Which animal is a better pet, a dog or a cat? People have strong opinions on both sides of the question, pointing out such things as personality traits, cleanliness, and even intelligence. Of course, a fantastic pet for a large boisterous family living in a countryside home may be a terrible choice for a quiet single person living in a small apartment. Therefore, before discussing the pros and cons of owning a dog or a cat, we should narrow down the topic: Which one of the two is a better pet for a family with children.
Anyone who has had dogs or cats -or both, can testify that every animal, like every person, has its own personality, but we can generalize: both kinds of animals do have a few traits and care requirements that we can use to make a case for which is the better family pet. Let’s see how dogs and cats stack up in a few different trait categories:
#1 Housebreaking and cleanliness
A cat will instinctively find a place to bury its business “Housebreaking” cats basically consists of showing them a litter box, and they take it from there. Cats are also extremely clean animals, always grooming themselves and for the most part “odor free.”
Dogs are generally messier, smellier animals. Housebreaking a dog can be messy, with accidents and carpet stains along the way. Dogs also require baths – especially if they decide to engage in one of their favorite pastimes: rolling in waste or the remains of some animal.
#2 Protection
Dogs are instinctive protectors. With their barking and growling, dogs are a more effective deterrent to would-be burglars than a quiet cat. A family can feel safer with a dog in the home. Of course, if your family has a tiny, timid pup or is more of a “cat family,” there are other home protection options such as a Memphis TN home automation system . While a dog can help safeguard your family home against intruders, an intelligent home security system such as that available at http://www.vivint.com/en/city/il/peoria can do much more. A wireless security system has features such as sensors to send information to a monitoring station in case of fire, or the ability to lock doors and set alarms in your home from another location, making it much more effective than a barking dog at keeping your home safe.
#3 Affection
Dogs are usually more sociable than cats. A dog will provide unconditional love and joy whenever it sees its owner. A dog’s affection and loyalty make it a wonderful family pet. A cat will give affection occasionally, but is often aloof, and will not show excitement at seeing you in the effusive manner of a dog.
In sum, dogs’ affection and protectiveness puts them on top, but depending on your lifestyle, either animal can be a great family pet.