A Cat or a Dog - If You Own One, You Should Read This

It's an age-old argument: which of the traditional family pets, (dog or cat), is the better choice?

Let's start with the following two assumptions:

1) For guarding the house and family, a dog has the edge, (although, I've seen Siamese cats that I wouldn't want to meet in the dark); and

2) Most pet owners are urban dwellers.

Pros and cons of each pet:

Dogs: On the pro side, they are normally loyal, lovable, and easy to teach tricks.

On the con side, (outside of a few breeds), they shed hair, (allergy alert), eat a lot, bark when you least expect them to, have an odour if kept indoors, must be taken for a walk at least twice a day regardless of whether it rains, snows, or the sun shines, and you have to pick up their droppings when they do their business.

Cats: On the pro side, they are cuddly, affectionate, eat little, can be taught a few tricks, (if you have the patience) and, if you happen to have a mouse issue, they will quickly clear it up. They can be trained as house pets and don't have to be taken outside for morning and evening walks, since they use a litter box.

On the con side, (outside of a few breeds), they shed hair, (allergy threat), are fussy eaters and will tell you if they don't like the salmon you're serving, and they can be possessive.

I would argue that most dogs require more maintenance than the average cat. The owner/pet relationship is different, as well.

You own a dog. It lets you know so by being slurpy with its tongue and acting servile. A cat, on the other hand, although affectionate, can be fickle, independent, and moody at times. The cat loves to let you know that the relationship is tenuous, and that he/she is just living with you.

So, which is the better choice? A barking loyal, dog, or a quiet, fickle cat?

I lean toward the _ _ _.

Gary