Poll: What do you prefer cats or dogs?
I have a "feeling" that tech people are more into cats... but I might be biased or completely wrong.
So, are you more a cat or a dog person?
So, are you more a cat or a dog person?
I have two Russian Blue cats, they are smart, fun, playful, and they entertain one another. They are loving, cuddly, and empathic. The biggest benefit cats have over dogs (I also love dogs!) is that I don't have to walk my cats, they simply use the litter box and that's it.
My cats don't go outside because I think pets should be kept inside. Cats that go outside kill birds, they poop in gardens, they walk on cars with their sharp nails, and they get hit by motor vehicles quite a lot.
Keep your pets inside, and when you take them outside, put a leash on them.
When I find myself living in a more rural area (later in life) I will definitely want a dog, though. Without strangers around I would let it run in my enclosed yard without a leash, and it would serve as a guard dog, too.
Still, I'd say I prefer cats for the simple fact that they form their own opinions. Dogs (when raised as such) are typically overly friendly to pretty much everybody, and are easily bribed.
My cats do what they want to do, the dogs I've had in the past would do whatever I want to do and I just dislike that overly subservient behaviour.
If forced to choose, I'd have to say dogs because they're more predictable and versatile.
Dogs also tend to act more like they want to see you. Yes, I know cats love their owners as well, but the way they show it is usually less anthropomorphic. Dogs on average also seem much more loyal, but this also means they also depend on being a part of your "pack." Stereotypical it may be, I find cats to be more independent on average, but the tradeoff sometimes means they'll either ignore you for long periods of time or go off on a "hunt" if they're an outdoor cat. Though I relate to the independent attitude of cats, I like how you can count on the loyalty of a dog. A dog's loyalty can easily outmatch that of most humans within the context of canine abilities.
Cats are in a way more interesting because I find their personalities vary much more widely than that of dogs on average. I've known cool cats, dog-like cats, ornery cats, curious cats, graceful cats, goofy cats, brave cats, scaredy cats, lazy cats, "wild" cats, and so on. It's hard to beat cats when it comes to handling small vermin. Dogs can do that too, but most cats are pretty good at it if they learn to do it early enough.
I don't like choosing, though. I think the world is a better place with both dogs and cats, and can't definitively say whether I truly prefer one over the other.
Cats similarly poop all over a house until trained. Dealing with their hairballs and worms is also not something I look forward to. I think in their minds I would be their pet, a position I must accept after careful consideration.
But in seriousness, I don't see why I can't pick both.
If forced, depends on the dog breed. Golden retreiver wins over any cat and any cat over a pit bull or roweiler.
Cats seem to have evolved a cute 'pet me, you know you want to, and now feed me' interaction with humans, whereas dogs seem to be much more genuinely invested in the relationship. IMHO.