Cats vs Dogs: Which is Better?
Everyone thinks of getting a pet at least once in their lives but cannot decide on what they should get. They primarily get stuck on either cats or dogs, as they are the most common house pets according to a research by catalog.com. The need of having pets is a universal thought and it battles anxiety, depression, and loneliness. They offer love, support, and companionship. As cats and dogs are the most common house pets, how to choose between them?
People who have dogs are very sociable, friendly and prefer outdoor activities like walking, jogging et cetera. They are very active and energetic. On the other hand, people who have cats are basically introverts. They are less sociable and prefer to live their lives inside. They are often characterized as lazy.
But which is the ideal pet for you?
Behavior
Cats and dogs are very different from each other and they behave differently as well. Cats are prone to jumping and climbing all over the place. They like to scratch a lot so getting them a toy or something like that will keep your furniture scratch less. But they are pretty lazy. They spend their day mostly sleeping and roam around at night.
Dogs are very friendly from the beginning and are always looking to play. However, cats can be moody and they do not connect with you at the very beginning. Overtime they develop closeness with their possessor.
Dogs adapt to change pretty quickly, unlike cats. When going on a trip, dogs will happily travel with you, in the meanwhile cats may get grumpy.
Care
Cats and dogs require the ultimate care possible from their owners. Dogs require constant attention; they may get sad when you continuously ignore them. They need their daily walk and exercise to keep themselves healthy. This way, you can also keep yourself fit and healthy as well.
Cats do not need daily exercise as they are usually lazy. Some of them are very active and enjoy walks. Cats are generally more independent than dogs so they can stay many hours without their owners. Cats can live in small spaces, unlike dogs who need more space as they are bigger.
Both animals require a healthy and balanced diet with a supply of clean water.
Training
Out of the two, dogs are more responsive to training. They learn pretty quickly. Cats can be trained, but not as efficiently and thoroughly as dogs.
Cats can be easily trained in using their litter box. Once you show them where it is, they will remember its location. Dogs, on the other hand, do not use litter boxes to do their business, they go outside the house. You can train them to ring a bell or something like that to get you notified. So that you can open the door and they can go outside.
Lifespan
Pets are a source of unconditional support. It is vital to know how many years your little furry friend can stick around with you.
The average life expectancy of dogs varies according to their breed and size but generally speaking, they can live up to 10 to 15 years.
Alternatively, the average life expectancy of cats depends on whether they are indoor or outdoor cats. Indoor cats can live up to 14 to 20 years whereas outdoor cats can live up to 3 to 10 years.
These life expectancies vary on many factors such as care, health, food intake, clean water et cetera.
Protection
Cats and dogs offer protection to their loved ones in times of need. But when an intruder gets into your house, both cats and dogs will do everything in their arsenal to protect you.
Dogs bark vigorously and try to bite the intruder whereas cats try to jump on to the intruder and scratches them.
Costs
Owning pets brings many responsibilities upon you. One of them is to handle their costs. On the subject of cats and dogs, they require daily food intake, clean water, vet appointments, grooming et cetera.
Dogs cost around $1500 to $4500 per year on average whereas cats cost around $1000 to $1200 per year on average.
Looking at this, cats are more affordable than dogs.
Conclusion
Having pets brings a sense of comfort inside your home. They are with you when there might be no one else there.
Cats and dogs are special in their own ways. They both have their ups and downs. Both animals are best suited for certain types of people.
In the meanwhile, dogs are considered “man’s best friend”. According to a pet survey conducted in the United States in 2017, 51% of the respondents preferred dogs over cats. So, this might tip the scales in the favor of dogs.
Nonetheless, having cats is also of equal joy and satisfaction.
