A good icebreaker (or deal breaker) is to ask someone you’ve just met, “are you a dog person, or a cat person?”. This questions tends to divide the room based on the individual preferences. As a kid, I always had a strong love for Dogs and a strong disliking to cats. I’d probably blame this on the influence I got from my Dad who was always a big dog person. However, all of our perspectives changed drastically when a friend of mine gave us a kitten, which we all grew to love enormously, even my dad! Through my life experiences of owning both dogs and cats, I’ve grown to realize that they each have their own pros and cons, and cats can be a better fit for some whilst dogs a better fit for others. This guide delves into the essentials of pet ownership, comparing cats and dogs across various aspects like lifestyle compatibility, financial commitment, and space requirements, so If you’re unsure which one is right for you, keep reading !
Lifestyle Considerations
When you’re choosing your pet, it’s good to reflect on your lifestyle in general. This ultimately boils down to : how much time do you have to spend with your pet ?
If you tend to be out all day and only go home to sleep or you travel constantly throughout the year, I’d suggest not to get a pet at all.
If you go into the office on a daily basis for an extensive amount of hours and will be the sole company for your pet, you’ll be better off with a cat, who is usually extremely independent and doesn’t mind being left alone for long periods of time. However, a dog will start to feel extremely lonely and bored waiting for you to get back, and apart from feeling unhappy in general, they will probably get up to mischief (such as destroying your couch) to keep their mind entertained.
If you have a more flexible schedule, where you do not need to be away from home for long periods of time on a daily basis, and you enjoy the companionship and attention that a pet gives, then you should explore further the option of getting a dog.
Free time
Another piece of the puzzle is, how do you tend to spend your free time ? Are you generally active , or live quite a sedentary life?
If you are active and would love to have your dog join you on your adventures, then a dog would probably be a good match for you.
If you like to relax on weekend and watch Netflix, but don’t mind daily small walks, then a dog could still be a good match for you, but you need to choose a more relaxed breed. A border collie would go nuts sitting at home doing nothing most of the time, whilst a pug would happily sit by your side and watch TV all day.
A cat is much more simple, they are independent and relaxed, and would definitely be a good match for those living more of a sedentary lifestyle, or those who are quite active but wouldn’t like to have their pets join them on their adventures but rather chill with them when they get home.
Financial Implications
Both cats and dogs require you to spend money. From things that are a necessity such as food, vet visits and vaccines, to things that will make your pet’s life more pleasant such as toys, pole-scratchers and treats. On average, dog parents tend to spend 20% more on their pets than cat parents. Below is a high-level list of things that either pet-owner will need to consider :
Cats : Cat Bed, Food, Litter, Litter-boxes, Vaccines, Pole-Scratchers, Grooming, Toys, Treats, Vet Visits, Carrier, Flea Drops
Dogs : Dog Bed, Food, Nappies, Vaccines, Grooming, Toys, Chew bones, Vet Visits, Teeth Cleaning, Flea Drops, Collar & Leash, Poop Bags and Holder, Protective Clothing, Training Supplies, Travel water bottle
Home Type
Cats don’t mind chilling inside an apartment all day, although I’d recommend buying them pole-scratchers for entertainment to prevent them from scratching your couch or furniture. On the other hand, Dogs tend to require more space.
If you are not happy to take your dog out for at least a walk in the morning and in the evening, then you either need a little garden for them to do their needs there, or you need to accept having dirty nappies indoors (which I’d highly recommend against).
If the dog is more active, he will require more space to run around, so a house with some outdoor space would definitely be ideal. They love being outdoors, even if to just chill in the sun or run around the terrace for 5 consecutive times to exhaust their zoomies. However, a chilled dog breed like a chihuahua would generally not really mind not having outdoor space since they are less active.
Home Environment
As mentioned in the first paragraph, if you are alone, all the pet’s responsibilities will fall on you, which means that if you get a dog, you might find yourself having to skip an after work event to go back home to your pup unless you’re happy to pay for day care. It could be very useful to have roomates or family who live with you, but they would also need to be consulted on taking such a decision.
Firstly, you need to check if they are happy to have a dog or cat in the house.
Secondly, you need to check if the pet can pose any hazard, for example adopting a fully grown dog without having time to train or settle it in whilst having a new born baby could be a recipe for disaster.
Thirdly, if you expect them to help you out with pet parent duties, you need to discuss and agree on their involvement and duties beforehand.
Allergies
Allergies vary greatly, and whilst some people might be allergic to cats, they might be fine with dogs and vice versa. Also, some people might be fine with some dogs whilst other dogs trigger their allergies. Before getting a cat or a dog, it’s crucial to ensure that it will not trigger any of your allergies, or any of the roomates or family that you might have living with you. It’s not the first time that I’ve heard of stories of people having to give up their pets due to allergies that other family members have.
Conclusion - Should I get a Dog or a Cat ?
To conclude, there are various aspects that you should consider before becoming a cat or dog parent. But there is another mistake that people often do, which is failing to realize that getting a dog or a cat is a commitment of at least 10 years. So whatever life changes you will go through, your pet should stay with you. Considering this, it would be a good exercise to look at where you picture yourself in 10 years time, and to ensure that your pet has a spot in there as well. Both cats and dogs can be rewarding and comforting to have as part of your family in their own individual ways. However, to help put things into perspective, I would like to conclude this post on a perfectly summarized commonly used phrase “You care and feed for your dogs day in day out, to them, you are their God. You care and feed for your cats day in day out, to them, they must be God.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
Would a cat or a dog be better pet with a small child?
A cat will most likely simply ignore your small child, giving you little to worry about. A dog will probably be a great companion for your child as they can play together, but you need to ensure that your dog has the right temperament. As a matter of fact, some dog breeds simply do not like children and might bite them.
Is it cheaper to have a dog or a cat?
Dog parents tend to spend more than cat parents. On average, a dog parent spend 1,188eu per year whilst a cat person spends 800eu per year. This can be reduced if only the simple necessities are bought.
What is the difference in raising a dog versus a cat?
A dog requires much more time for attention, training, and walks as a bare minimum, whilst a cat is generally quite independent, happy to be pet every now and then, have its litter changed, and being given food.
Is it harder to train a dog than a cat?
Dogs are definitely more trainable than cats, although some dog breeds tend to be more trainable than others. Cats tend to automatically know how to use the litter which is fantastic. Nowadays, some people are training their cats to walk outside too which I imagine takes up quite some time of training, but this is not the norm (yet).
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