In the War of Dogs vs. Cats, Clear Winner: Dogs

[chri'stina 190]

My turn to post a highly controversial thread. Please, no mud slinging! (hehehe j/K )

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LOS ANGELES — Cats. Dogs. Those can be fighting words in some circles.

Cats are "nasty, stinking creatures," says Mark David of Warrensburg, Mo. And dogs? They're noisy, disruptive and "lick you and themselves," counters Sanford Reikes of Louisville, Ky.

Clearly, there are dog people and there are cat people. But it's not much of a contest: 74 percent of people like dogs a lot, and only 41 percent like cats a lot.

Cats win the dislike vote handily, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll. Fifteen percent of the adults questioned said they disliked cats a lot while the number who said they disliked dogs a lot was just 2 percent.

Joseph Moreus, 61, of Westminster, Calif., understands why dogs come out on top.

"They have more personality. They are loyal," he said. "Cats are all about cats but dogs are interested in pleasing their owners. Cats don't care if they please you or not."

And cats can be destructive, said Joy Rasch, 70, of Kennewick, Wash., who gets mad at the neighborhood cats who kill robins, quail and squirrels in her back yard. Male cats will spray their territory or get in the wood pile at 3 a.m. and "screech like bad brakes on a car," she added.

Of course, cat lovers, if smaller in numbers, are are equal in passion.

"Cats are 1,000 times smarter than dogs," said Bonnie Hanson, 77, of Sioux Falls, S.D. She and her late husband had a black Siamese cat, Kitty, that she said "always wanted to comfort people, anybody who was ill or unhappy."

"My husband would have chest pains and wouldn't tell me. But Kitty would come and look at me and I'd know. We called him our psychic Siamese," she said. "Every cat I ever had was a help and a comfort."

More than two-thirds of people in the United States have a pet, said Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. About 39 percent of households have dogs and 34 percent have cats, Buchwald said, using numbers supplied by the Association of Pet Product Manufacturers.

Those most likely to dislike cats were blacks, Hispanics and married men. Men were a bit more likely than women to say they disliked cats.

Dog people are more adamant about their preference than cat people, the poll found. Of those who owned only a dog, 34 percent said they disliked cats; of those who owned only a cat, only 5 percent disliked dogs.

David, 28, who runs a landscaping company in Warrensburg, dislikes cats but he says he owes his life to a dog. Two years ago, his 5-year-old black lab Zena was with him when a tractor rolled onto his leg, leaving him pinned and bleeding. Zena went to get his wife.

"She wasn't a Lassie by any means, but she was smart enough to go for help," David said.

Still, all this sniping doesn't mean there is no harmony in the country. Sixty percent of all adults said they liked both dogs AND cats. (hehe, sniping!)

Cats are independent so give you a little more freedom but dogs are better companions, said Janet Hardy, 69, of Abingdon, Md., who grew up with both.

David Kyser, 73, has also had both — and can tick off their relative merits.

"Cats take care of themselves. They are very clean. Dogs are not so clean and they need some activity. They are good if you have a house full of children," said Kyser, of Austin, Texas. "Cats just kind of sit around being cats."

And some, of course, don't want either species for a friend.

"I have a fear of dogs and I don't like cats," said Willie Thigpen, 60, of Greenwood, S.C. He and his wife raised three children, but they never had a pet.

"And now I don't want to take care of nothing except me," he said.

The AP-Petside.com poll was conducted Oct. 1-5, 2009, by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. It involved telephone interviews on landline and cell phones with 1,967 adults nationwide, including 1,166 pet owners and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.2 percent for all adults. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on sub-samples.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,582375,00.html

(YES through Fox, but originated from AP - so there. )

[Jenn! 918]

"So you need that assurance do you? You prefer an emotionally shallow animal?...when you yell at a dog, his tail will go between his legs and cover his genitals, his ears will go down. A dog is very easy to break, but cats make you work for their affection, they don't sell out the way dogs do."

[chri'stina 190]

Ooooh, any dog supporter going to come and post something? Are you going to take that?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

They didn't dare to compare dogs or cats to pet rocks. A pet rock wins hands down.

[chri'stina 190]

They didn't dare to compare dogs or cats to pet rocks. A pet rock wins hands down.

That's true Steven...although you are adding even more controversy to this thread.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's true Steven...although you are adding even more controversy to this thread.

I haven't talked to my pet rock since I don't know when. Do you know what that does to him? Nothing.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Dogs are like a good friend, while cats are more like an annoying roomate you can't stand.

[chri'stina 190]

Steven - you're not as nice as I thought. Your poor pet rock.

As for my preference...I have neither animal. But considering I am allergic to cats, I pick dog.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steven - you're not as nice as I thought. Your poor pet rock.

I once picked him up and threw him in a fit of rage. I bawled my eyes out afterward though.

[anya-D 8]

I have both so I cant say much to this

but I like dog a bit more but it's easier to care for my cat. I dont have to clean up after my cat and just leave the big bowl of food and water out and he's happy (only let him in and out of the house) and he would come sleep on my legs and if i move, he will attack my leg - how cute. I can also leav him in the house for a few days with food and water and he'll be fine (only our couch got his full anger!) lol

for dog though, have to let her in and out for bath room break (2 times last night ) and have to limit the food or she will eat everything. she wont come when call and is very stubborn and think the couch is hers. She also weight 70 lbs and think she's a lap dog but she's very cuddlly and my cat hate to be hold. I have to take her with me to vacation or find a day care for her so it's not very convenient.

So even my dog is a pain i love my dog a tiny bit more

I just think having a dog is more like having children.

Edited January 7, 2010 by anya-D

[Mags 112]

Cats. I prefer a feisty, independent, self cleaning pet!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Cats are evil.

[Mags 112]

Cats are evil.

Ooops, I meant to say:

Cats. I prefer a feisty, independent, evil, self cleaning pet!

[TracyTN 237]

I have both too - but only got our dog about a year ago, first I've ever had. I still consider myself a 'cat person' but there are things I prefer about dogs. They are definitely more into being with you than cats, and I love the expressions my dog gets on her face - I can almost tell what she is thinking in certain circumstances. She amuses me greatly, and goes absolutely bonkers when I get home. My cat, on the other hand, will get up out of her snoozing position when she is good and ready, and may give me a leg rub when she feels like it.

[chri'stina 190]

I could see that having a dog would be more difficult for certain situations like letting them outside, going on trips and have to put them somewhere, etc. I think I like the pet rock idea.