cat will definitely find its own toys. Cats will chase anything from a feather boa you used for a Halloweencostume two years ago to your own feet as they pass the table they are hiding under. A perfect example of this is pictured below. Not only will they chase things that you provide, they will sometimes even take it upon themselves to hunt down their own things that peak their interest. The picture shown to the left is a prime example this, as it is showing a cat dragging around an article of clothing from his owners’ room as if it were his own. From all of this information, it can be concluded that cat owners will most likely spend less money on toys than dog owners.
One characteristic of cats that make them a more appealing pet than dogs is their cleanliness. It is proven that cats are much cleaner than dogs for a multitude of reasons. Cats spend about 50% of their waking hours grooming themselves (thenest.com). They groom almost every square inch of their bodies, whereas dogs mainly only groom their feet and their private parts. Since dogs don’t keep themselves clean, it is the responsibility of the owner to either groom their dog or take it to get groomed regularly, while most cats will rarely need to be bathed or groomed. Not only do cats take care of their own hygiene, but they also seldom have an odor, which is a pretty common characteristic of a dog. It is normal for a dog to have an odor, but a cat will seldom have an odor unless it is suffering from a medical condition (petmd.com). For example, if a dog owner left their home for a few hours and came back to a smell on the couch, it would be pretty obvious that the dog was relaxing on the couch while their owner was away, whereas if a cat were to take a nap on the couch, the owner would most likely never know. The cleanliness of a cat is definitely a trait that that is appealing to pet owners, and makes the owning of a cat more desirable than owning a dog.
The starkest contrast between cats and dogs as pets is their need for attention. All pets need to be given a certain amount of care to sustain a healthy, long life, but some need more than others. Dogs seem to definitely demand much more attention from their owners than cats. Dog owners invest a lot of time into training and walking their pets, not to mention all of the time they spend just playing or cuddling with their pups. Most dogs prefer to spend more time with their owner than being alone, and some even suffer separation anxiety when their owner leaves. On the other hand, many cats would probably prefer to have a whole house to themselves. Cats often like to be left alone, and cat-owners probably invest much less time into training, walking, and cuddling with their cats. While a lot of cat owners, myself included, love to cuddle with their cats, it is very common for cats to want to be left alone. When cats do want attention, it is mainly when they need something like food or water. This is not to say that cats never sit on their owner’s lap to cuddle because they do, but it is definitely under their terms and on their own time. In conclusion, cats demand much less attention, time, and energy from their owners, and can be seen as much easier pets to own than dogs, especially for people with busy schedules.
This comparison of cats as pets versus dogs is one that is very personal to me, considering I am an owner of a Himalayan cat, Lord Fluffington, and a German Shepherd, Ammo. As an owner of both types of pets, I am able to see, first-hand, the clear differences between the two animals, and I do admit that I have picked a favorite. After evaluation of just a few of the differences that cat-parents and dog-parents face on a daily basis, it can be concluded that dogs may be a much more high maintenance pet than cats. While cats and dogs are both such incredible companions, it can be said that cats are a more desirable addition to many people’s lives.
