Cats or Dogs
UltimaGecko
hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">Which are better?</div>Hopefully it doesn't seem like a pointless question, or that I'm filling up the discussion forum with useless banter, but...
There seems to be a rather strong-sided debate about whether cats or dogs are the better pet animal. Taking away any sort of 'ugly animal' or 'nice-looking animal' kinds of arguments (I suppose one could try to argue their opinion to convince someone, but realistically you'll find hideous cats and hideous dogs and nice cats and nice dogs), I'm wondering what kind of pet you people favor, and why?
Personally, I'm a fan of dogs. They seem to be the one house pet that has pity. If you're sad or if you've been injured they actually show some aspect of concern. Just like if you see a limping dog you go "awww, what happened?" it seems like the dog does the "awww, poor human, what happened?" kind of attention (despite how unwanted that nuzzling might be).
Dogs run the gamut from vicious and defensive to docile and passive, and you can usually find something useul in between the two extremes, while cats tend to be passive loners that don't even really care if you feed them (unless they've ground to the point they're so fat they can barely move or something).
And my last current argument for dogs: they perform far more specialized tasks than cats. Just as an accessory to human activities cats are more useful. Cats essentially catch mice, bugs and birds. While their are dog breeds that do this, there are breeds capable of search and rescue, aid and first response, blind or handicap assistance and other various uses (hunting I'd throw in with catching mice and birds, but that's just me).
I just don't really understand why someone would want a pet that doesn't really even seem like it wants to be a pet at all. And if you want a pet so that it leaves you alone, why you'd want a pet in the first place.
There seems to be a rather strong-sided debate about whether cats or dogs are the better pet animal. Taking away any sort of 'ugly animal' or 'nice-looking animal' kinds of arguments (I suppose one could try to argue their opinion to convince someone, but realistically you'll find hideous cats and hideous dogs and nice cats and nice dogs), I'm wondering what kind of pet you people favor, and why?
Personally, I'm a fan of dogs. They seem to be the one house pet that has pity. If you're sad or if you've been injured they actually show some aspect of concern. Just like if you see a limping dog you go "awww, what happened?" it seems like the dog does the "awww, poor human, what happened?" kind of attention (despite how unwanted that nuzzling might be).
Dogs run the gamut from vicious and defensive to docile and passive, and you can usually find something useul in between the two extremes, while cats tend to be passive loners that don't even really care if you feed them (unless they've ground to the point they're so fat they can barely move or something).
And my last current argument for dogs: they perform far more specialized tasks than cats. Just as an accessory to human activities cats are more useful. Cats essentially catch mice, bugs and birds. While their are dog breeds that do this, there are breeds capable of search and rescue, aid and first response, blind or handicap assistance and other various uses (hunting I'd throw in with catching mice and birds, but that's just me).
I just don't really understand why someone would want a pet that doesn't really even seem like it wants to be a pet at all. And if you want a pet so that it leaves you alone, why you'd want a pet in the first place.
Comments
Pretty kool... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":0" border="0" alt="wow.gif" />
You'd think I'd be able to decide... but eh...
I had one very smart and fairly protective dog, [Mutt, but a large portion Gold Lab] I guess because we had him as a pup around both myself, my little sister and our rabbits, so he got used to having not only people, but semi-prey animals as part of his pack...
More recently (by a number of years...) we had three cats that ranged the gamut... A snowshoe siamise that was shy as could be, [You'd never see her if guests weree there] but very calm and affectionate when she got used to your presence. [She was a rescue... we can only assume her prior home wasn't a good one.]
A sterotypical queen type Black longhair... and another longhair [grey/black striped] that still behaves rather like a puppy than a cat...
--Scythe--
Dogs win, without a doubt. They're actually useful and compassionate at the same time.
--Scythe--
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I guess I'll have to be the lone cat-person in this discussion <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
I agree on the compassionate part, but how are dogs actually useful to an average owner? I mean sure, if you use them for hunting or you need one because you are somehow disabled. However aside from those examples, I haven't actually seen a dog that brings you your slippers, newspaper, makes you coffee or fills your tax-report. And I'm not afraid of burglars.
This is how the two animals compare
Dogs:
+ They can be easily trained
+ They are compassionate/friendly
+- Easily excited(jumps against you, easy to play with)
- Small ones make a lot of noise, larger ones eat tons of food
- You are forced to train the larger/more aggressive breeds as a puppy, so that they take orders when they grow up
-<b> You have to walk them</b>
- You have to feed them correctly(they eat as much as you give them)
Cats:
+ Cleans itself
+ Eats the amount it needs, you don't have to ration food for it
+ Doesn't need to be taken out
+- Calm(doesn't jump against you, more difficult to play with)
- Can be equally noisy as dogs
- Usually less affectionate than dogs(though there are exceptions)
Edit: You can leave your cat for a few days, no problem. With dogs, no matter where you go, you have to think if you can take the dog with you, or where you can find someone to feed/walk it.
The +- part depends on whether you like your animal to assault you everytime you sit(my cat actually does that)
It's not that I don't like dogs. It's just that cats require so much less care <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
Dogs:
- You have to feed them correctly(they eat as much as you give them)
...
Cats:
+ Eats the amount it needs, you don't have to ration food for it
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I disagree, my dog is free-fed, and still all skin and bones. And my cat was a free-fed porker. Now the cat is on a limited food diet, but he's still rollie-pollie.
I'm more on the dog side of things... although pre-baby the dog was my "child" per say. Now that I'm a momma, the dog is just a dog and I don't have enough time to give to her. The cat on the other hand is a turd who really doesn't care whether I live or die, and occasionally pees on random things in the house just to piss me off.
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I rest my case.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Dogs do it outside, not in a friggin box IN THE HOUSE!
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I rest my case.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
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Cats do to if you let them outside. litter boxes are for convenience so you don't have to open and close the door/window 500 times a day when it's freezing cold out. People with catdoors really don't have a problem at all. You can even train a cat to do it the same way most people train dogs to, but cat bowels move faster then dogs.
I prefer cats, dogs smell and the average level of sanitation they maintain is a little bit offensive to me. I don't mind having a dog around, as long as I don't have to touch it very much.
Cats do to if you let them outside. litter boxes are for convenience so you don't have to open and close the door/window 500 times a day when it's freezing cold out. People with catdoors really don't have a problem at all. You can even train a cat to do it the same way most people train dogs to, but cat bowels move faster then dogs.
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True, but of all the cat owners I've ever known, this has never been the case.
Dogs:
- Small ones make a lot of noise, larger ones eat tons of food [1]
- You have to feed them correctly(they eat as much as you give them) [2]
Cats:
+ Cleans itself [3]
+ Eats the amount it needs, you don't have to ration food for it [4]
+- Calm(doesn't jump against you, more difficult to play with) [5]
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Just to comment on these:
[1] I find small dogs can often be the quieter of the two types (actually really big ones and small ones tend to be the quietest), Yorkshire terriers are 'lap dogs', but rarely bark, and it's not that annoying of a bark. On the subject of cats making noise...my sister's cat sits in the hall and meows <b>continuously</b> whenever someone walks passed its food dish (despite being recently fed or not). Plus my sister's cat knocks over stuff in the basement all the time (and it sounds like it's getting exercise, but somehow it's still a big ball of fat).
[2] I think the food issue applies to the individual animal, although I'll grant that dogs are more apt to overeat in my experiences.
[3] As someone famous, somewhere once said, "cats aren't clean, they're covered in cat spit."
[4] As stated, my sister's cat is huge and will eat anything you put in front of it.
[5] Also covered above, whenever I spend time at home my sister's cat jumps up on the computer and screws up whatever game I'm playing...along with meowing in the middle of the night and somehow shedding everywhere (I swear it's the only cat I've ever seen lose a hairball bigger than it's huge body).
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Yeah, think about it.... ... .. .<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
That said, I'm a cat person, no question about it. I find them much more interesting and "human" in interaction. I think people who like dogs look for different things in a pet. From a psychological standpoint, a dog's use is to make you feel happy and a dog will rarely have negative shifts in mood (from my experience). Cats are useful in this way too but I find myself seeing a greater range of emotions in them. Cats have a reasoning skill that dogs lack entirely, on the other hand dogs are very loyal and cats are usually not. I think dogs are somewhat shallow in this respect and it seems to reflect upon their owners (though that is probably a gross generalization).
Cats on the contrary , are individualistic and do not bother you with power struggles - just asking for food when they are hungry (assuming they live inside) and otherwise autonomous. They are not puppets , and cannot be conditionned into obeying your whims - they will stay in your arms only as long as they enjoy it. They trust you enough to let you pick them up (not for a long time - uncomfortable) but will flee at the first annoyance. And of course , they counterattack whenever they are hurt.
They are not mentally dependant on you , but they can be actually attached - not because of the given food , but from your caring behavior : that makes them seek you (not in a hurry) just to have nice company.
it's a toss up but I would go with dogs
simply becuase an 87 pound pitbull is a great fire and forget home defense mechanism, and you can go out and leave your front door open and only the authorized few can safely pass into your domain =D
However one of my friends does have 2 kittens and they are awesome self sufficent creatures, and they do show affection, it's just slightly hidden
They get a bad rap becuase "gangstas" get a pit and procede to beat the ish out of it and then not socialize it and one day it escapes and "consistently" attacks things.
My old neighbor had a black and white 87 pound pitbull, it's five years old and the biggest puppy ever. He listens to his owner and is very very calm. It has a vertical jump of 6-7 feet and can scale fences. Only time it showed any hint of aggression whatsoever was when someone knocked on the door. All the people who were regulars at the house would walk right in, knocking was viewed as "WHOA who knocks?!" and Domino reacted accordingly. Like I said in my other post they would leave and go to work and leave the door open. If I needed I could run in his pad and grab X item. Domino would look at me and go back to sleep.
His roomates brother had a female Rottweiler that was far more dangerous that Domino by the name of Roxy. She didn't trust anyone.
My other neighbor had a brindeled pitbull puppy who he got from the pound. It was abused and despite the fact that we shared a side yard and I would go out and try and play with him (his name is Trigger) it took me a month for him to trust me enough to come within 5 feet and let me pet him and even then he would run off on his own volition scared. My roomates never could spend the time to let him get close. Eventually I trained him (with the owners approval) to drop the ball at my feet and back off and sit down before I would throw it again. This pitbull was so afraid of people you could see the terror written in his eyes. But when you would pet him he would get so elated and happy. It's sad watching him get so happy cause your petting him and then get scared of nothing and run 10-15 feet away and bark at you.
If you condition the animal to be violent what do you expect it to do?
An effing golden retriever or weiner dog will attack people / kids if not socialized and abused and 95% of pitbulls you read about who attack people or animals fall into that catagory
If you condition the animal to be violent what do you expect it to do?
An effing golden retriever or weiner dog will attack people / kids if not socialized and abused and 95% of pitbulls you read about who attack people or animals fall into that catagory
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Absolutely and unequivocally false. I could document this into eternity, but one quote should suffice for now.
From <a href="http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html" target="_blank">dogbitelaw.com</a>,
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> “Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996….[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities.” (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA 2000;217:836-840.) <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Of course, Rottweilers are equally as dangerous.
I was just speaking from my experience and what I've heard
Living relatively close to SF which has banned pitbulls leads to discussion.
They both have specific things bred into them for attacking things so what you say makes sense (lockjaw, razor jaw)
It's false that animals who don't trust humans will try and defend themselves from a precieved threat?
Granted most will chose flight instead of fight, but still... I would say my statement was false but not "Absolutely and unequivocally false"
Eh
I was just speaking from my experience and what I've heard
Living relatively close to SF which has banned pitbulls leads to discussion.
They both have specific things bred into them for attacking things so what you say makes sense (lockjaw, razor jaw)
It's false that animals who don't trust humans will try and defend themselves from a precieved threat?
Granted most will chose flight instead of fight, but still... I would say my statement was false but not "Absolutely and unequivocally false"
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Ok then, /me removes "Absolutely and unequivocally"... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
It provides only minimal evidence towards a connection between the breed and the aggressiveness of it's members, while providing exponetially more towards the common "job" of those breeds and their relationship towards aggression.
<i>ANY</i> dog has the potential to be a threat to humans, particularly children. Even small breeds, biting with their full potential, can inflict fairly dangerous wounds. (Cats could too, to be fair.) It's retarded to single out a pair of breeds, who most commonly are found in aggressive positions (Such as home or junkyard guards) in which they are likely abused, starved, trained, and fed compounds to make them aggressive, as an unconcioable threat to people.
All your proof proves is that breeds that are commonly trained to be attack and security dogs are breeds responsible for most attacks...
It provides only minimal evidence towards a connection between the breed and the aggressiveness of it's members, while providing exponetially more towards the common "job" of those breeds and their relationship towards aggression.
<i>ANY</i> dog has the potential to be a threat to humans, particularly children. Even small breeds, biting with their full potential, can inflict fairly dangerous wounds. (Cats could too, to be fair.) It's retarded to single out a pair of breeds, who most commonly are found in aggressive positions (Such as home or junkyard guards) in which they are likely abused, starved, trained, and fed compounds to make them aggressive, as an unconcioable threat to people.
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If you'll read (or re-read) that article that's not the point they made at all. This was only one example of such documentation, and a poor one at that. The numbers don't lie: such a high percentage of attacks by two breeds (which are only a relatively small percentage of all dogs out there). Do the math.
I'm a cat person for the simple reason already stated. They're extremely low maintenance. My cat 'Onos' has single handedly rid our garage and backyard of mice left unchecked by the house's previous owners. She stays around and purrs plenty, poos outside, and is never loud.
I totally enjoy the presence of other people's dogs. Dogs will have a more stimulating relationship with their owner, but it takes work.
So to summarize, it's like a work:reward system.
Cats - 1:5
Dogs - 5:9
If that makes any sense.
But you don't know if the percentages are skewed because of inherent qualities of the breed, or because humans tend to do things to those breeds in particular that would turn them into deadly animals.
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I'll do some additional research tonight and toss some more stuff out here.
<!--quoteo(post=1569085:date=Oct 5 2006, 12:28 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Oct 5 2006, 12:28 PM) [snapback]1569085[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I'm a cat person as well. A cat purring is a much more relaxing sound than a dog panting. Also, catnip and laser pointers can provide hours of fun <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />.
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