# Rate your feelings towards dogs and cats **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965 "2011-02-03T00:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/81 "2011-02-03T22:47:15Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > This sounds like the worst possible cat ever. She can be annoying, but it’s nice to have someone around who loves you and thinks the world revolves around you. Also, she’s poofy. Soft and poofy has got to be a +10 here. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/82 "2011-02-03T22:57:16Z")
I LOVE dogs. With both other types of animals I’ve owned, cats and rats, you have to give them a cooling off period after bringing them home. They have to spend days or weeks getting used to you before they’ll even tolerate your presence. But a dog? Forget about it. As soon as they see you it’s “OMG OMG OMG PERSON PERSON PERSON!” I dislike most cats because they don’t want to have anything to do with me. At least the rats I owned eventually warmed up to me and seemed happy to spend time with me. The only cat I like belongs to a friend of mine: It behaves like a dog. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/83 "2011-02-03T23:02:13Z")
Dogs: 100. Or maybe 98. Every once in a while I meet a dog I don’t like, but my love for all the other doggies probably cancels that out. Cats: 95. I like cats very much as well, but I like dogs more, and every once in a while I run across a cat that just rubs me the wrong way (no pun intended–or is there?). ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/84 "2011-02-03T23:09:56Z")
I love cats! Any cat I see, I’ll try to pet it. I don’t mind dogs if they’re not growling at me or trying to jump on me, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to approach one. (I’m not bothered by barking; for me it’s one of those sounds that always fades into the background noise). ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/85 "2011-02-03T23:20:22Z")
Dogs: 88 Cats: 5 Dogs are wonderful. Sweet, adorable, loyal, friendly, excellent animals all around. And there is almost nothing in the world cuter than puppies. I’m not ridiculously fond of certain breeds, but generally speaking dogs are wonderful. I can take or leave cats. I don’t wish them harm or anything, just apathetic. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/86 "2011-02-03T23:25:50Z")
Forgot the numbers! Dogs: 80 - I love most of them but I hate poorly-behaved dogs that are only encouraged by their owners. Cats: -20 - I dislike most of them but I don’t hate them. I live in an apartment with one. As I said, there is one that I love, but he’s the only one that I’ve met that behaves the way he does. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/87 "2011-02-04T00:23:37Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Dogs: 90. There are some dogs I don’t like, but most of them are god’s gift to humanity. > Cats: -10 Cats are okay, but more trouble than they’re worth IMO. This is pretty much my view, too. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/88 "2011-02-04T00:48:33Z")
Dogs 70 Cats 90 I prefer cats because they’re less needy. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/89 "2011-02-04T01:07:34Z")
Dogs: -80 Cats: -10 I don’t like pets, in general. I prefer cats because many dogs come across to me as great lumbering oafs. But they can be cute and funny, and I certainly don’t wish any harm to them. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/90 "2011-02-04T01:49:07Z")
Dogs: 75 Cats: 99 Even tho I have pretty much dedicated my life to dogs, there are many I don’t like, usually because their owners are twits. Cats, OTOH, I don’t think I’ve ever met one I wasn’t attracted to and they are the only completely useless pet I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/91 "2011-02-04T02:28:08Z")
Dogs -1 Cats +1 It totally depends on their individual personality. I also don’t much care for any animal that is not minimally groomed or smells like ass. I’ve also had both cats and dogs that were complete assholes and/or became assholes over time. Regarding cats in particular, I’d say about 1 out of 5 cats or less were affectionate. Regarding dogs, I’d say about 1 out of 5 dogs or less were clean enough for me to even think about touching. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/92 "2011-02-04T02:34:04Z")
Missed window: So, some individual animals would be 100, some would be -100, so the average is very close to zero. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/93 "2011-02-04T02:43:52Z")
Cats - 100 Dogs - 75 I like some dogs. Labs, Greyhounds; medium to big dogs are usually better. Little yappy dogs that shake all the time and pee on the floor are a pain. Cats are always better. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/94 "2011-02-04T09:58:01Z")
Dogs 100 Cats -10,000 ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/95 "2011-02-04T13:24:18Z")
Dogs 60 Cats 100 Most dogs are lovely creatures. But they also have mighty annoying habits, such as barking loudly just because someone walks past the living room window. If you don’t train them up right, they’ll lunge up on you with their dirty paws when they greet you. The bigger ones can be dangerous if they feel they’re being dissed. Plus, they are higher maintenance. Multiple walks outside daily, baths, playtime, affection time…it’s like having a little kid. But when I vist with other people’s dogs, I love them instantly and suddenly wish that I could have one. Cats are awesome. I love their self-sufficiency and quirky personalities. Even mean cats generally will let one person “in”, and if you’re that person, you feel special. They do funny things and have a nice balance of rambunctuousness and laziness. I have a cat that is pretty vocal and that can be annoying, but otherwise they are quiet. You don’t have worry about them disturbing the neighbors or scaring guests (unless they’re the type who just don’t like animals at all). My cats will come to their names as fast as any dog will, but although they are affectionate, they aren’t all up in my face with it. I can give them their loving for a few minutes and then they’ll let me be. Or they’ll settle down beside me and watch me read or knit or whatever, without trying to get me to play with them (although if they feel ignored, they will lay right down on the laptop keyboard, knowing good and well what they are doing). Both cats and dogs can be pretty destructive with property. But cats, at least, won’t eat your shoes or your homework. They’ll lay down on it if you leave it on the floor, but that’s probably about it. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/96 "2011-02-04T13:43:02Z")
I feel like small dogs and medium/large dogs should be two different categories because their personalities are so different. For me it would be: Medium/large dogs: 99 Small dogs: -10 Cats: -80 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/97 "2011-02-04T16:46:57Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But cats, at least, won’t eat your shoes or your homework. Well, to be fair, some of them will eat your shoelaces. I had to keep a close watch on my little tabby when she was a kitten–she destroyed several sets of shoelaces before we figured out what she was doing, and nearly swallowed one. And I have to keep my UGG boots out of reach of one of my Russian Blue girls because she loves the feel of suede under her claws. I still give cats 100, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/98 "2011-02-04T17:11:03Z")
Dogs: 100 Cats: 50 I enjoy the company of dogs. I like their intelligence, yet goofiness. I’m allergic to most cats, but I still enjoy them as animals. When it comes down to it, I enjoy interacting with any animal really. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/99 "2011-02-04T20:41:31Z")
Cats: +90 Dogs: +20 Dogs have a much larger standard deviation, because they vary more by breed, temperament, and training. I find the “average” dog mildly enjoyable, but some are almost as much fun as cats and some (loud, yapping, aggressive, and/or poorly trained) are big minuses. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965/100 "2011-02-04T20:44:45Z")
Cats: -90 Dogs: -90 They are each spared from a -100 rating because they do serve a few useful, practical purposes, such as guide dogs and cats who catch mice. But otherwise I have no use for either animal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-your-feelings-towards-dogs-and-cats/569965.md?page=6)