To think that generally, dogs have bigger personalities than cats?

[Ketomeato]

I’m right, aren’t I?

No

1 dog 1 cat
Dog wants to please you and always be with you. He needs you. He’s happy to see you

Cat needs no one. Cat just wants food. Cat will sometimes grace you with her presence before biting you

I may be a bit biased as I live with quite a few cats, however I grew up with dogs and know a few belonging to friends and family currently.

Dogs seem to share one personality between them, sort of enthusiastic and always pleased to see you - our Maine Coon shares this personality and is very dog-like!

The rest of our cats all have massive, very different personalities, and there's a lot more complexity to them than dogs - and I absolutely love them for that! You have to earn the love of a cat a bit more but once you do they're the best friends you'll ever have.

My cat says that all dogs are nobheads who have stockholm syndrome. He is grouchy.

You're joking right? Dogs are needy and demanding, cats are hilarious.

Depends on the cat or dog. They're all individuals. Each one of my 4 cats is totally different!

My cat really doesn't care.

Reversed master-slave relationship

With a cat, you are its slave, useful to open tins and to provide a convenient lap
A dog gives uncritical love - and takes you outdoors

all dogs and cats have personalities, as individuals, some with bigger characters than others be they dog or cat.

On the whole dogs are more needy & endlessly loving, so you feel their presence all the time and life revolves around them, their mood and need for exercise & to play each day with one of their humans- which is fun

Cats are selective in timing and amount, from full on cat love to cold shoulder, and sneak attack of playing episodes; they usually wait until you've finally sat down, or are cooking, are on your laptop or fallen asleep in bed to give you the honour of their best shenanigans . But they can and often do, play, exercise and set up booby traps on their own.

My cat Boo says to f off with the dog comparison. There is no comparison whatsoever, apart from the fact they are both generally regarded as pets.

As PP have said, no cat is the same as another, personality-wise. At 4 years old, Boo is almost as playful as a kitten. She has a set routine she follows day-in, day-out - eg. she always settles in for an evening cuddle with me on the couch. She’s very intelligent, too. We had to set up a calendar system to stop her being fed more than once - she would put on a very convincing show for every person in the household, thus getting up to six meals a day. She behaves differently with each person in the house, too. She a very complex creature.

I've found that most animals: cats, dogs, birds etc seem to have their own unique personality as well as traits shared by their species. A bit like humans. I don't get this dog person vs cat person crap. What about people who like both or neither? I can't think of many animals I don't like except the cockroach. I haven't found a way to like them.

@MonstranceClock you're so right!

I have a cat who follows me from room to room, sleeps on me in bed and visits all the neighbours.

I get told off if I don't stop the rain , she has personality in spades.

I was always a dog person and I didn't like cats at all.

Then I discovered that I had them all wrong. All my life I had been comparing them (unfavourably) to dogs and once I realised there was nothing remotely similar it all clicked.

Dogs have very predictable personalities. Cats are always full of surprises.

My cat is a Ragdoll and will shake paws for a treat and pat me on my arm when he wants a stroke. So no cats can have big personalities mine does.

My cat is lovely. He is actually a bit needy towards me if he feels vulnerable. Has to come and get cuddles. Waits for us to come home. Every night when I come home, he runs through to the kitchen to greet me and get attention.

I tend not to like dogs. Some are OK, the less needy ones. I don't mind the cat being needy as it's not all the time and it's understandable, but some dogs are needy 24/7. Constantly want to play, constantly want attention, if you move you're followed. It's like having an irritating shadow.

My dog is very dignified and independent, not at all needy. He's a guarding breed so tends to go ahead of me to check things out rather than follow like a shadow. He will be around but not on top of me 24/7 at all.

He's incredible smart, knows a ton of human words, knows how to give the puppy eyes to visitors and when any of us are getting ill he becomes even more protective. He can be goofy when the mood takes him and is such good company both home and out.

Most cats I've spent time with are not much in the company stakes. Aloof and disinterested, not just in me but the actual families they live with, except when they want fed. They seem to sleep most of the day as well. Then go out at night and bring back bits of dead animals 🤮 or worse, live ones.
I've only met one that actually came for a cuddle and even then would randomly decide to gouge your arm or bite your hand when it had had enough. 🤨 give me a non scratching, non clawing dog any day, thanks.

Cats are for those who can't be bothered owning a dog.

Bigger maybe, but not necessarily better!

Dogs are more in your face, you have to know a cat quite well to get to know its personality. My cat is very loving and follows me and my DC around most of the time we're home. She ignores most visitors though so you wouldn't get the impression she had any personality if you didn't live here.

I find our cats have broadly fit into two behavioural camps.

One set, if they want something from you, will be very, VERY good. They want some food, they will sit neatly at a respectful distance and maybe give out a little mew.

The other set will climb over you, shouting, and steal the food off your fork if they can.

I'm typing this around our black monster, who considers any arrangement of my arms to be a cuddle, in which he must sit.

Dogs are more fun, have had cats previously, DDog is about the size of a cat with a big personality, has cat like tendencies, will stalk birds but never catch, so that’s a bonus, can do without the presents cats bring back.

Most cats I've spent time with are not much in the company stakes. Aloof and disinterested..
To you. Cats choose who they go near and who sees little of them.

Nah.

My cats have big personalities. One cries until DH lets him ride around across his shoulders. The other has a penchant for tucking himself into pillow cases so we always need to check before we flop on the bed.

My neighbours cat follows her to the pub (two streets away) and sits on the windowsill waiting for her until she comes out to follow her home again. He does the same at our monthly book club but will wait outside whoever’s house it is. He started this when she was ill with breast cancer a couple of years ago and just hasn’t stopped.

Dogs' personalities are just more available to us. They more are similar to us in their social behaviour. Many of the social signals they use are like the ones we use. It makes it much easier for us to see and respond to their personality.

I've had cats and dogs. At the moment have 2 boxer dogs and they have the best personalities!