Cat or dog: pros and cons
The problem cannot be solved in one plane. Animals are as different as one can imagine. It is comparable to making a decision about the need to live nearby a living creature, which will either be loved with all its shortcomings, or will poison the life of the owners with its daring antics. Only by answering internally whether we are ready to patiently improve next to them (in fact, endure all the negative aspects of their lives), can we decide on the animal itself.
In fairness, it must be said that internally the future owner has decided who he sees next to him: either the devoted eyes of a dog, or a cozy purr on his lap. This inner urge determines the further attitude towards considering the advantages and disadvantages of living together. And then the question no longer arises: “Who is better, a cat or a dog?”
Children and animals
- It often happens that the reason for choosing an animal is the desire of the child in the family. In this case, the situation is a little simpler. Your child most likely already knows who he wants more. However, experts recommend having a baby where you already have an animal.
- When a child grows up with a four-legged friend, this will have a positive effect on the development and health of the baby. The bottom line is that a growing child will not encounter the problem of developing asthma or allergies. In addition, the child will be interested in the animal.
- The baby’s general development occurs faster, and he also learns not to hurt his four-legged friend. As for cats, not all breeds can accept the freedom of their child. In this case, it would be better to get a dog. Sometimes cats can respond quite harshly to a child.
- However, the dog also needs to be raised correctly so that if something happens, it does not show aggression. Remember that in any case, all responsibility falls on you. Therefore, take care of raising your child and animal. If everything is done correctly, two inseparable friends will grow up.
- You need to be sure that the dog will clearly understand the boundaries of what is permitted. In this case, the friendship between the baby and the dog will be remembered for a lifetime. A child will understand many feelings from an early age.
In general, it is impossible to advise you exactly which animal is best to get. In this case, you will have to decide everything yourself. There are too many different nuances to pay attention to. Weigh the pros and cons of different animals. Think about who you like best. After that, draw your conclusions.
how to make friends between a cat and a dog
Who are they living next to us?
Every person at least once in his life has encountered cats and dogs.
A black cat crossing the road only evokes negative emotions in us, and drivers strive to slow down and wait for someone to cross the road first. But a purring creature on its knees is a picture of quiet family happiness and well-being in the house, and then the answer to the question why cats are better than dogs is clear.
A dirty dog, restlessly running back and forth, scouring garbage dumps in search of food - this can only be seen in a nightmare. But a trained, silent dog that immaculately obeys its owner, whose devoted eyes constantly watch him, almost always gives reason to dream about his own.
This is probably why we cannot immediately decide: a cat or a dog.
You can talk a lot about who is better - a cat or a dog, but the decision will come spontaneously, although after serious thought.
Problems of mutual existence with cats
A small kitten (it is best to adopt it at the age of one and a half to two months - then it will grow up and meet the owner’s requirements) is not accustomed to anything. He can eat, drink, jump, run, climb. The discharge of natural needs occurs almost spontaneously - where I wanted, it happened there. It will take two, or even three, months to potty train a kitten (tray with filler). No one will do this for the owners, although if you have enough money, you can take a purebred kitten that has already been trained in everything at 4-5 months of age. And if you're lucky, then an ordinary one - not a thoroughbred. But this will already be a creature with a pronounced character and not completely the master’s - he was raised by others, he will remember them all his life.
What if the content requirements are different? Maybe he was climbing the curtains, but you don’t allow it. He grew up with a cat mother, she taught him to eat properly, but he cannot lick himself, and washing a kitten (to remove fleas) is already a problem.
What you need to know about cats and cats?
The kitten chooses the place where it will sleep; it cannot be forced to do so.
He himself will determine the food - food from sachets, unfortunately, will be swallowed instantly, but also quickly eliminated from the body. And the creature, always hungry, plaintively screaming, scratching the legs of its owners, will force them to feed it real food. And then you will rush to the store to buy him fresh meat (chicken, fish) - what will your pet want?
The cat will inevitably ask for a walk. Estrus (estrus) is a natural physiological process; no one has yet managed to cancel it. These will be tense times in the apartment: guttural meowing (even at night), tearing wallpaper or grabbing the owners’ heels (out of great tenderness) and looking inward. Moreover, it is categorically impossible to scold a cat during estrus - you can leave her as a psychopath for the rest of her life. Of course, you can use special sedative tablets and drops. Immediately after the first heat, owners should decide whether to sterilize their cat. Then transfer her to a special diet so that she does not gain weight.
The cat will definitely try to mark the territory. And it will do this if appropriate measures are not taken - there are special means. He will have to be punished. At the age of eight months, a cat (if it is not adopted as a purebred for the purpose of reproduction) must be castrated, otherwise it will simply be a disgusting creature, provided that the pet lives only in an apartment and does not go for walks outside.
Unsterilized cats and cats are completely predictable, natural creatures in their impulses. They scurry around basements, catch mice and birds, and sometimes hunt in garbage containers (even well-fed ones). But in a big city, they bring a lot of worries to the owners - they can disappear for several days, and after that they come and either, if it is a cat, they need to wait for the offspring, or, if it is a cat, they need to wash it and fatten it. In any case, annual vaccinations and examinations by a veterinarian for diseases contagious to people (and this is important for children) are mandatory.
If these problems do not seem insurmountable, then, without hesitation, you can adopt a feline. And then there is no point in considering the question of who is smarter, a cat or a dog.
Lifestyle
- When choosing a particular animal, you should understand how active you will be with it. Every pet needs activity to live a full life. For example, dogs, especially large breeds, require long and frequent walks with a sufficient amount of physical activity.
- Therefore, elderly people and individuals who suffer from serious illnesses should not have such an active animal. However, if you need long walks to improve your health, you can choose a small breed of dog.
- If you have plenty of time and lead an active lifestyle, an energetic large breed dog is perfect for you. On the other hand, if you leave home early and return late, you should not get such an animal.
- In this case, it is better to consider another pet. A miniature breed of dog that can be litter trained without problems may also be suitable. However, such animals cannot tolerate prolonged loneliness. Alternatively, you can have 2 dogs.
- On the other hand, when you have a cat at home, he will not require walking. Moreover, such an individual may well become completely domestic and not even go outside. This option would be ideal for older people and those who are constantly missing at work. It is enough to leave the animal enough water and food.
How do owners feel around cats?
If the problems of growing up are overcome, the pet is toilet trained, and has decided on food, then, quite naturally, good times begin in the apartment.
The owners live in a cat's rhythm, adapting to their pet. He wakes them up at night: cats are nocturnal animals. Their great-great-great-grandparents behaved exactly the same way. And it’s good if, after waking up, the pet finds its favorite toy and starts fiddling with it. But most often he will demand to feed him, and once caught in this, the owners will be forced to get up before dawn, and then it will be very difficult to fall asleep. It doesn’t even help if the cat is kicked out to another room. He jumps alone for about ten minutes, then starts yelling under the door. You have to go out, pick him up, talk - this lasts for two hours. And it’s already morning there. And the cat falls asleep and doesn’t even move his ears when the door closes behind the owners. He can sleep for a long time, gets up, eats, and then goes back to the side. He wakes up and meets his owners. Yes, that's the kind of creature he is.
Children love to play with kittens, carry them in their arms, cuddle them, getting great pleasure from this. Sometimes, if you squeeze your pet too much, he may hiss first and then scratch. Conclusion - children should be limited in playing with cats.
Cats choose their owner themselves; they only tolerate other pets. There is no reasonable explanation for this. A cat can purr on anyone's lap, but the caresses end immediately when the owner of her choice enters. And for a long time now, he (or she) no longer needs to solve the problem of who is better, a cat or a dog.
Easy to train
Comparing a dog and a cat, it becomes clear: cats are completely stupid creatures. Not wanting to learn and follow commands, cats expect offerings from humans. The training technique is similar to that of a dog, but the result remains negative. Rare specimens amaze and delight owners, guests, and relatives.
We train dogs of any category. Training is sometimes lengthy and complex, but realistic – it will lead to the desired result. The resulting result is a smart pet that follows commands. A well-mannered animal learns to control the situation, act wisely and help its owner.
Problems of mutual existence next to a dog
A small creature, always poking at your feet, so inquisitive that it always knocks over everything in its path - this will be the case with a newly delivered puppy. And of any breed.
To make him an obedient, and most importantly, smart dog, you need to spend a lot of time and effort. At this stage one often gives up, sometimes the thought flashes through whether the choice is right, so who is better in an apartment, a cat or a dog?
You will have to start, oddly enough, with yourself. A dog will grow up healthy (with properly formed bones and joints) only if it exercises enough for the breed. Even a mongrel needs active walks. Therefore, in any weather or bad weather, first four or five times for ten to twenty minutes, and then twice a day for at least half an hour, the owner must walk his pet. And you can’t put it off until later, it needs to be done every day: most dogs cannot send their natural needs in litter trays, like cats. And in the first months, even frequent walks will not be able to protect the carpets from wet spots (they are usually removed when the baby is brought in).
With the selection of food, everything is much simpler - what you decide to feed is what your pet will eat. With inexperienced owners, puppies can become very fat (they are always hungry), and obesity, unfortunately, is harmful not only to people.
Maintenance cost
- Some people believe that keeping a cat in the house is much less expensive, unlike a dog. In fact, this is a misconception. The bottom line is that, despite the cat’s lower food consumption, quality products are more expensive than for dogs. Even if you choose the same brand of food.
- However, it all depends on the size of the dog. Some breeds eat as much as cats. Accordingly, keeping a dog is more profitable. In addition, do not forget that you will need to spend additional money on a leash and collar. In addition, for cold weather, your four-legged friend will have to choose warm clothes.
- Sometimes dogs also need a haircut, so in general we can say that they are more expensive to keep. As for cats, in addition to high-quality food, it is worth taking care of the filler. It must also be selected wisely based on the characteristics of the breed. Therefore, this also has its own subtleties.
How do people feel around a dog?
When the period of growing up is overcome, a period of mutual agreement begins.
The pet understands the owner, he feels his mood, and raising his voice at the slightest offense makes the dog worry. It becomes difficult for owners not to humanize the dogs' actions - the response is often unexpectedly warmer than just friendly.
During this period, a person becomes not just the owner of the dog, but its friend. If such contact is established, then mutual existence is completely unburdensome.
The natural background is that dogs are in heat with the inevitable spots and the desire to run away in search of a partner.
Even the constant urges of male dogs to linger next to a delicately smelling friend are not annoying, and if you don’t put them on a leash in time, they will even run away.
The dog lives with the problems of its owners, but they do not burden him with theirs, having long ago decided the question of who is better to have, a cat or a dog. For them, the answer is always clear - of course, a dog, but only of the breed that suits their hearts (maybe a mongrel), of a size that will not infringe on the interests of the household.
Who is better, a cat or a dog: pros and cons
If we consider the issue of the psychological state of the owners after adopting a pet, then it is completely indifferent who becomes the furry friend.
The inevitable accompanying struggle with dirt (in one form or another) will almost always be present throughout the pet’s life, with cats a little smaller, with dogs a little more.
The benefits of keeping a cat in an apartment include virtually unspoiled relationships with neighbors. In the case of a dog that still needs to be trained so that it does not howl when its owners are absent and does not yap when someone passes by the apartment, relations with neighbors can even lead to scandals. There are many examples of this; the result can be a move - you cannot give your pet to anyone (although there are many negative cases).
You can leave your cat on vacation by entrusting its care to relatives or neighbors (this is an economical option, a more expensive option is in a special foster home). The dog is having a very hard time with the absence of its owner; its relatives cannot cope with it, let alone its neighbors. All that remains is an expensive nursery specializing in foster care.
From the point of view of routine and rhythm of life, a dog binds its owners to itself much more tightly than a cat. A dog is a lifestyle, but a cat, in fact, does not change anything.
Are you prepared for possible property damage or scratches?
Kittens and puppies are the same children who learn about the world in all possible ways. Including, trying things within your reach “by tooth and nail.” And if puppies can mainly try to chew furniture legs, shoes and other small objects, then kittens with their small sharp claws can leave quite noticeable marks on your skin.
Therefore, if your family has a small child, it is better to refrain from purchasing a kitten .
If you value interior items extremely and cannot forgive their slight damage to your young pet, refrain from purchasing a puppy .
Living together with dogs and cats
In many families, dogs and cats live together, having acquired loving owners either at the same time, or appearing in the apartment in turn. The owners immediately and forever decided the question of who is better - a cat or a dog.
If these creatures appear at the same time, the owners spend almost a year in a tense rhythm raising them, training them, accustoming them to their household and life routine.
Cats, if they are still young, perceive puppies with caution. But then they begin to take care of them, probably perceiving them as their own children.
Unfortunately, not all dogs can show tolerance towards representatives of the cat family, but if this happens, a strong and cohesive union is born. Sometimes it brings greater joy to the animals themselves than to the owners.
Pets at home
Often in a noisy metropolis a person begins to feel completely alone, which is why he has to get a pet.
These animals allow you to bring new, unique colors into the life of your owners, captivate them and even, in a sense, support them. And no matter who the pet is, a person, of course, must care for it, feed and educate it. From the name itself it is clear that pets live in a homely atmosphere of warmth and comfort and, of course, their appearance in the apartment completely changes the habitual way of life for the owners. By training, educating and accustoming their pet, the owners raise a truly worthy member of the family. Of course, raising a pet takes quite a lot of time, but at the same time this factor stops few people because the happiness and joy that pets bring is unforgettable. Scientists have long confirmed the fact that pets are the best cure for emotional distress and adversity. In addition, it is worth noting that the appearance of such a pet will not only improve the emotional background of the owners, but will also give good spirits.
Before you get a pet, you need to decide who it will be. You need to take the species, breed and gender of your future pet very seriously. Sometimes it happens that the question of choosing a pet is not worth it. The owner can only accept or refuse. In this case, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons, eliminate the possibility of allergic reactions and coordinate the adoption of the animal with other family members.
Any pet requires constant care. In many families, a situation often occurs when an animal is adopted at the request of children, who, in turn, tearfully swear to look after it. As practice shows, after the first two weeks, children stop providing proper care and switch to something more interesting in their opinion. Be that as it may, adults will always be responsible, buy food and vitamins and take the family pet to the clinic for vaccinations. That is why, when bringing an animal into your home, it is necessary to study all the necessary recommendations for its care and, of course, study the symptoms of possible diseases.
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From the above, we can conclude that a pet is too troublesome and therefore not worth having. But this is not true at all. In fact, the pet will bring its owners so many positive emotions that all worries will instantly fade into the background.
