David Quammen did a piece on this a hundred years ago when he was at Outside. Folks were asked what their favorite animal was. Dogs ranked #1, cats were like #26, after the trout. But dogs and cats actually got the same number of #1 votes. Cat people voted cats #1, dogs #2. But dog people voted dogs #1 and cats dead last.
@saodell This makes sense to me. I know a lot of people who hate cats, but like (or don't mind) dogs. I don't think I know anyone who likes cats and hates dogs.
I'm a cat person myself. They're generally quieter, calmer, and lower maintenance (not always, I know, but generally speaking). Also, I've found it challenging to find apartments that will rent to people with cats, and night impossible with dogs, so that's been a factor once or twice. I do love dogs, though. Except for the yippy little mop-heads and ankle-biters; they can go to hell.
@rschauer@ThumperChick I love cats, and while I want to love dogs, numerous attacks as a kid make it tough. So I generally accept them, and run in to ones occasionally that I really do love to pieces. I've had a few myself that were my kids, as much as any cat could be.
@jaremelz That is a valid issue for some people. If a cat attacks you, it sucks. If a dog attacks you, you have serious potential for harm.
(apologies, this turned into a rant that most likely has little to do with you) With rare exception, I blame humans for both types - usually owners. My dogs are sweet and pretty people and kid friendly. I still watch them around new people and children - like a hawk! They're still 50 & 70lbs of teeth and prey instinct. Both are very much enamored by children, and if they are provoked, return to me to escape the situation - but that's never a guarantee, even with well trained pets. Other times it's made worse by people who don't show or teach their kids caution or respect when it comes to approaching dogs. I've had to literally stand between and adult with a toddler and my older pup who was having a hard day, because she didn't think I meant it when I told her "no, petting him is not a good idea." She thought he was too cute to be mean. Really - he's not mean, but he was very agitated and has teeth, come on people!
None of this means you shouldn't have a fear associated with what you experienced. Or that it was your fault! Every time I hear of a human being harmed by a dog, I get mad for both human and dog - because it means somewhere, something went wrong that shouldn't have.
Cats have clawed the crap out of me, but I get to walk away with a scratch or annoying small bite mark. Easier to forgive!
@Thumperchick I couldn't agree more about the issue being largely about the owners. I know that this won't come out right, but I took the same tack with my dogs as I do my kids. It's my responsibility to ensure that they both know how to interact with others, that I watch for signs of things potentially going wrong, and that we always show respect.
I live next door to a 400 acre park with one of the largest off leash areas around. Any moment of any day, you can go over and find people with the attitude that their dog should get to go whenever they want, regardless of the humans using the space. I was jumped last year as I was focused on taking photos and knocked to the ground. When I instinctively shoved the dog off of me, the owner was pissed. At me, for pushing her large dog off me. She couldn't conceive of someone having a bad reaction. Two friends were attacked in the park, one a 65 year old who had her femur snapped. The owner grabbed his dog and ran away, leaving her. It's just about respect. I had a Wolfhound/spaniel mix and a schipperke. She was a little bitch and required constant vigilance. But I loved that bitch.
@Shrdlu I'm the person that goes to someone's home for the first time and ends up on the floor with their pets for an hour. Dogs, cats, etc. - all fine by me!
I was a cat person, all my life. I knew when I was an adult, and had a home of my own, it would be filled with cats. Dogs were cool and all, but needy and slobbery, not all chill and self-sufficient like cats, the clearly superior animal.
And then I married a man with some pretty nasty allergies. We had to get a hypoallergenic dog so we could have a cuddly pet. So now, after having loved and been loved by a Miniature Schnauzer, I must say that I am both. Cats are still awesome, but dogs nose their way into your heart too.
I have rescued a few dogs. The last 2 are 12 years old now. Went to a greenhouse in the sticks to buy plants. I saw what I thought were 3 boxer puppys tied with a heavy chain to 2 different dog houses with holes in the roofs even had duct tape around their necks for the chains to stay put with the collars. Told the man I was looking for some dogs and they were so cute. I told him "I'll give you you $50 bucks a piece for the dogs". He sold me two, could not sway him on the third, still feel bad about that. Anyways, after a lot of food and care and a visit to the vet, the dogs were really adult Boston Terriers just severely malnourished. I have many, many more cat stories . I'll save them for another time. Oh, the original question? I love them all.
I have 6 dogs and 4 cats. Dog person edges out cat slightly. I have 3 horses, too.
David Quammen did a piece on this a hundred years ago when he was at Outside. Folks were asked what their favorite animal was. Dogs ranked #1, cats were like #26, after the trout. But dogs and cats actually got the same number of #1 votes. Cat people voted cats #1, dogs #2. But dog people voted dogs #1 and cats dead last.
@saodell This makes sense to me. I know a lot of people who hate cats, but like (or don't mind) dogs. I don't think I know anyone who likes cats and hates dogs.
I'm a cat person myself. They're generally quieter, calmer, and lower maintenance (not always, I know, but generally speaking). Also, I've found it challenging to find apartments that will rent to people with cats, and night impossible with dogs, so that's been a factor once or twice. I do love dogs, though. Except for the yippy little mop-heads and ankle-biters; they can go to hell.
@rschauer I know several cat lovers who hate dogs - and don't know any dog lovers who hate cats. Odd.
@rschauer @ThumperChick I love cats, and while I want to love dogs, numerous attacks as a kid make it tough. So I generally accept them, and run in to ones occasionally that I really do love to pieces. I've had a few myself that were my kids, as much as any cat could be.
@jaremelz That is a valid issue for some people. If a cat attacks you, it sucks. If a dog attacks you, you have serious potential for harm.
(apologies, this turned into a rant that most likely has little to do with you)
With rare exception, I blame humans for both types - usually owners. My dogs are sweet and pretty people and kid friendly. I still watch them around new people and children - like a hawk! They're still 50 & 70lbs of teeth and prey instinct. Both are very much enamored by children, and if they are provoked, return to me to escape the situation - but that's never a guarantee, even with well trained pets.
Other times it's made worse by people who don't show or teach their kids caution or respect when it comes to approaching dogs. I've had to literally stand between and adult with a toddler and my older pup who was having a hard day, because she didn't think I meant it when I told her "no, petting him is not a good idea." She thought he was too cute to be mean. Really - he's not mean, but he was very agitated and has teeth, come on people!
None of this means you shouldn't have a fear associated with what you experienced. Or that it was your fault! Every time I hear of a human being harmed by a dog, I get mad for both human and dog - because it means somewhere, something went wrong that shouldn't have.
Cats have clawed the crap out of me, but I get to walk away with a scratch or annoying small bite mark. Easier to forgive!
@Thumperchick I couldn't agree more about the issue being largely about the owners. I know that this won't come out right, but I took the same tack with my dogs as I do my kids. It's my responsibility to ensure that they both know how to interact with others, that I watch for signs of things potentially going wrong, and that we always show respect.
I live next door to a 400 acre park with one of the largest off leash areas around. Any moment of any day, you can go over and find people with the attitude that their dog should get to go whenever they want, regardless of the humans using the space. I was jumped last year as I was focused on taking photos and knocked to the ground. When I instinctively shoved the dog off of me, the owner was pissed. At me, for pushing her large dog off me. She couldn't conceive of someone having a bad reaction. Two friends were attacked in the park, one a 65 year old who had her femur snapped. The owner grabbed his dog and ran away, leaving her. It's just about respect. I had a Wolfhound/spaniel mix and a schipperke. She was a little bitch and required constant vigilance. But I loved that bitch.
I like cats, dogs, and nearly everything else. I just don't like most people very much...or at all.
@Shrdlu I'm the person that goes to someone's home for the first time and ends up on the floor with their pets for an hour. Dogs, cats, etc. - all fine by me!
@Thumperchick I do the same thing. Virtually ignore people and go hang out with any animals in the house. Except fish, they don't give a shit.
Dog more than cat. Shirts, OTOH, cats more than dogs.
You can't have a cat and be a person
@Veloslave Because cats are the companions of the gods.
Cats are meh. I don't hate them, and have met one or two that were actually pretty cool. Its just that, as a class, there are better choices...
I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and 3 snakes. I prefer dogs over cats, but I love all animals.
Medoocrebot asked this question in June, so I'm sticking with my original answer:
"Cat person! When I was a child, I said I was half cat and half human. When I matured, I realized I was fully cat and fully human."
In case anyone was wondering, I believe Medoocrebot is mediocrebot's awkward brother. He sometime's posts surveys under mediocrebot's name.
@christinewas You know @jaremelz has been a good goat when even typos couldn't be blamed on her.
I have always considered my self a dog person. Then I got married, bought a house, and now have 2 cats...
@jml326
FYI my cat sat here and watched this w/ me. She approves.
@jml326
cats rule dogs drool! ;)
science!
http://wimp.com/catsowners/
I was a cat person, all my life. I knew when I was an adult, and had a home of my own, it would be filled with cats. Dogs were cool and all, but needy and slobbery, not all chill and self-sufficient like cats, the clearly superior animal.
And then I married a man with some pretty nasty allergies. We had to get a hypoallergenic dog so we could have a cuddly pet. So now, after having loved and been loved by a Miniature Schnauzer, I must say that I am both. Cats are still awesome, but dogs nose their way into your heart too.
I am a dog person, but my dog is a cat person, so we all live in relative harmony.
@curtw4 my dogs are both cat people. Cats don't like them, though.
We've had cats.
We've had dogs.
We like cats.
We like dogs more.
This oldie says it all...
@RedOak I love that video.
Attention cat persons: These cat purses are a new craze in Japan. Would you carry one?
@KDemo That's freaky. It's as if one took a real cat, cut it down the middle, scooped out all the organs, and use it to put their crap inside.
@narfcake - Hope they don't catch on here, I would hate to meet one in real life.
@narfcake you forgot the part where they lopped off the limbs so the cat can't escape with all of your stuff.
For cat pursons.
@KDemo I really, really want one.
I have rescued a few dogs. The last 2 are 12 years old now. Went to a greenhouse in the sticks to buy plants. I saw what I thought were 3 boxer puppys tied with a heavy chain to 2 different dog houses with holes in the roofs even had duct tape around their necks for the chains to stay put with the collars. Told the man I was looking for some dogs and they were so cute. I told him "I'll give you you $50 bucks a piece for the dogs". He sold me two, could not sway him on the third, still feel bad about that. Anyways, after a lot of food and care and a visit to the vet, the dogs were really adult Boston Terriers just severely malnourished. I have many, many more cat stories . I'll save them for another time. Oh, the original question? I love them all.
@mick
@sammydog01
Cat.
I've been trying to give my damn dog away for 6...7...8 years?
His name is SEM (Someone Else's Mutt)
He's a German Shepherd/Chow mix as far as we can tell. He's afraid of EVERYTHING.