# Dog or cat? Help me choose. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831 "2005-08-20T00:46:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hawkeyejo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@hawkeyejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawkeyejo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/21 "2005-08-20T12:25:33Z")
> [@Snakescatlady](#): > > Since I am old and have been where you are now and I appreciate you for doing this for your lady, a little elderly advice. Don’t have the baby there when she gets there. Have a bag of food, a litter box, bag of littler, bowls, etc. and a certificate stating that she is entitled to adopt a furbaby. Or that “X” (if you’ve been checking this out and have fallen in love with a felonious feline) is waiting to be picked up. > > That way, your lady gets the reassurance she’s going to get a furbaby, and you both enjoy a happy reunion without worrying about a visitor on your back while you’re not expecting it. > > Besides, the kitten will get lots of attention. Get yours now. If you do this for someone, you deserve a little hot monkey lovin’. Heh heh. Advice appreciated and duly noted. I had a feeling the idea wouldn’t work as well in reality as it looked on paper. > [@mrunlucky](#): > > A pet is a serious responsibility. It’s not a toy. If you’re not ready for the responsibility, don’t do it. I know, I know. [Flashback = teenage years] You sound surprisingly like my dad :dubious: [/Flashback] ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/22 "2005-08-20T12:49:07Z")
Let us know how it goes! ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/23 "2005-08-20T14:42:37Z")
Hi… If you are concerned about your new cats “buddy” ability- get a male cat or kitten instead of a female. I know lots of nice female cats- so this is not prejudice so much as experience. Female cats _tend_ to be more independent and less apt to be affectionate as male cats. Every male cat I’ve had, except for one that was semi-feral when we got him- and he was buddies with at least one person in the house- has been exceptionally affectionate and more dog-like than the females. All the females I’ve had did have sweet moments- but were more likely to bite when they were done being petted or had a “I’ll come to you” policy in general. Again, I know that this is not indicative of every female cat but even the male cats we see at the office (work for a vet) tend to be more laid back and affectionate to strangers. Also- when picking your kitten. You should pick one that is not afraid and purrs when you pick it up- I promise you will be happy with that one :). I have the sweetest buddy in the world (he’s 13 now) and when I went to the shelter to pick him out- he practically DEMANDED I take him home. Never regretted it for a moment 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/24 "2005-08-20T18:46:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If you don’t have a yard, get a cat. ESPECIALLY if you’re not going to be home a lot- cats are fine with that, but a dog will often go ape-shit. I was more of a dog-person when I had a house with a big yard and several dogs (and usually one cat). Now that I live in a apartment, I find I am very fond of my cat. > > Do NOT let the cat go outdoors! Aren’t some dogs, like pugs and chihuahuas, made for apartment living? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/25 "2005-08-21T03:27:30Z")
> [@BluePitbull](#): > > Aren’t some dogs, like pugs and chihuahuas, made for apartment living? Sure, if you’re going to be home a lot to give them attention and walks. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/26 "2005-08-21T23:24:00Z")
Are you an outdoor person? Do you tend to go on hikes and long walks? If so, a dog might be a good pet. Cats are (can be) very affectionate and good company, but the one thing they aren’t so great at is accompanying you on expeditions. Put a dog in the back of the car or even in a canoe and it’s a happy critter. Cats prefer to stay at home. The plus side of cats is that they’re pretty low maintenance. No need for walks several times a day and you can leave them alone for a weekend (or even three days at a stretch) without too much worry. While I like dogs, I find that they tend to be a lot, well, smellier and, due to their size, disruptive. A good-sized dog can and will clear a coffee table with one wag of the tail. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/27 "2005-08-22T00:59:44Z")
Get two kittens so they can be friends. It’s not that much more work than one cat–just put out twice as much food and water and scoop twice the poop–they will keep themselves company, and in the evening you can _both_ have a purring kitty on your lap! ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/28 "2005-08-22T02:04:42Z")
You’d have an infinitely easier time with a cat, but only if you choose the right cat. Get a purebred that is specially suited to live in an apartment, such as a Himalayan. It would be cruel to keep the vast majority of domesticated cats inside an apartment… cats do not naturally take to small spaces. If you go this route, be very careful to check out the breeder’s credentials. If you balk at the price ($500 & up for a cat from the most reliable breeder, $1000 & up for a dog)… trust me, you are NOT ready for a pet at all. FWIW, I live in apartments/condos too and I own a Himalayan and a Ragdoll. They’re both shaved regularly–no problem from them at all. My feelings on dogs is that it’s similarly cruel to keep a bigger dog inside an apartment, but it’s like living with a 2 year old with smaller dogs. No real solution for what you want. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/29 "2005-08-22T03:53:29Z")
> [@dre2xl](#): > > It would be cruel to keep the vast majority of domesticated cats inside an apartment… cats do not naturally take to small spaces. > If you balk at the price ($500 & up for a cat from the most reliable breeder, $1000 & up for a dog)… trust me, you are NOT ready for a pet at all. Any cat will adapt to a smaller indoor space- I have a Ocicat and my neighbor has Maine Coons. They are very happy and very healthly- the vets astonishment at the excellent health of the \*\*20 year old \*\*cat will attest to that. (Cats almost never get that old, just so as the non-cat people know what we’re talking about) I agree you shouldn’t balk at that cost- mainly because a major visit to the Vet could cost that (I have never had one, but they do occur). But- today it is a act of near sainthood to give a Home to one or two Pound Kitties. Adopt a needy cat from a shelter- don’t buy one from a breeder. You’ll be loved even more and the karma in doing so is fantastic. Not to mention the warm feeling of having done a good deed of the 1st degree. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/30 "2005-08-22T04:40:24Z")
I agree with the others that two cats are better than one, and get them both at the same time. I found that the cat’s personalities in the shelters were pretty much the same when you get them home - if the cat is shy and quiet in the shelter, you’ll have a shy, quiet cat at home. My cats don’t free-feed - they have two regularly-scheduled feedings per day, and they’re fine with it. My best advice to you just getting cats - don’t let them sleep in the bedroom from day one. You will thank me copiously later if you follow this advice. (See, cats are fairly nocturnal. They view night time as play time, and will play with anything - stray toes, noses, hair; they will jump on you with extremely hard feet when it is time for you to get up and play with them - i.e. any time of the night; they will mewl, they will serenade you, they will knock stuff over on purpose to wake you up. They are not shy about telling you it’s time to get up and feed me RIGHT NOW!) Enjoy your new little shadows! (Cats cold and uncaring. Sheesh. I have one following me around everywhere I go - that’s not very cold.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/31 "2005-08-22T11:50:23Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > My best advice to you just getting cats - don’t let them sleep in the bedroom from day one. You will thank me copiously later if you follow this advice. (See, cats are fairly nocturnal. They view night time as play time, and will play with anything - stray toes, noses, hair; they will jump on you with extremely hard feet when it is time for you to get up and play with them - i.e. any time of the night; they will mewl, they will serenade you, they will knock stuff over on purpose to wake you up. They are not shy about telling you it’s time to get up and feed me RIGHT NOW!) Mine doesn’t do that- he waits untill ai go to sleep, then creeps atop me so he sleeps on my. He does complain if I roll over, or oversleep. But if you have one cat, sleeping with you is almost a must- with two they can sleep with each other, so that’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/32 "2005-08-22T12:11:09Z")
Baked or deep fried? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/33 "2005-08-23T03:43:50Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Baked or deep fried? Your response was inappropriate, crude and in bad taste(NO pun intended). Try to be a little more thoughtful next time, o.k.? ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/34 "2005-08-23T04:31:49Z")
Adult cats are often OK to adopt as singles, but kittens are best adopted in pairs (or more). Two kittens are not much more work than one, they are a _lot_ more fun, and they are less destructive. They can wear each other out playing, instead of spending their time thinking up mischief around the house (they will still manage to destroy a few things, but that’s how babies are). Ditto what everyone says about loving the kitty - lots of snuggles as a kitten = affectionate adult, almost always. I also recommend exposing them to as many experiences as you can when they are medium-age kittens (6-10 months): crowds of friends, dogs, other cats, etc. We had friends over, and babysat a friend’s cats while ours were small. They are great with other people and cats now, but attempt to kill any dogs that come their way. Oops. At least they tolerate the baby. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831/35 "2005-08-23T04:37:13Z")
Yeah, expose the kittens to what they’re going to encounter. Jim’s cat had never encountered a toddler when my friend brought hers over. Max (the cat) went into “kill” mode when she saw the weird thing (to her) - it could have been ugly if we hadn’t been paying attention. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-or-cat-help-me-choose/317831.md?page=1)