Cat or Dog: Which Is the Right Pet for You?

When most people think about getting a pet, they immediately think of going with a dog or a cat. Sure, you can go with a reptile, bird, rodent, or even fish, but if you want an animal that you can easily train, snuggle with, play with, take trips with, etc., a dog or cat may be the best match. 

Photo by Andrew S on Unsplash

Some people can quickly decide whether they want to bring home a dog or a cat, while others might struggle to figure it out. Continue reading to learn a bit about these pets so you can make the right choice. 

Note: You don’t need to spend a lot of money getting a dog or cat from a pet store or breeder. There are homeless pets of all ages waiting for their forever home in shelters and foster networks all over the world, so consider adopting rather than shopping. 

Consider Your Activity Level

Both cats and dogs enjoy being active. In fact, pet safe flea spray is necessary that they be active every day through play. After all, when they play with toys and run around, they get a good amount of exercise and, like people, they need this physical activity to stay healthy and strong, and to maintain a healthy weight as well. 

According to Nuwber, there aren’t major differences between cat and dog people when it comes to their interests and hobbies. However, if you tend to be the type of person who does a lot of physical activity in the great outdoors and you want your pet at your side, a dog might be the right type of pet for you. Sure, you can train a cat to walk on a leash and go on outdoor adventures with you, but it will likely require a lot more time and effort than with a dog. Also, a cat might not be interested in going outside—and you don’t want to force your pet into stressful and uncomfortable situations either.

Cleaning Up After Your Pet

Whenever you have a pet in the house, it can be harder to keep your space clean. So, this is something to consider before you decide that you want to definitely bring a dog or cat home. However, when it comes to these animals and their bathroom habits, there are some key differences. 

If you were to get a dog, you would need to train him to go to the bathroom only outside, and never in the house. This takes time, effort, and patience. Then, you need to be sure that someone is there to take your dog outside so he doesn’t have any accidents inside the house. And, of course, you will need to pick up after your dog, whether you let him do his business in your own backyard or while on a walk around town. 

When it comes to cats, some people find it easier to clean up after them because they can just set up a litter box in the house. This litter box, however, needs to be kept clean at all times; otherwise, the cat might decide to go to the bathroom outside of the box, making a mess. And scooping the box daily, or even multiple times a day, requires time and effort too. Plus, you need to be sure you always have clean litter on hand to dump out old litter and replace it with fresh litter on a regular basis as well. 

The Bottom Line

Dogs and cats of all ages make wonderful, loyal, and loving companions. But think about how much work is involved in properly caring for each of these species before deciding on the one you would like to adopt.