Dogs vs Cats.

Cats for me. I was afraid of dogs as a child although I overcame it to a large extent, but I think dogs sense my nervousness around them.
Because of an irresponsible female cat owner we ended up with a growing cat family. The owner wouldn't have the mother cat spayed so there were kittens and the kittens had kittens and the neighbourhood was over run with cats. The Cats Protection League came and rounded up most of them but couldn't catch the ginger one who became a loved pet despite living almost wild for 18 months. It took as long to domesticate him and I was the only human he'd willingly let touch him. I miss him to this day. He was with us 14 years. Such a clever and canny boy.
The mother moved in and had more kittens.I ran her up to the vet asap afterwards. We kept Woolly, a black and white long hair, who was beautiful and soppy but destructive. He was 19 when he died.
I can't have any more because I live in a 1st floor apartment now.
Cats can sense moods too and love you back in their catly way. I hope I meet mine again when I die.

I love both,but if pushed to choose,I would go for cats. I love dogs for their loyalty,and the way they are in tune with their human's moods. But they can be demanding and high maintenance to look after,and be destructive and messy! I love cats for their independent attitude,their daft ways,their clean-ness,and the fact that they are fairly low maintenance to look after. Even the killing instinct in cats doesn't really bother me,as long as it's not birds. We had a rat/mouse problem until we got our cat. Not any more. Thankfully,she doesn't seem very successful with catching birds.

I have two cats and find great pleasure in their company. They are both young cats and still playful and full of fun. In spite of their ages they are like and old married couple and have their own sides of the bed in the spare room. If one goes missing for a few hours the other one looks out anxiously for them.

I know that one of the main benefits of cats is their independence, but the male cat is one of the least independent pets that I have owned. As a kitten he had some health issues and was quite cosseted as a result. He now has a low boredom threshold as he was endlessly played with as a kitten. The female who came along six months later is much more her own cat, but still very affectionate.

I grew up with both cats and dogs. For many years I worked full time in a demanding job with a long commute and a dog was out of the question as I was a single parent with no other adult to help out. About five years ago my partner moved in and now we are both retired. He is a retired postman and is not keen on dogs after being bitten too often in his job.

TBH, Carolpaint, I think we're all 'slaves' to our pets to some degree, whether it's just cleaning up after them (many cats use litter trays) or having to make special arrangements for them when we go on holiday as well.

That's the way we like it, and we don't see it as any sort of sacrifice.

I have been toying with the idea of getting a rescue dog, as I would be able to take it to work with me, BUT, looking at dog owners out in the rain walking their pets, plus the consideration of how Digby might react (Oliver Sprout would probably be ok)
I think that for now at least I will stick with my mogs!

Dogs all the way. My dog is lying on the back of the sofa with head on my shoulder looking at Gransnet! She's a cockerpoo. Doesn't lose her hair.

Ouch, that's nasty! And what's all that about cat's never showing real affection I had a little tabby who was quite reserved, but when I was really ill, she came on to my bed and stayed there, gently touching my face with her paw in reassurance until I was well again, bless her. It was such a comfort.

Cats are psychopathic killers. Stop all this maudlin nonsense, do you really understand what they are doing to millions of birds and small mammals each and every day. You are projecting your feelings, the cat treats you as much as it views prey, you are the provider but you assume it is affection cos that is what you feel. Dogs serve a purpose, whoever heard of a rescue cat, where are the guide cats for the blind, I will not go on;, but what a spiteful vile man likening a person picking up dog excrement to a slave that an earlier person proudly commented; which is manipulation by the commenter because she thinks that because she did not actually say it she is exonerated.

Had cats as a child ...but then no more until I met second husband, who had three ...down the years these have varied between an elderly cat (23 when he died) which he bought as a kitten for his late wife. A Menorcan stray (we lived on the island and there are hundreds there !) ...a little one that arrived one morning sleeping in the lawn mower grass box .....sadly run over .....a small grey kitten from a cage in the vets with a notice on it saying 'A donner' (in France by then !) ....then a kitten from the neighbours that decided to move in with us ....then another stray who arrived one morning asleep in the conservatory with our other three .....now, through old age, illness, and disappearance, we are left with only the stray .....I haven't had a holiday in 10 years as my husband uses the cat as an excuse not to be able to go away (there are cat hotels, but he refuses to allow the cat to go there !) ....so yes, I do love cats, but have decided after all these different personality traits that I prefer looking at them and if anything happens to this one, the next one will be an ornamental one ! bless them !

Im not at all keen on dogs - have been bitten several times, hate the barking, jumping up and licking and deposits on paths. Doggy homes always smell doggy too and are covered in hair. And such a tie!
Cats on the other hand will sit on your knee and purr when you stroke them. They are clean and look after themselves. Not such a tie when you are away as you can just get a neighbour to put out food. I had a cat as a child and have looked agter cats too. We dont have any pets though a DH doesnt like them!

We have 5 Labrador working dogs. They live outside all year in purpose built kennels with a large run area. They go out twice a day on long walks and obviously when there is a shoot on. They are loving,well trained on the whistle and no trouble. They are no trouble to the neighbours as they are very quiet, no barking except a little when they know it's walk time, and that's only as soon as they see their leads. Over the road, the neighbours have 2 cats which are pests. They are constantly using my front garden borders and lawn as a toilet. I have had to spend money on 2 large cloches to cover my plants which they dig up to bury their poo. They are always attacking the birds by my feeders and squash plants in the back garden so they can hide and lie in wait. When I am weeding with a trowel, I have a separate bucket to put all the cat poo in and it stinks to high heaven. Yes I know they bury their poo but that's no help to me, and yes, I do buy doggy bags, have carrier bags always in my pocket to clear up after the dogs. I do not let them go poo on the neighbours lawn. Cats seem to get away with things the way a dog wouldn't because "it is in their nature to roam freely". I think you can see from this post which I prefer and I am bracing myself for the replies from cat owners.

There's an interesting saying: "To dogs you are family and to cats you are staff". As a former long time cat "owner", I have to say I found this to be true! Still love cats, though our road is too busy to have another. But dogs, I know, can be marvellous companions. Isn't it simply a matter of whichever suits you?

We have both cant pick between them both have good and bad qualities ??????

We have two Siamese kittens, at the gangly teenage stage at the moment. Worse than toddlers, you can't put anything out of reach! But extremely loving and devoted, wait for me outside the loo, come running when they hear the key in the lock, and constantly battling with each other to be nearer my face when on my lap (which is every time I sit down).
We had a Westie when the kids were young, but she bit a neighbours child after he was tormenting her, so she went off to a luxury house with no children. A basset puppy was a disaster, hadn't been house trained at 9 months when we got her, and proved impossible to do so, and very nervous. So got our first Siamese, who established his own pecking order (we were above him, first three children on a level as his siblings, but above youngest child, whom he tried to push over!) Had them ever since. best combination between cat and dog, trained the last three to go to bed on command, believe it or not!

I take issue with the OP suggestion that dogs destroy your things, although not because it's untrue. My dog, Charlie, is awful for it. He eats my clothes and shoes if he can sneak off with something when my back is turned. Cats can be pretty destructive with those claws of theirs. Carpets and chairs can be absolutely shredded. My daughter's cats ruined all six of her dining chairs.
Dog slaves we may be but cat litter trays need a slave or they stink the whole house out. It's detectable as soon as you walk through the front door. And, yes, I'm sure my house smells very doggy but they do go outside for the toilet!

I don't have a dog or a cat, but I often house sit for my son and he has both. ( In fact, I am there right now.)
The overwhelming thing that strikes me is that the dog is very friendly and affectionate, but the cat is extremely aloof and only sociable when there is food about to be put in her bowl.
I like them both though. But if you want a friend, get a dog.

I always considered myself a dog person when younger. We had a dog when I was growing up and I've owned a couple myself. I used to be mildly allergic to cats. My eyes would get red and sore if I touched them after stroking a cat. However...

When my girls were children, they begged and begged for a kitten. We ended up getting them one each and I hoped that the allergy would go away after constant exposure. Amazingly, it did. Then we were given two more kittens. Then there were three that were unwanted and going to be put down. Then two that needed hand-feeding. Eventually, we ended up with eighteen. That was insane, I know. I just found it impossible to say "no" when a cat was involved.

That was years ago, and the numbers have dwindled due to old age, three road accidents (none of the drivers stopped) and a couple of cats which decided to voluntarily re-locate to neighbouring houses. Now we are down to two - one quite independent who likes to spend a lot of time outside, the other very clingy and wants to be with me all the time, preferably on my knee.

The problem is the future. Our SiL who lives with us always owned big (and, in my opinion, rather fierce) dogs, before he moved here to be with our DD, and has always wanted another dog. My DD and her little girls also want a dog, but I've always said that it wouldn't be fair on our elderly cats. In a weak moment, I agreed that, when our current cats are no longer with us, we could have a puppy and a couple of kittens at the same time and raise them together. I don't mind a small dog - our other DD had a nice little Cavalier King Charles spaniel, before she emigrated - but SiL doesn't regard them as "real dogs." I don't want a big dog, particularly the sort he likes - German Shepherds, Malamutes, etc - as I'm a bit frightened of them, and would be worried about them being around the children. (His oldest daughter, DD's stepdaughter, was badly bitten by one of his German Shepherds when she was a child, but he says it was her own fault for trying to intervene in a fight between two of the dogs.) Of course, it is our house, etc, but I'm very fond of my SiL and don't want to get in an argument about it. Just got to hope our two ageing cats keep going for a long time!

So...smallish dogs okay, big dogs a bit scary (though our DD in the US has a Bernese Mountain Dog which seems very gentle), but I prefer the quiet affection of my cats.

Cats. I had to put my beautiful Burmese cat down last January and have not go over her loss. She brought my joy every day with her company. I miss her more every day.

I have 3 cats and they all have different personalities. I adore cats.

I never make a comparison between cats and dogs, as they are a different species. I understand that cats and dogs are our most popular pets, but the two furry creatures aren't the same.

I do love dogs and hope to have an older rescue dog one day, but I'll have to persuade my moggies that they want one too.

Am intrigued by the donkey now.......

They may both have 4 legs and be furry but that is where similarities end.
I think the cats reputation for disdain comes from the fact that they are, frequently, one person creatures. Having had the joy of owning 2 cats, one adored me and one adored husband. I would love another cat, but I currently have a large, bouncy young Labrador.
We are entering the winter when I know I will have extra cleaning because Molly will tramp mud in and shake muddy water up the walls when we get back from a walk,but it is a small price to pay for the pleasure and exercise she gives us.
What I DON't like is over-indulged, untrained dogs. If you have a large dog you HAVE to train it from a pup because if you don't you will soon be in a situation where you cannot cope with its behavior. Little dogs can be ignored, but it doesn't mean that their jumping up etc is not a great nuisance to other people. Training a dog requires hard work and lots of it. Which is why rescue centres are full of largish dogs.
On a more base note, cats poop in the garden and bury it. You find fragrant 'gifts' when you are gardening. Dogs leave their 'goodies' for all to see and deal with.
Owners who do not clean up after their dogs disgust me, especially those that say "It's in the green" (meaning its hidden in the grass for the unfortunate to stumble over)
My motto "You got the pooch, you scoop the poop"

I love cats. And I love dogs.

But I would only ever have dogs, because they don't bring "presents" home for you.

And we don't have dogs now because we work full time and it's not practicable to have one.

Neither. Simples!

Never had either dog or cat. Never wanted one. Never really been able to understand why anybody would want one.

Agreeing totally radicalnan I can always leave somewhere early stating I have to take the dog for a walk,we are now the owners of a new kitten so we have to be home for him also,both get on really well together so we are fond of both cats & dogs in this household always have been over the years.

Sunseeker All dogs can pick up human moods and a well socialised, friendly dog will seek to alleviate your anxiety and comfort you. Simples!