As a person who has a cat and dog, I think they are equal. I think both just depend on your lifestyle. If you spend tons of time at work or you are super lazy (me), a cat would be better. Not that they like when you are gone, but it isn't as harmful, per say to them. But with my two cats, they do seem generally happier when around people that they know. If I'm upstairs and everyone else is downstairs, they seem less active and excited. i think cats love you just as much (even more maybe) than dogs. Reason being, if something loves you from day 1, that isn't always love. That's kinda more like worship. My cats took a month to warm up to us, but they show just as much affection. Just in diffrent ways. BTW i do love my dog as well. Edit: I want to mention, I think cats are more similar to humans than dogs are. They need to earn your trust. You can't say a cat is untrustworthy if you behave the same way.

@Hello, I think that is a well thought out response but would disagree about one aspect. Dogs tendency to being more open and trusting (for want of a better description) isn't instant love. It is enjoyment of companionship which is different. I have rescued many dogs and they can take ages to trust, love and even respond to people. Even if not abused, they learn to not just trust the home is permanent. If experience teaches them that it shows they can withold affection until sure. I know dogs that seem to prefer their day carers to their owners because they have more companionship and fun and they sulk at home. If offered a choice would they pick the owners? They would pick where they had the greatest bond and that might not be obvious. You get out what you put in with most animals. It isn't a love from day one, it is a willingness to love. Real bonds still need time.

Related to this is the well known theory that some men dislike cats, because they can't control them, and that these men tend to be very controlling and domineering of their partners

Not just catty meaning bitchy, but a woman's genitalia being referred to as Pussy. If you do write a paper, please publish it to BP. I would love to see what you find out

Karin Jansen - I'm thinking more about as a society, not on a case by case level. It is something I want to research. Cultural references to cats and dogs in literature, film, TV.

Karin - Lots of animals kill other animals, and typically cats don't scratch someone unless they're given a reason to. I've been bitten by two unsocialized dogs, unprovoked, and it hurts a lot more than a cat scratch.

Tomek Sztuk - Yes, my research would focus on the cultural differences in the US. I am unfamiliar with how the attributes of cats and dogs are viewed in other parts of the world. Also, a quick internet search shows that cats and dogs were both domesticated 10,000+ years ago. So maybe you have an unconscious bias toward dogs as well? It is a strange reason to say you like an animal - because they have been domesticated longer?

Tomek Sztuk, yes there are different languages, but there are different cultures too. After reading Tabithas comment I can totally see a connection between "good boy" and a male=good, female=bad philosophy. The US had a totally different development than say Europe. People are behaving and thinking differently.

Tabitha L - wolves were domesticated into dogs on purpose, while cats kind of moved in on their own ;) And they still are semi-wild. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/06/domesticated-cats-dna-genetics-pets-science/

Ironically though, a female dog is a bitch. A female cat is a queen.

Hi Tabitha - think this is really interesting. Though I was wondering if the 'good boy' comes about from the fact that maybe (don't know) more people own boy dogs and you say the gender you personally are more familiar with. I mainly have had girls and so assume girl. Boy dogs can be preferred not least because the op to neuter is cheaper and less dangerous. Some don't like to neuter and girl dogs being in heat is a nuisance. I have no answer or drawn conclusions but it would be interesting to explore more. There is a lot of sense to what you have said. Women are often described as feline when considered sexy... intriguing. I'm not articulating it well but it does need more research.

Not necessarily. I prefer dogs, because they coevolved with us for longer. Don't hate cats, though, but wouldn't want one. And dogs aren't "good boys" everywhere. English is not the only language on the planet. Neither the most spoken, really.

very interesting !!!

@Karin Cats usually hide their poop, especially if they have soil (or litter) available. They are solitary predators, and do better if they pass unnoticed by prey. Contrary to dogs, who proudly poop everywhere they might get noticed, as a pack animal who relies on the power of the group (and smell impact). I have both. And yes cats can and do scratch, but don't other animals also defend themselves with what they have available (nails and teeth, claws and beaks, and so on)?

?? I do not understand the connection between misogyny and hating cats...?

@new prometheus Cats aren't nature, cats destroy nature. At least, in good ole 'Murica they do

This is just overthinking it, sorry. My husband - sweetest guy on earth, raised by a single mother and adoring of women - HATES cats as they kill birds, poop in our yard, and can scratch people. Nothing do to with gender.

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My mom hates cats - must be that InTERnaliZEd MysOGyny!!111

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Cats are basically wild animals and dogs are genetically mutilated servants for humans. The people who are fascinated about cats respect nature, as cat is nature, piece of "real" animal kingdom and cannot be made to serve us... They just might like us and our company, like any wild animal might. It is this independence and distance that some men loath - they want to control everything and generally consider other animals as subordinates.

lemsip, We will have to agree to disagree. Cats should never roam the streets for many reasons. Cats have contributed to the extinction of 63 animal species and is a leading cause of endangering other small mammals, reptiles and birds especially in Australia. It has also been proven that cats that are allowed to roam generally have a shorter life span due to being hit by cars, diseases from other cats like feline aids, injuries from cat fights etc. And also I and many other people do not want other peoples cats in their yards shitting in kids sandpits, digging up the garden, scattering rubbish from bins looking for food etc. Cats can live a very happy life without roaming especially if they have access to a cat run.

Totally agree with this. Cats have a bad name because of owners that do the wrong thing. As a responsible owner who keeps their desexed cats indoors, I am constantly defending them & reminding the 'haters' that the cats behaviour is a reflection of how their owner takes care of them or doesn't, in many cases.

Yep, I was like this too. While I don't like keeping a cat from the outdoors, it is the safer option.

Many cats are used to get in and out the house. If they’re grown city cats they know how to stay out of troubles.

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And please, don't torture your cats with a bell in their collar...

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Cats should be allowed out as long as their owners don't live by a busy main road and they wear a collar with a bell on it.

My boyfriend says this ALL THE TIME and it’s the first I’ve ever heard it from anyone else. This is so insightful to me. Dog lovers / cat haters are more likely authoritarian and only want an animal they can order around.

Really? I don't care for cats. Its not a control thing I just can't bond with a cat. I had to earn my dogs trust and love, it wasn't instant as cat people assume it is. The preference is usually lifestyle based or based on what sort of relationship you are seeking. Either way they are very different animals so I try not to compare the two.

Karin - What are you doing that cats just randomly attack you? I've never known anyone else to have this problem.

That's a pretty big assumtion about someone. Some people just don't like cats, whether it be the way they act, or some other experience that they have been through. A dogs bond is not as easy as it seems. You have to earn the trust you set out to gain. A real bond between a dog and its owner is on both sides. You order the dog around sometimes, and the dog orders you around sometimes, even if its not verbal. I think cats and dogs are both great animals, and if you compare the two, your opinoin is mostly based on your lifestyle, unless you have a direct problem with the way they are. Okay, I'll end my mini rant now😅

Interesting!

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Or just an animal that won't scratch, bite and kill birds, Guinea pigs, rabbits or anything else wandering around in the neighbor's yard. God I hate cats (this is going to cost me panda points).

I can see your perspective on this, even though I'm an overall dog lover. I had a friend that was like this, and I was still friends with her. Just because someone hates dogs does not mean they are a bad person.

Say you're scared of dogs - most people can understand that. If you say you hate them - yeah people are going to assume you're a terrible person - because only terrible people hate dogs.

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Michael Wade whatever gets the psycopath award.

I am so sorry that happened to you. Must have been terrifying and extremely painful. The reason it happened is because of people and not really the dog. Humans allowed that dog to be uncontrolled and untrained. Humans allowed it to be somewhere a child could get near. Humans allowed a dangerous situation to exist. Not your fault at all. Not really the dog's either, probably badly bred as well as badly handled. A series of failures by people. How you feel about dogs is completely understandable and I doubt many people would react differently. You sound very fair, to be honest, I think some people would be more extreme.

You've not heard my cat at 3am... ;)

I have had both. I like both. There are typical characteristics in them but I don't think all cats are x or all dogs are x. They vary. People always do the cats are independent, dogs are needy generalisation but I have experienced the opposite many times. I find it odd that it polarises people so much instead of just accepting that we like different things. I don't like spiders but some people love them, why should that bother me? The thing the world lacks is tolerance.

For me, I love dogs and all, but I find them too needy.

Ha - the downvote proved Raine's point. You said your opinion about dogs, which wasn't positive, and got downvoted.

Becky - you are describing bad cat owners, not bad cats. A litter box should be cleaned daily. And there should be 1 litter box per cat, plus 1. A cat should never be on a kitchen surface. As for the biting, I've been bitten by more dogs than cats.

In what way are you referring to? What behavior specifically? I have had many cats over the years and I have never found anything that they have done that would make me want nothing to do with them.

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Exactly this. If I go into someone's house I don't need to see or smell poop, or see an animal that has been digging in a litter tray walking on kitchen surfaces, or have to walk on eggshells because there's a risk of being scratched or bitten. I'm sure loads of people will be "NoT mY cAt", but I'm not buying it.