What pet would you prefer and why ? Cat or dog ?

[Lardlizard]

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I’ve had/have both.

Cats can moult - mine did - but require less attention. No walking for example.

However, dogs give much more back. Our cat was not cuddly at all. One of my dogs is massively cuddly.

My dogs are always happy to see me, cat doesn’t give a damn.

I love cats but I feel like they need to go outside and many areas are too dangerous for them, if I lived in a very quiet area I might get one.

I have a dog and enjoy it. It's true what pp say they do need a lot of attention and exercise and care and you can't just go out spontaneously but that fits in with my lifestyle ok as I don't really go out much and I enjoy going for lots of walks and doing doggy outings and playing with the dog at home. I think you either need to be an energetic cleaner or someone with fairly low standards who doesn't mind a bit of dog hair and muddy pawprints, or ideally both.

I have owned & loved both dearly, but I am definitely more of a cat person, I just love them. DH is definitely a dog person.

Cats are the best :) Low maintenance, needy at certain points of the day, but satisfied with attention of 5 minutes (petting), pee and poop in litter box. Quite independent. I have taught mine to scratch only scratching posts - they are all over the house.

Will not get another dog after my current one. Too needy, clingy, high maintenance (walks, plays, special food, training, expensive), occasional ruining of stuff - not so long ago he stole my glasses, chewed the frame and nearly swallowed glass within seconds (I was terrified and upset) - he is ok as I got there in time; brings a lot of dirt into the house. Puppy stage was ok, I think it wasn't as bad as many others have had it (try reading puppy survival threads on here).

With the dog everything needs training - no barking at strangers passing by, no peeing and pooping indoors, no jumping and mouthing, no chewing furniture, no whining when left downstairs, no jumping on counters/table and begging for human food. Training takes a lot of time.

I would rather have cat(s) than a dog.

Cats! Dogs are needy, noisy, high maintenance and clingy. They are constantly under your feet and dependent on you. They often make the house stink. I can't understand why people have them, they're a total nuisance.

We wanted a dog but weren't ready for one so got a cat. I'm obsessed with him and don't want to ever get a dog. He's such a funny thing. He's currently in the bath playing in the shower water 🤦🏽‍♀️

Have an old cat and love her to bits. Funny and cuddly. Easy to leave all day, a neighbour will feed if I go on holiday.
I have a one year old puppy. He’s lovely but I regret it. The cat hates him and is now very timid.
Dog needs walks twice a day. You can’t go out and leave him all day alone. You can’t go away. Fur everywhere. Insurance is expensive. Puppy stage is exhausting. I have a slipped disc in my back from being pulled. He won’t walk well... still!!
It’s nice though to get out walking more and you meet lots more people when out. But I can’t imagine I’d have another after him! Hope he settles soon! Mine hasn’t really chewed but some pups are a nightmare!

I have both. Depends what you want from a pet. The dogs are way more needy but also more rewarding and better company. The cat is cuddly and lovely when he wants to but it'storally on his terms. Cat more independent but can often take a dog with you on trips where always need to find someone to feed the cat.

Ideally, both.

Cats are much easier, though. But you can't take them out with you, whereas your dog becomes part of all your day trips and holidays.

Which first - well, the main thing is to manage the introductions well, but in my experience if the cats are resident they will soon teach a puppy its place.

A puppy and a kitten will probably get on, but you'll have two lots of training to do and a puppy is all-consuming. Kittens don't need much training - occasional help with finding the litter tray and learning to come when called - but they do get into absolutely everything and are up and down your curtains all day long.

Cats. Every time cats.
We got a Cats Protection rescue fifteen years ago. She's gone from being terrified of everything and hating any handling to...
Well ok she's a cantankerous old lady now. But I can pick her up and get fluffy cuddles, she'll sit on my lap and her purr sounds like a pneumatic drill. Yes she's old and has developed some interesting smells and I think she's got early stage dementia - but she's so darn sweet.
Doesn't need a walk every day even when the weather is Siberian, doesn't try and sniff your crotch or hump your leg and until recently took care of her own poop. Hence me thinking she's getting a little feline dementia as she's taken to pooing on odd places.
Still, she's almost 18 and I doubt we'll have her much longer. Eighteen years though, my sister's dog didn't even make it to 10.

I have both.

My dog is small and fluffy, doesn't moult, looks like a teddy bear and is enormously cuddly and fun. She does piss me off with the running outside in the garden and barking at nothing, and as much as I enjoy walking her every day, sometimes it's difficult to squeeze it in and I get stressed out with it all. I work from home though, so she's good company for me all day and gets me out in the fresh air.

Two cats, one of which is lovely. She spoons with me in bed, doesn't moult much and has a gorgeous soft long coat.
The other one is an asshole. He moults like a bastard, his breath stinks, he shreds curtains, claws carpets and scratches furniture. I love him, but my God he's a twat.

Cat owners seem to think that neighbours should just tolerate their ghastly pets scrapping and roaming all over their gardens.
I hate the bloody things.
Dogs are best every time !

Cats they virtually look after themselves !

We had cats for years as didn’t have lifestyle for dog. The cats are ace, but now we have a puppy. Dogs are better, brighter, happy to see you, cuddly, gets you out.

But I wouldn’t get another one. They are so tying.

@Kontikki why did you have to say it. Go find another thread (there are multiple live ones) to spout hatred towards cats. This thread was light hearted and there is always one that has to bring it down 🙄

KonTikki, it's a good thing so many cat owners keep their pets indoors then, or you would be up to your oxters in cat shit...

I have both and love them both. The cat is much less maintenance than the dog but I get more love back from the dog & he’s massively helped my mental health through the last few months. Without him I don’t think I would have had much reason to get out of the house for walks

I've had both (well, through childhood, but never had dogs as the adult owner) and love both. But for my lifestyle right now, I choose cats. I went for a specific breed that would be friendly, as I don't like cats that turn on you. I have Ragdolls, which are known as 'puppy cats' because they have very dog-like traits. We get greeted home after work, followed around the house.. they are great cats for someone who wants a pet that is friendlier than the average cat, but can also be left for long periods (working full time, I don't think it would be fair to get a dog).

@KonTikki

Cat owners seem to think that neighbours should just tolerate their ghastly pets scrapping and roaming all over their gardens. I hate the bloody things. Dogs are best every time !

I have cats myself but don't do this (my cats are indoor only) I still tolerate neighbor cats in my garden. Do you despise the foxes who come and poo in your garden too then?

Cat, I do like dogs but they're harder to look after properly and no matter how well groomed they are they smell. Having said that my cat moults year round and is a bossy bastard. He's neutered yet still tries to shag my arm. He's a house cat, I take him out on his harness when he asks (which is only when the weather's fine) and if he needs to 'go' he comes back in to use one of his igloo loos!