What kinda pet is best for making you feel good ? Dog or cat ?

[Pheonix2023]

I’m torn as dog s to feel a bit more loving and rewarding but cats are easier less restrictive and don’t do as many daft things as dogs like eat plastic lids etc

a rescue pet - give an abused pet a loving home

Dogs for sure. Cats are very independent and not all of them like attention or affection. Dogs are needy and love cuddles.

Cats are still daft. Mine climb everything and get stuck on top of doors and in boxes.

That said I love my cats, always thought I'd be a dog owner but my cats bring me a lot of joy. They are very loving.

Just be careful if you get a rescue animal as they will always come with a past. Make sure you're prepared to meet all their needs.

Cats!! A house isn’t as warm without a cat (including mine as DH apparently ‘allergic’ 🙄🙁). Dogs just bring mess and hair and NOISE.

and slobber and smells.

I can't have either at the moment due to having a toddler and financial/time constraints. If I could I would probably choose a rescue cat required to stay in the house (busy road nearby) 😃

It's a dog for me. Yes he brings mess, hair and noise but also utter devotion and love. Plus he makes me walk for an hour every day, when without him I'd probably stay in and watch Netflix.

It depends on the kind of pet you'd prefer - there's pros and cons to both. Which pro and con together outweigh the other to you - that's the question.

Dog all day every day. If you have a cat, you need to let it crap in the house. Or you let it out to be somebody else's problem.

I like both for different reasons but cats more for their independence and lower maintenance (not too needy).

My dog hates cuddles. She is happy to rest her chin on your leg but that’s as far as she gets.

A dog! They bring so much enjoyment and love you regardless. Big commitment though compared to cats.

It depends. I’ve had cats that can’t not be touching me, they were very needy, more so than any dog. One in particular I remember cleaning my teeth with the bloody thing draped around my neck.

the massive con I have with cats is the constant worry when they go out. The nights I’ve spent awake as I couldn’t settle until I knew they were in and safe.

I also find the cat slightly more tying. The dog I can take with me, or I have family I can leave him with when I go on holiday. The cat it’s actually quite hard to get a Cattery or cat sitter short notice, and I don’t like leaving them in the house on their own for more than a few days.

I have both. 2 cats and a dog.
The cats came first, both so affectionate, sit on my knee purring, they chat to me, they are a calming presence. They are independent, funny, and best of all they aren't needy. They can be left for a whole day, in fact when we go on hols we leave them and our neighbours feed them for us. They don't cost a lot, they eat very little and vets bills have never been huge.

Fast forward 10 years and I decided to add a dog. Dog is so needy, can't leave her for more than 4 hours at a time, costs me so much money to feed, insure, vaccinate etc. Makes me go out walks when it's raining, cold, I'm sick, I can't be arsed. Tortures me when I'm trying to work or relax on the sofa. Vomits on my rug at least fortnightly, means we tip toe around at night cos god forbid we wake her, constantly begs at the table or if we are eating ANYTHING.

But we absolutely love the bones of her and would never be without her.

Personally, start with a cat and see how you go, dogs are a huge commitment, I mean really huge, I was not prepared after a lifetime of just having cats

It really depends on how much you are willing to adapt your life vs how much you want your pet to adore and need you. Cats are far lower maintenance, but also will not be loyal and adoring in the way a dog will. Cats will give affection but on their terms not yours. (There are a few very needy cats but they are exceptions).

Personally I couldn’t handle the level of work that comes with a dog and I don’t want a pet who needs me to be around the whole time. We have a cat and she is perfect for us. The DC would probably prefer a dog.

Dogs are love in animal form.
They also don’t bring their kill into your house.

Cats are easier and less tying though.

Cover your bases and have both, as I do.

Also, you belong to the cat, not vice versa, whereas dogs will literally adore you, do anything to make you happy.

Cat. Mine is so loving and funny and we have a really strong bond. I was away for Christmas with my lovely neighbour looking after him. He loves her too, but the fuss I got from him when I got home was beautiful.

To turn your question around, it's important to be clear to yourself on what sort of life/home you can give to either a cat or a dog? Both will always prefer to have you around and can react badly to being left alone.

Whatever you decide, I hope you'll consider rehoming. We got a rescue dog, from Greece, and after a settling in period, he was the sweetest, most loving dog ever.

Dogs can be low or high maintenance same with cats.

with dogs though you’re more likely to get what you want, cats are less predictable.

my dog is low maintenance. He’s a homebody who sees his place in the house keeping it vermin free. Which is effectively what his breed was developed for. He is happy to come on walks, but equally happy spending the day in the garden looking for mice. He’s thin coated so if it’s cold or raining prefers not to go out, there might be mice under the fridge he needs to attend to anyway 😂

if I’m wfh he curls up on my knee. Non shedding, so no hair to deal with.

not too much different to a cat really. A bit more portable as well. But that’s why I picked this breed.

You get more interaction with a dog, but, it’s a lot more work as well and the first few months with a puppy or new rescue can be really really stressful.

If you want constant attention, affection and unswerving love and loyalty, get a dog.

If you want to be take entirely for granted as a supplier of comfy sleeping places, a slave to open doors to let them in and out whenever they feel like it, and a provider of food, get a cat. Mind you, there really is nothing like it when a cat decides (after over a year of being nervy and not wanting any attention at all) that it wants to curl up on your lap and purr.

I think they can both be good at that, but I think you should choose the pet that suits your lifestyle, for the sake of the pet.

A lot of what makes you feel good about a pet, is doing things for the pet, and making them Happy.

If you want constant attention, affection and unswerving love and loyalty,

Maybe this is it for me. I absolutely do not need anyone else pawing at me (literally) and looking at me and needing me all the time 😄 can’t think of anything worse!