Opinion CATS or DOGS?

Well, at least no one hates both of them.

CrazyCat said:

I just... ARGH hate it when people hate cats for scratching or being allergic to them.
Every time I see a dog person and they say that they hate cats, that's their response. Sure, you cannot help it to be allergic to cats, but it's just not a valid reason.
Plus, all of the people I have seen who hate cats, well... They don't have a cat. I have a dog, it's an opinion. I just... Dogs hurt when they bite or scratch you. Cats are typically declawed after you get them (who on earth would do that to a dog?) and they don't bite hard.

Eh, just my opinion. Half of the cat haters out there just don't have one and don't know the joys of having one

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I’m horrendously allergic to cats (like I get hives, my entire body swells up and my eyes water, and I cannot breathe), and when I was a kid, I had cats attack me for absolutely NO reason. Like I’m serious, I wouldn’t even do anything to them and they’d just run up and attack me. I remember one time I was across the street from a cat, I didn’t even look at it, and it suddenly bolted across the road and raked deep furrows in my arm. I was bleeding really badly. By the time I got home, my arm had swelled to twice its size and I could barely breathe.
That’s not the only bad experience I’ve had with cats either. I could ramble about others but I won’t. :’)
Anyway, because of all those experiences, I started to absolutely loathe cats as a kid, and I was terrified of them. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve realized not all cats are completely insane like that, and I’m more okay with them now (... but I’m still allergic, so I avoid them).
My point is, some people have just had bad experiences with either cats or dogs in their childhood, and I’m sure that contributes to how they feel about either one.

Eh, yeah. I love dogs, don't get me wrong, but it's sad how many cats are homeless compared to how many people actually could take in one but are so involved in the cat dog debate they won't even consider it.
I'm not allergic to any animal, which is lucky, but I honestly don't see a reason to hate a cat for scratching you (when you're allergic, yeah, I can understand that. But when you are literally just being stubborn that's just no reason to hate them)
So I understand how you used to loathe cats, but some of my friends are barely allergic at all, they just get allergies like how I do with pollen. Legitemently sneezing (I don't think I spelled that right, but spellcheck is stupid and useless) and a watery nose. Not like your allergies, they've told me that it's just that :l.

CrazyCat said:

Eh, yeah. I love dogs, don't get me wrong, but it's sad how many cats are homeless compared to how many people actually could take in one but are so involved in the cat dog debate they won't even consider it.
I'm not allergic to any animal, which is lucky, but I honestly don't see a reason to hate a cat for scratching you (when you're allergic, yeah, I can understand that. But when you are literally just being stubborn that's just no reason to hate them)
So I understand how you used to loathe cats, but some of my friends are barely allergic at all, they just get allergies like how I do with pollen. Legitemently sneezing (I don't think I spelled that right, but spellcheck is stupid and useless) and a watery nose. Not like your allergies, they've told me that it's just that :l.

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Yeah it’s sad for the poor cats, and I do feel sorry for them, but not everyone can really help the fact that they don’t like cats as much and they don’t want one. There’s a myriad of reasons people choose the pets they do. Of course, I also believe people shouldn’t even have pets if they’re not qualified to take care of them, but that’s something different entirely.
So yeah. I used to hate cats because I did absolutely nothing to provoke them and they’d still attack me, but I realize they’re not all like that, so I’m more okay with them now. I much prefer dogs though. I can’t ever recall having a bad dog experience; dogs have almost always been really sweet and loving to me and they just want to make you happy.
Who knows, maybe if I could actually have cats I’d realize they’re great or something, but yeah, I can’t. I would probably actually die tbh

PotatoPhoenix said:

Yeah it’s sad for the poor cats, and I do feel sorry for them, but not everyone can really help the fact that they don’t like cats as much and they don’t want one. There’s a myriad of reasons people choose the pets they do. Of course, I also believe people shouldn’t even have pets if they’re not qualified to take care of them, but that’s something different entirely.
So yeah. I used to hate cats because I did absolutely nothing to provoke them and they’d still attack me, but I realize they’re not all like that, so I’m more okay with them now. I much prefer dogs though. I can’t ever recall having a bad dog experience; dogs have almost always been really sweet and loving to me and they just want to make you happy.
Who knows, maybe if I could actually have cats I’d realize they’re great or something, but yeah, I can’t. I would probably actually die tbh

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I was a strange child, my dog dragged me when I was three across a park (concrete path) and I didn't care. I don't hate dogs, I honestly don't hate any animal but so many people can be biased on one thing that didn't even hurt them, just like a cat biting them and hating them for a long time.
My friend on a softball team hated cats, then she saw one loose near the field and wanted to pet it so badly.

CrazyCat said:

I just... ARGH hate it when people hate cats for scratching or being allergic to them

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I'd argue violence without warning is generally a good reason to feel hatred. Intellectually it's far from a good reason to hate anything.

Not that it matters much because I don't hate cats, and especially not for those reasons. I simply admitted that part of my bias has to do with the fact that I was clawed by one and due to a good portion of my family being allergic.

You know what isn't a good argument either though?
1. "You don't have X therefore you don't get Y" (it's a fallacious argument because human empathy is based on similar experiences not exact copies, and because things can be and often are better understood from a level not derived from direct experience of it. For instance, you understand that many cat owners declaw their cats and therefore it's not a big issue, which you offer as a counter to my irrational fear born from a childhood trauma)

2. "You like X more therefore you hate Y". Preferring dogs is not the same as hating cats, for instance. You can like both while still vastly preferring one. Heck, even if you don't especially like one doesn't mean you hate them.

Lastly on this matter, while I don't personally owe a cat, I have had my good share of experiences with all kinds of pets. I've owned a dog, a turtle (or two), a canary, two mice and a bunny. Between my family, we owe several more dogs and yes, cats too. The house of uncle that is married to my godmother in particular is pratically a zoo. They have several cats, dogs, and all sorts of other pets. You can probably name a pet and 9/10 they own it or owned it.

CrazyCat said:

Eh, yeah. I love dogs, don't get me wrong, but it's sad how many cats are homeless compared to how many people actually could take in one but are so involved in the cat dog debate they won't even consider it.

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That's a proportion of 1/10000 at least. The problem with homeless cats is real, but it has nothing to do with people not wanting to adopt. Well, nothing is an exageration, but it is definitely a minor factor.
For one thing, adopting an animal isn't an easy task. It's expensive. A few years ago statistics showed that two thirds of the world population lived in relative extreme poverty. So now let's say that 1/10 of humanity is willing to take a pet. Of that 1/10 not everyone can afford two pets, and even if they could, cats and dogs are known popularly to hardly get along. Remove anyone who lives in an area who can't take pets or doesn't have time for them or who has medical issues with cats etc... You'll be left with about the number of people who currently adopt cats.

But I mentioned earlier that number wasn't the problem. Well, here's the thing: the domestic variant of cats is an invasive species. This means it was imported from another area into the areas where they currently are. What happens when an invasive species is brought into an area and allowed to multiply? They become a pest, in the scientific meaning of that word. rodents and birds are abudant in cities, which helped wild cats multiply like crazy. This has already left to the extinction of several species of birds and rodents.

There is really only one viable solution to this problem, and it's not a pretty one like adoption.


PS: I'm replying to your comment as personally directed to me because I quoted you earlier and your comment seems to be directly responding to what I (and as far as I can tell nobody else) said regarding my reasons for prefering dogs.

Just my opinion.
Idea I agree with you, but it's ridiculous how many people hate cats because they have had about one encounter and it was bad.

I love both equally. I'll be applying to become a fosterhome for both cats and dogs (though likely cats because there's more of them not as easily adopted.) But hey, I'm a bit biased because CURRENTLY I don't have dogs but I have two of the best cats.





No this is definitely not an excuse to show off my babies what are you talking about. As for WHY people don't adopt as many cats, the problem lays more in that people don't STERILIZE/CASTRATE their cats. Dogs don't often go out on their own outside, in comparison to cats. People also seem to think cats are 'less important' and 'less difficult' to handle than a dog, and thus they're easier to 'throw away'. It's even worse with rodents; rabbits, rats, hamsters, etc.

I recommend if you want to help these animals, no matter what kind, try approaching your local shelter and see what options they have. Whether it's being a volunteer help in the shelter itself, or becoming a volunteer foster home, or just adopting. There's so many sweethearts out there that need love, both cats and dogs.

Aww, they're adorable!

CrazyCat said:

@Idea I agree with you, but it's ridiculous how many people hate cats because they have had about one encounter and it was bad.

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I guess. It's ridiculous the amount of people who hate things they never encountered before. And though I believe fixing such an issue is more urgent to do with people than any kind of animal, I do agree it's a pitiable situation. Either way, an issue can never be solved if we antagonize either party.

Admitedly, I used to be someone who hated cats. Then I found nekos and it got dispersed for me

Heh, yeah. I've always adored cats and dogs, but I do get a little defensive over cats. I still love dogs though

CrazyCat said:

Just my opinion.
Idea I agree with you, but it's ridiculous how many people hate cats because they have had about one encounter and it was bad.

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Yeah, except I didn’t have ONE bad encounter, I had multiple. The one I listed was just... well, one. I’ve had cats charge at me, yowling in anger, despite the fact that I did absolutely nothing to them, and having that type of thing happen to me multiple times was enough to make me terrified of them and hate them for a while there. I admit that, even though I know better now, part of me is still afraid of cats and I’ll give them a VERY wide berth when I see them...

I've had a cat, I loved him, yet I honestly prefer dogs; they're much more rewarding.

PotatoPhoenix said:

Yeah, except I didn’t have ONE bad encounter, I had multiple. The one I listed was just... well, one. I’ve had cats charge at me, yowling in anger, despite the fact that I did absolutely nothing to them, and having that type of thing happen to me multiple times was enough to make me terrified of them and hate them for a while there. I admit that, even though I know better now, part of me is still afraid of cats and I’ll give them a VERY wide berth when I see them...

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Understood. I just... eh, half of the people who hate cats just have had one encounter, which frustrates me XD

skunkeh said:

I've had a cat, I loved him, yet I honestly prefer dogs; they're much more rewarding.

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I do have to say, why does a pet need to be rewarding? I don't mean to be rude! Just, heck, I doubt all our family members are rewarding . But you know, they're still a part of it! I'm only curious because I hear that often, and I don't know, I can't really ever say I prefer one animal over the other. All I can say is 'I can be a better home to this animal than this one.'

DapperCat said:

I do have to say, why does a pet need to be rewarding? I don't mean to be rude! Just, heck, I doubt all our family members are rewarding

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There's a reason they say "you don't choose your family" (or was it you don't choose your parents? Eh, I don't remember)

Generally speaking, the part of your family you DO choose, you do so expecting a "reward". If you don't get anything out of it, you don't marry someone. Even in times of arranged marriages, you didn't gain anything, but the ones setting up the marriages definitely did.

DapperCat said:

I do have to say, why does a pet need to be rewarding? I don't mean to be rude! Just, heck, I doubt all our family members are rewarding . But you know, they're still a part of it! I'm only curious because I hear that often, and I don't know, I can't really ever say I prefer one animal over the other. All I can say is 'I can be a better home to this animal than this one.'

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You're definitely not being rude!

A pet doesn't have to be rewarding, heck, I have 15 tarantulas and they do nothing at all! I'm just referring to how cats just wonder off and (my friends cat walked off, and he got bribed into staying at somebody else's house. He did eventually return very fat!) sometimes not come back. Dogs will love you unconditionally. My dog had to go to the kennel and she literally fell depressed, loosing a load of weight (can't remember how much)-- when I came back she was soooo happy. Whilst with my cat, it didn't even greet me when I came back from holiday!! He just completely ignored. I still love(d) him though, but it wasn't/isn't the same as having a dog.

If that makes any sense, I can elaborate further but I am tired haha, (':

Idea said:

There's a reason they say "you don't choose your family" (or was it you don't choose your parents? Eh, I don't remember)

Generally speaking, the part of your family you DO choose, you do so expecting a "reward". If you don't get anything out of it, you don't marry someone. Even in times of arranged marriages, you didn't gain anything, but the ones setting up the marriages definitely did.

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Yet having children; you don't choose how they end up being. That's how I see it. Animals can't defend themselves like humans can, thus, I don't feel that rewards need to be a thing at all. They're not in a place of being.. let's say, the equivalent to your aunt, your sister, your nephew. They're children you take in. And I personally take that just as seriously as human children, and that's why I find rewards to be not something to care about!

skunkeh said:

You're definitely not being rude!

A pet doesn't have to be rewarding, heck, I have 15 tarantulas and they do nothing at all! I'm just referring to how cats just wonder off and (my friends cat walked off, and he got bribed into staying at somebody else's house. He did eventually return very fat!) sometimes not come back. Dogs will love you unconditionally. My dog had to go to the kennel and she literally fell depressed, loosing a load of weight (can't remember how much)-- when I came back she was soooo happy. Whilst with my cat, it didn't even greet me when I came back from holiday!! He just completely ignored. I still love(d) him though, but it wasn't/isn't the same as having a dog.

If that makes any sense, I can elaborate further but I am tired haha, (':

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DW I getcha! I just wanted to ask out of curiosity! As for your example with your dog and cat. I've had both ends of the spectrum! Some dogs also don't really care, and some cats (one of ours is insane about us returning from a 5 min walk to the store) really do need you very much. Some are more dependent, some more independent! Both dogs and cats

DapperCat said:

DW I getcha! I just wanted to ask out of curiosity! As for your example with your dog and cat. I've had both ends of the spectrum! Some dogs also don't really care, and some cats (one of ours is insane about us returning from a 5 min walk to the store) really do need you very much. Some are more dependent, some more independent! Both dogs and cats

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It just it depends on the animal! But that's my experience! Sounds so cute!

skunkeh said:

It just it depends on the animal! But that's my experience! Sounds so cute!

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Exactly! To me at least, it depends on each animal individually! I hope you have great experiences in the future with either or both. :3 Heck for example I had to rabbits, one just connected with me a lot, (he passed of old age), the other doesn't want any of my love/attention at all! So I let her be more independent. So I guess I don't get the same 'reward' idk. So don't worry, I did understand your post, I just wanted to talk about it in discussion.

DapperCat said:

Yet having children; you don't choose how they end up being. That's how I see it. Animals can't defend themselves like humans can, thus, I don't feel that rewards need to be a thing at all. They're not in a place of being.. let's say, the equivalent to your aunt, your sister, your nephew. They're children you take in. And I personally take that just as seriously as human children, and that's why I find rewards to be not something to care about!

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Having children is rewarding, as far as I can tell. Even if they turn out horrible. But by conceiving the child in the first place you have not just gotten a child, you've acquired a responsability towards that child. Still, I'll cut this discussion here because we'd end up going into abortion territory and we don't need a flame war right now.

DapperCat said:

Exactly! To me at least, it depends on each animal individually! I hope you have great experiences in the future with either or both. :3 Heck for example I had to rabbits, one just connected with me a lot, (he passed of old age), the other doesn't want any of my love/attention at all! So I let her be more independent. So I guess I don't get the same 'reward' idk. So don't worry, I did understand your post, I just wanted to talk about it in discussion.

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Of course, I guess I used the term 'rewarding' a little daftly.
But still, I agree with Idea , about the children thing.

I mean yeah I guess we would have to stop because I don't agree with ... anti abortion blabla. COUGH CARRY ON. Also unfortunately a lot of parents exists that don't find it rewarding and yeah idk. Difficult subject.

Also omg.

"have you ever smelled a dog fart?
If not, bless your heart, you will die inside when you smell it. Cats don't fart (as often) as dogs, and when they do... It's fine. "

poison goth

I have to admit though. Dog farts are horrendous, but have you smelled a kitten's fart? Those can be just as deadly. Jesus.

Cats are literally pests where I live, so dogs.