Dogs vs. Cats

A recent discussion I was in contrasted dogs and cats. These are observations I have made, leading me to like cats better:

1. Dogs smell. After about a week or so of going on daily walks and digging outside dogs start to reek. In addition to that, after you pet a smelly dog, you yourself reek as a result. Plus dogs that smell make the whole house smell.

2. Because of reason one; dogs must be bathed often to get rid of the smell. Cats however do not have to be bathed as long as they stay indoors. Cats already bath themselves so there is no point in bathing them. Also, many people believe it is inhumane to bath a cat. (Because cats bath themselves, they don’t smell)

3. Dogs are self-centered and attention seeking. Virtually every time I have gone into a dog owner's home, the dog immediately comes to me wanting to be petted. It may be a friendly gesture at first but when the dog won't leave you alone it gets somewhat annoying. In contrast, cats will occasionally meow at you to say "hi" and will also come up to you and rub against your leg and arm.

4. Dogs jump on you. This goes along with the point where they won't leave you alone.

5. A common misconception is that cats aren't playful. In my experience, if you get something like a toy mouse or shoelace, you can entertain cats for hours. Laser-pointers also drive cats crazy.

6. Another common misconception is that cats aren't protective. I don't know if anyone has ever seen a cat in a fight with another cat, but you can't come within five feet without being clawed. Just imagine if someone they didn't like came in the house. It could mean bad news for that person.

7. Many people believe cats aren't smart and in addition to that, can't be trained. If you look at wild dogs and cats, you'll find cats can be much smarter at times. In instances of hunting, a pack of wolves will howl, easily giving away their presence. If you watch a cat hunt, it hunts alone and sneaks up on its prey. Cats have the ability to recognize many words. My cat learned at an early age the words "vet" and "bath," understandably. Also, when I was home on break, I was taking a can of tuna from the cabinet when my cat was leaving the kitchen. I told her I had tuna and she immediately returned and patiently waited for a sampling. I had no idea she even knew what the word meant. She also recognizes the word "treat." As far as being trained, you use a squirt gun for a cat. A cat will learn not to scratch the furniture very fast if they're trained with a squirt gun.

8. Dogs slobber. Almost without fail, a dog toy will be covered in saliva after a dog has had it in its mouth. When a dog licks your hand or face, 9/10 times you'll have their saliva all over you.

9. Cats are excellent hunters. Have a lizard or a bug in your house? Leave it to the cat to catch it. Cats are such excellent hunters; they can locate bugs in the dark. They're effective pest control.

10. Dogs can be reckless. If something sends a dog running through the house, it can mean catastrophe for any glass items. Cats however maneuver very well without breaking expensive items or making a noise.

11. Dogs have to be walked. If some dogs aren't given a walk, they start to go ADHD.

12. Dogs sometimes bark incessantly for no reason. This is self-explanatory.

Given dogs are very good for things such as: search and rescue, drug-sniffing, herding sheep, and just having a companion. I’m not against having a dog; in fact I would probably want something like a beagle in the future. However, I feel cats are more pleasant house pets to own.