Dogs Rule and Cats Drool

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love all God’s creatures great and small.

Okay, maybe not insects … or spiders … or rats … or bats. I mean, ick.

But right hand to the Big Guy, I truly am a Grade A animal aficionado. 

Mostly.

In fact, I’m one of the gazillions of people who think domesticated animals complete, improve, and overall, just better a household.

With all due respect to fish, turtles, lizards, and crabs et al, a majority of us top-of-the-food-chain folks opt for one (or several!) of the old stand-by pals: cats and dogs. 

If you agree that pets rock (not to be confused with pet rocks) and you don’t currently have a four-legged loved one in your family, you could be among the multitude of humans contemplating the addition of a non-human family member.

Apparently, in the opinion of a majority, dogs are considered preferable over cats. Did I mention I’m a majority member?

Call me kooky but I’m partial to canines. Consider me a doggy devotee

Bear in mind, if you’d be so kind that I am deeply allergic to cat hair.

I digress.

I can’t help but notice that kitties can be sort of sneaky. I mean, just the way they look at you as if boring through your soul creeps me out a little. And then there’s the manner in which they’ll be purr-ily permitting you to cuddle them one minute, only to suddenly pounce off into thin air sans warning the next? I find it a little “sus.”

I love cats, mind you! We even took in a stray we found when I was a kid. “Kit Kat” we called him. But he was that rare feline, as in, he acted like a dog. He’d come when you called him, sit on command, jump up for treats, that sort of behavior.

Again, “Kit Kat” was the exception, not the rule.

At the risk of further fueling the ire of feline fans everywhere, I’d like to offer a case as to why I am firmly Team Dog.
According to statistics offered by the web-based publication “Spruce Pets,” there’s ample evidence to support the puppydom. So, you need not just take my dog-gone word for it.

By the by, “Spruce Pets” offers practical tips and training advice via in-depth monthly articles on various pet care and related topics and strengthened a team of writers that boasts specialized trainers, Registered Vet Technicians (RVTs) and Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVMs). So there.

Here is some of the rationale “Spruce Pets” offers as proof that dogs trump cats. 

1) No Litter Boxes
It's probably fair to say that even cat lovers don't love litter boxes. No matter how well you keep up with them, there always seems to be a lingering odor. Plus, litter often tracks all over the house. It's practically impossible to find a good place to put the litter box in a small house. Overall, scooping cat waste is stinky and dusty. 

PK addendum: Litter boxes? Blech. Dogs don't need no stinking litter boxes since their collective litter box is literally the entirety of the outside world. Hee!

2) Dogs engage in play more readily.
Let’s face it; there's only so much play you can do with your cat. Many cats love to play with string toys, and they'll bat their little cat ball toys around, but it's like they're humoring you. Plus, they can play on their own, not just with people.
You can play fetch with a dog via ball or a disc, you can enjoy an exciting game of tug-of-war, or you can play chase in the yard. If your dog gets along well with other dogs, you can even set up a doggie "playdate" with another pup. Just make sure both dogs are healthy and will get along. 

PK addendum: Life’s too short not to stop and play with your friends sometimes. Atta boy, Fido!

3) Dogs Adapt Better to Change
Cats are usually sensitive to their environments and dislike change. Many dogs tend to accept change more easily. Of course, there are plenty of anxious and fearful dogs out there, but as a species, they're often calmer in the face of significant alterations to their lifestyles. 

When it comes to introducing new people, pets, or items to your home or moving to a new house, cats need more time to adapt. They don't automatically trust that all is well. They want proof first. Most dogs take their cues from their owners. If you're cool and calm when that new baby comes in your door, chances are that your dog will be, too. 

PK Addendum: See? Cats don’t trust us, so we need to be a little wary. Also, it’s important to note that my beloved cocker spaniel Courtney happily transitioned with me from house to apartment and back again with her floppy tail wagging nonstop. 

4) More Control Means Less Destruction
Try to control a cat, and you might hear the tiny sound of kitty laughter. Most cats will go where they want to go, jump where they want to jump, scratch where they want to scratch, and mark whatever they think needs marking. Then there are those hairballs, which are most readily discovered when you're barefoot in the middle of the night.   

​Yes, dogs can be destructive, but you can usually crate-train a dog and keep him and your home safe and secure while you're away. Most crate-trained dogs consider their crates to be their own special places. Try putting a cat in a crate or behind a closed door, and you'll have one unhappy kitty. 

Corrective training and a stern voice can have a lot of power over a dog. Try this with the average cat, and you'll be lucky if he glances in your direction while continuing to do whatever he was doing. 

PK Addendum: My beloved, long-gone boxer Monnie was not only easily crate-trained, but she also nonverbally asked permission to join me up on the couch by placing a paw on it and gazing lovingly up at me whenever she saw me plopped there. She was a world-class cuddler so, I never did refuse my darling doggy. And not once did she cough up a phlegm-filled treat on the carpet. Yuck!

5) Dogs Can Protect You
It's not in a cat's nature to defend you or your home. Cats are more likely to run and hide when faced with trouble. On the other hand, most dogs will instinctively protect their owners and their territory. They'll bark or growl to alert you to the presence of strangers, and many will even scare off intruders. Dogs can sense our fear, and they'll respond if they think we feel threatened.

PK Addendum: Did I mention that dogs might actually be better companions than certain humans? I said what I said.

In conclusion, I’d like to add my final, scientifically based deduction that a dog needs his/her person whereas a cat tolerates said individual. Hmpf.

And there you have it, friends. Proof positive that dogs rule and cats drool. Wink wink.