OK, I'll put my neck out,Dogs vs cats as pets

[oilcan]

Just returned from our place in the North Pa. woods. Our springer worked hard to push a bunch of birds in our direction, a portion of which met their fate. This dog loves her ultimate blood reason for existing. Finding grouse/pheasant. I mean it. She is business in the woods.
Came home to my daughter's cat (that we've been keeping for a few months) who **** outside the required area.
What is it with cat lovers?

[Jim Richards]

I've never been that interested in cats, and my wife is allergic to them. We both like dogs. YMMV

[Heel n Toe]

Dogs for the win, IMO. One word: loyalty.

Once heard a standup comedian say something like, "Cats are weird... even after they're housetrained, every 103rd time they'll drop one behind the couch."

[flatbutt]

I too vote for the dog. I just don't get cats...at all.

[gamin]

Dogs. You can come home to an animal that is truly happy to see you. Not so much with cats. And a dog can protect you, Well, some can.

[stomachmonkey]

I've had both my whole life and like them equally.

Dogs have accidents inside all the time and I've never had a cat wake me up at 3 AM in the dead of winter because it needed to go outside.

YMMV.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Cats aren't pets.

Dogs are friends.

[oilcan]

I don't think there is anyeqality about it. How people like cats as a friend is beyond me.

[oilcan]

Let me put it way, could i put a cat in front of me with a shotgun to put-up some birds? To call the cat back-in when it was too far out of range and believe it would obey? Come on .The things are useless- unless you live with mice/rats.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Both. People who don't get cats probably haven't had one like my Toby. I adopted both of my current cats as kittens. They are brother and sister. Toby is the most dog like cat I've had. He playful, loyal and loves on the dogs all of the time. He followed my ailing Lab around and laid by him as he approached the end. Now he follows the blind rescue lab around. In his mind he is probably Hooch back from the dead. Cats don't have a blind loyalty like dogs do but that is one of the things I like about them. You have to earn their trust a bit more.

Him with my Ranger tough son who is the one who rescued him as a kitten



Him with Hooch a few months before he passed

[vash]

My cat is like a dog. She comes running when I call. She heels. She is freakishly loyal. Meets me at the door everyday. Nice to END my cat thing on a good note. No More cats. They vomit to much.

She is last cat.



Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[jhynesrockmtn]

They vomit to much.

If that is happening frequently is there not an underlying medical issue or food issue possibly? My cats have vomited less in 5 years than my dogs have.

[widebody911]

I like dogs, but I hate most dog people. Everywhere I have ever lived, people have had dogs that they just left outside to bark constantly. Most people do not appear to be willing to give their dogs the attention and training they require.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by gamin

You can come home to an animal that is truly happy to see you. Not so much with cats.

I have 2 cats that I took in as strays; they know the sound of my car and come running to the front yard when I get home. If I sit down, one of them will be in my lap within seconds.

[Scott R]

Dogs, no question. I'm not having a cat protect my family.

[Gogar]

Dogs have owners,

Cats have staff.

[Gogar]

That said I hate dog owners who refuse to train their dog because they think it is a little person.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I like dogs, but I hate most dog people. Everywhere I have ever lived, people have had dogs that they just left outside to bark constantly. Most people do not appear to be willing to give their dogs the attention and training they require.

IMO those aren't dog people.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by gamin

Dogs. You can come home to an animal that is truly happy to see you. Not so much with cats. And a dog can protect you, Well, some can.

Clearly you don't know about cats.















This little guy always was the 1st to greet me when I got home.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Dogs have owners,

Cats have staff.

Originally Posted by widebody911

I like dogs, but I hate most dog people. Everywhere I have ever lived, people have had dogs that they just left outside to bark constantly. Most people do not appear to be willing to give their dogs the attention and training they require.

This is our neighbors... they are actually nice people but totally ignorant when it comes to pets... they are (relatively) young, bought their first house, got pregnant, and got a dog and a cat.
The poor dog is left in the back yard 80% of the time and is barking at the back door half of that time.
The cat is scared of the dog and spends most of her time in our yard, we have taken to feeding her and expect when they move they won't take her... they also let the two year old name he cat "meow-meow"... I refuse to call her that.

Originally Posted by widebody911

I have 2 cats that I took in as strays; they know the sound of my car and come running to the front yard when I get home. If I sit down, one of them will be in my lap within seconds.

Our cats follow us around, sleep with us, even play fetch (but only when they are in the mood).

I don't see it as either/or just different... cats are much lower maintenance... dogs are more 'unconditional love'... apples and oranges.

We love dogs but don't have the time and/or space for them, maybe when I retire. IMHO either dogs and/or cats get a bad rap because of irresponsible owners... if you ignore a cat it will ignore you right back... if you ignore a dog it will develop bad behaviors.