Cats or dogs?

[Prowler]

Yes, a classic question.

I've always been more of a cat person. Not that I hate dogs or anything, but I've liked a bigger amount of cats in my life than dogs. So my vote goes to them. They're also easier to take care of, which is a huge plus.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Yeah, me too. I loves mah kittehs. I just really understand cats, and have always loved their independence and grace, the fact that they are mostly maintenance-free, and easy to clean up after. Dogs are so high maintenance and often excitable. And noisy. Not a good thing when you live in an apartment.

[Zak The Neutrino]

I can't believe I'm doing this but I'm voting for dogs. I used to love cats until my wifes cat. That thing is evil. Plus we never had a dog growing up but now we do. I like her much better than our devil cat.

[Prowler]

Yeah, me too. I loves mah kittehs. I just really understand cats, and have always loved their independence and grace, the fact that they are mostly maintenance-free, and easy to clean up after. Dogs are so high maintenance and often excitable. And noisy. Not a good thing when you live in an apartment.
Yes, I enjoy their independent and low maintenance nature as well. Although I do like long-haired cats and those require more maintenance.

I agree that dogs are way too energetic and loud. Plus having to walk them everyday sounds like a hassle. Unless you have a family and each takes turns walking it.

Believe it or not, many people here keep dogs in small apartments.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Aww, don't let ONE demon-kitty sour you on ALL of them! Most kittehs are cool and snuggly. At least all ours have been. I've met a few bad-cats, but it's usually because they didn't get disciplined properly while young. Some just think they own the world....

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Yeah, as long as the dogs are small. Big dogs just shouldn't be kept in a small home. They need room to run, which is why many big dogs in apartments end up ill-mannered and/or destructive. not to mention dogs need more attention.

[Commenter 42]

Turtles.

10char

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Smartass. That wasn't on the list. :tlol::trolleye::trazz::twink:

[Commenter 42]

Smartass. That wasn't on the list. :tlol::trolleye::trazz::twink:

Well, it should be! :lol:

[Prowler]

Yeah, as long as the dogs are small. Big dogs just shouldn't be kept in a small home. They need room to run, which is why many big dogs in apartments end up ill-mannered and/or destructive. not to mention dogs need more attention.
Sadly it's not uncommon for people to keep fairly big dogs in small apartments here. I personally would not own a big dog if I lived in an apartment. Would need a backyard so that he could spend a lot of time outside.

[IndigoErth]

Between the two, cats all the way. Though the current situation (that has been going on for years) has honestly made me rather tired of cats right now and over them.

Dogs... we used to have one, he was ok, but I wasn't close with him. Just way too noisy, rambunctious, smelly, greasy, if not bathed recently, messy and too "up your ass trailing you around the house" for my taste.


Fish... fish are awesome. At least mine are.

[Zak The Neutrino]

Aww, don't let ONE demon-kitty sour you on ALL of them! Most kittehs are cool and snuggly. At least all ours have been. I've met a few bad-cats, but it's usually because they didn't get disciplined properly while young. Some just think they own the world....

Actually it's two cats. She had a Siamese too that was evil. That one went to go live with her parents because she couldn't get along with my cat.

[plastroncafe]

You know what they say, the common denominator in all your failed relationships...is you.

[CyberCubed]

Cats, but only certain kinds. A lot of cat breeds are ugly.

[Prowler]

Cats, but only certain kinds. A lot of cat breeds are ugly.
Dunno man, the only one I can think of that I'd call "ugly" is the Sphynx breed.

[Mew]

Look at my username. You can tell really easily.

[PangolinFeets]

Ideally, you can meet somewhere in the middle. I have a Balinese cat and an Oriental Longhair cat and they have super playful and attention-seeking personalities like dogs, but in the cat package.

[Katie]

Dogs. I've had both, but litter boxes are gross and cats are too aloof for me. My dog knows who the boss is, is always happy to see me, and doesn't stink up the house when she has a bowel movement because she is housebroken and we go walking outside to do nasty business.

Also, my cat was the single most destructive animal I have ever had. My dog knows what she is and is not allowed to chew. The cat scratched up carpet and drapes and furniture despite having several very nice cat towers. He scratched those too. And he sprayed. That was super gross. He was fixed and still did it. I've NEVER had an animal that didn't know that you don't pee all over everything. Spray bottles and discipline be damned. He owned the house.

cat had to go.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Ideally, you can meet somewhere in the middle. I have a Balinese cat and an Oriental Longhair cat and they have super playful and attention-seeking personalities like dogs, but in the cat package.


Ooh, now I'm jealous. I LOVE Balinese. My favorite pure breed, next to Scottish Folds. So adorable! But all our cats have always been total sweethearts, but still with the feline low-maintenance and independent traits. Except Angel. She's got some abandonment issues. Gets clingy when we come home after we've been gone for a while. But she's super sweet, and never scratches, even though she has all claws. Doesn't pee everywhere or chew or anything else, either. Only had one cat that even sprayed, but he wasn't fixed either, so.... Except there was the ONE time our fixed boy Mischief sprayed ME, but he only did it ONCE. He learned the hard way that was a BIG no-no.

[PangolinFeets]

Dogs. I've had both, but litter boxes are gross and cats are too aloof for me. My dog knows who the boss is, is always happy to see me, and doesn't stink up the house when she has a bowel movement because she is housebroken and we go walking outside to do nasty business.

Also, my cat was the single most destructive animal I have ever had. My dog knows what she is and is not allowed to chew. The cat scratched up carpet and drapes and furniture despite having several very nice cat towers. He scratched those too. And he sprayed. That was super gross. He was fixed and still did it. I've NEVER had an animal that didn't know that you don't pee all over everything. Spray bottles and discipline be damned. He owned the house.

cat had to go.

Ugh, that's awful. When I lived with my parents we had three extremely dominant cats that would compete for everything in the house. It got so bad that one cat used to pee on my bed at least once a week (and I was working overnights at the time so I would come home half-asleep and climb into bed only to rage a second later). He was destructive too. We had this gorgeous lamb skin rug that he just ripped apart. It got better after we got caps for his nails, but it was clear it wasn't going to work out. So we found him a new home where he was the only kitty and he did fine there.

But I had a similar experience with a dog. My dad impromptu adopted a terrier mix from a lady who was going to let him go in the park. Turns out he had major behavior problems (big surprise): he wasn't housebroken, he would steal food from anywhere or anyone, jumping all over people, ripping up furniture and the carpets (destroyed a bunch of antique chairs), etc. And he was having a really tough time learning house rules and actually started to become aggressive when we would stop him from stealing food. So we had to find him a new home.


I would love to have a dog, but my boyfriend isn't a fan and my landlord said no pets over shin-height. So we have the puppy-cats instead. I had one initially and I thought he'd be fine alone while I was at work but the poor baby got so stressed out being home alone that I would come home to a crying, snuggly mess of a cat (I would have to carry him around like an infant when I got home). In pairs, they're great. And they're a pretty good puppy compromise if you can't have a dog: They play fetch, they come when called, they greet me at the door when I come home, they love strangers, they only scratch their scratching posts and never go to the bathroom outside the litter box.


It's a hard choice, really. I'm a big sucker for animals. I've had almost everything you would have as a pet at some point in my life. Lol

[ssjup81]

I like both, but prefer small dogs (have a shitzu back home). I even had a dog and a cat at the same time at one point. So it's about equal to me, although house training is easier to do with cats.

[PangolinFeets]

Ooh, now I'm jealous. I LOVE Balinese. My favorite pure breed, next to Scottish Folds. So adorable! But all our cats have always been total sweethearts, but still with the feline low-maintenance and independent traits. Except Angel. She's got some abandonment issues. Gets clingy when we come home after we've been gone for a while. But she's super sweet, and never scratches, even though she has all claws. Doesn't pee everywhere or chew or anything else, either. Only had one cat that even sprayed, but he wasn't fixed either, so.... Except there was the ONE time our fixed boy Mischief sprayed ME, but he only did it ONCE. He learned the hard way that was a BIG no-no.

I love Scottish Folds!! At $1200 a pop I never had the chance to own one, but they are quote adorable. I adopted my babies from breeders that my Aunt (she is a Sphynx breeder) is friends with.
Usually fixing cats fixes spraying, but sometimes if there's something else going on, usually issues with other cats, it'll pop up again. I'm so glad I've only had to deal with that once.

Here's a vid summarizing my mushy boy, Atreides.
pfvrRSm-cio

[Netkeeper]

Dogs, obviously. I like both but people that prefer cats are incorrect.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

There's no such thing. There's no wrong answer here, it's just that people look for different things in a pet. I for example, don't want or need an animal that slavishly fawns on me or jumps up and down, is big and/or loud, etc. Don't want some 70 lb hound trying to climb up in my lap thinking it is a lapdog, either. I'm only 96 lbs myself, for me, that's practically a HORSE! Cats just fit better in my life.

[NinjaPug]

Fan of both but I prefer dogs now. Grew up with cats but got a dog after I graduated from college. Nothing against cats but I had no idea what I was missing out on. I'm pretty damn obsessed with my pug.

[pennydreadful]

Dunno man, the only one I can think of that I'd call "ugly" is the Sphynx breed.

Sphynxes are awesome, they look like little goblins! :D

I like cats and dogs, but in terms of what I'm best suited to own, I'mma say cats because dogs are too high maintenance for my lifestyle and energy level.

[Mayhem]

I love Scottish Folds!! At $1200 a pop I never had the chance to own one, but they are quote adorable. I adopted my babies from breeders that my Aunt (she is a Sphynx breeder) is friends with.

Here's a vid summarizing my mushy boy, Atreides.
"What?! If I fits, I sits!" :lol:

I like both cats and dogs, but prefer cats more. Maybe they just seem lower maintenance, and cats more fit my style. Not had either as a pet (parents were never hugely keen on either), but I become "surrogate dad" to the pets of the girlfriends I've dated.

A couple of folks my ex on Long Island knows have got Sphinx cats, maybe they got them from your aunt, Steph. I know they can creep a lot of folks out, but I've always thought they were adorably mopey, as they look at you thinking they've got 99 problems but fur ain't one...

[Netkeeper]

How can someone not want an animal that fawns over them though

Cats are cute and soft and small but most of them don't really care about YOU

Like when I called my brother's old cat he'd just look at me like "I ain't going over there" well **** u I just wanted to pet your poofy fur

[Prowler]

Cat breeds I like... I've always liked Birmans.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Oh, cats can be just as attention seeking as dogs, but they do it on THEIR terms, and still manage to keep some dignity in the process. Dog fall all over thenselves when they want your attention. A cat makes YOU work for the "honor" of their affection. They also are less likely to stick with an owner who is abusive or neglectful. Dogs have the pack mentality of taking whatever treatment they are given as simply their place in the group. Cats dont put up with that crap.

[Netkeeper]

A cat makes YOU work for the "honor" of their affection.
And this is dumb. It's like. You're a ****ing cat, not an expensive plush rug.

They also are less likely to stick with an owner who is abusive or neglectful. Dogs have the pack mentality of taking whatever treatment they are given as simply their place in the group. Cats dont put up with that crap.
This is true, though.

[Prowler]

Not saying this is the case for anyone in this thread, but I think a lot of people expect cats to be like dogs. Hell, a lot of times when I see someone asking for cat breed recommendations, there's always some people who tell them "get one that's the most similar to a dog". Which is absurd. That's like me asking what the best type of apple out there is, and people telling me "buy one that tastes like orange". :lol:

[Netkeeper]

There are dog breeds that act like cats [Shiba Inu] so I'd think it'd be reasonable for someone to think there's a cat breed that acts like a dog. I don't know of one, though.

I'll live with any cat but if I ever had one for myself it'd have to be either a Tuxedo [iirc, known to be affectionate] or a Maine Coon because they're huge. I wish cats got as big as even beagle-sized dogs, wtf.

[Prowler]

There are dog breeds that act like cats [Shiba Inu] so I'd think it'd be reasonable for someone to think there's a cat breed that acts like a dog. I don't know of one, though.

I'll live with any cat but if I ever had one for myself it'd have to be either a Tuxedo [iirc, known to be affectionate] or a Maine Coon because they're huge. I wish cats got as big as even beagle-sized dogs, wtf.
I'm no expert, but I believe persians are among the most docile cat breeds out there according to many. And Birmans are considered quite playful and active, and that they might follow their owner around the house even. I guess you could say there's some dog similarities there?

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

I really like both. Cats for their eyes and their often hilarious curiosity, and dogs for their loyalty and their overall cuteness (but both are cute).

I prefer dogs though. It's also nice to see not a single person picked the last three options. Maybe Humanity has hope after all :lol::P

[BubblyShell22]

I like both, but I've always been a huge cat lover. I prefer small dogs to big ones though. I bonded really well with Toby who was my sister's dog and I thought he was the best dog ever. I also had a cat named Socks who was black and white. He was my baby.

[Prowler]

So far, cats are leading.

I really like both. Cats for their eyes and their often hilarious curiosity, and dogs for their loyalty and their overall cuteness (but both are cute).

I prefer dogs though. It's also nice to see not a single person picked the last three options. Maybe Humanity has hope after all :lol::P
It is rare to find people who dislike both cats and dogs, yes.

I like both, but I've always been a huge cat lover. I prefer small dogs to big ones though. I bonded really well with Toby who was my sister's dog and I thought he was the best dog ever. I also had a cat named Socks who was black and white. He was my baby.
I don't like small dogs. They're the most annoying ones, from my experience. And usually owned as accessory rats by posh women who spoil them to death. The only small dog breed I like are basset hounds.

I also dislike those dangerous dog breeds such as pitbulls, etc. And most owners of those dogs tend to be thugs and use their dogs as weapons.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

And this is dumb. It's like. You're a ****ing cat, not an expensive plush rug.


You must have misunderstood what I was getting at. I like cats because they have enough self-respect to behave as the human's equal, and not a subservient doormat. They will come to you when and if they feel like it, and not just because you're the "alpha" of the house. If they DO come to you, it means they think well enough of you to actually respond to being called. I'd rather have a pet that doesn't act like I'm "God", but just like I'm another member of the family on equal footing.

That said, all of our cats have been VERY affectionate and people-oriented, and in a couple of cases, actually slept with us. My favorite cat ever was also super-smart, and played games of fetch, tag, and even hide and seek with us, much like a dog! (And he "invented" all of those games on his own.) But only if HE wanted to play, of course- otherwise, he'd just give you "that look" as if to say "what, NOW?! You must be joking....". But he was also a ham- he LOVED having his picture taken, LOL!


Not saying this is the case for anyone in this thread, but I think a lot of people expect cats to be like dogs. Hell, a lot of times when I see someone asking for cat breed recommendations, there's always some people who tell them "get one that's the most similar to a dog". Which is absurd. That's like me asking what the best type of apple out there is, and people telling me "buy one that tastes like orange". :lol:


See, that the thing, though- cats and dogs are NOT alike. There are cat breeds that are more affectionate and people-oriented, more docile and cuddly, or just more social, but that doesn't mean they are more like dogs- just that they are not as aloof and distant as some cats. Just as there are dogs that are quieter and more calm and dignified than others.


So far, cats are leading.

It is rare to find people who dislike both cats and dogs, yes.

I don't like small dogs. They're the most annoying ones, from my experience. And usually owned as accessory rats by posh women who spoil them to death. The only small dog breed I like are basset hounds.

I also dislike those dangerous dog breeds such as pitbulls, etc. And most owners of those dogs tend to be thugs and use their dogs as weapons.


Yeah, I'm not a fan of certain dog breeds, either. Not so much because they are dangerous, but they are also often not too bright, either. That's a bad combination in a dog, but more so when it is a large breed that was CREATED to fight. A big, dumb, and often unpredictable dog is the worst kind of pet, and what's worse is many people don't know how to deal with them or raise them properly. They either treat them like huge babies, or ignore any bad behavior until it becomes difficult or even impossible to un-train. Incidentally, most of the pit owners I've known aren't thugs, but they DO forget that the dogs are big and strong, and often spoil them, so the dogs tend to be bad-mannered and dominating- which is exactly the WORST thing you want in a breed that is known for being vicious!

And small breeds are often just as bad in their own way. They are hyper, nervous, and often pee when excited, and that's just annoying and gross. They also tend to act bigger and more threatening than they are, which ends up being loud and irritating.

When it comes to dogs, give me a Lab, Rottie, or a Dalmatian any day. Shetlands are nice, too, as are most mid-sized terriers. Bostons are especially great! I've had a Dalmatian (great dog!), a Sheltie, three different terrier breeds, and my grandmother had a Black Lab, a Rottweiler, and several mutts. The Rottie was an absolute sweetheart, but she and the Lab were great at keeping away coyotes.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

There are dog breeds that act like cats [Shiba Inu] so I'd think it'd be reasonable for someone to think there's a cat breed that acts like a dog. I don't know of one, though.

I'll live with any cat but if I ever had one for myself it'd have to be either a Tuxedo [iirc, known to be affectionate] or a Maine Coon because they're huge. I wish cats got as big as even beagle-sized dogs, wtf.


Actually, a tuxedo is not a "breed" per se, it's a coat color. Tuxedos are found in many breeds. Just like a Calico or Tortoiseshell. (Our Angel is a Tortie! And she loves boxes- which sort of makes her my box-turtle kitty, LOL!)

[Netkeeper]

I also dislike those dangerous dog breeds such as pitbulls, etc. And most owners of those dogs tend to be thugs and use their dogs as weapons.
1. Pit bulls are not dangerous.
2. Most pit bull owners are not thugs and do not use their dogs as weapons.
3. Pit bulls are so, so sweet. They do not deserve the bad rap that they get. They are loyal and adorable little buttheads.

Actually, a tuxedo is not a "breed" per se, it's a coat color. Tuxedos are found in many breeds. Just like a Calico or Tortoiseshell. (Our Angel is a Tortie! And she loves boxes- which sort of makes her my box-turtle kitty, LOL!)
Well **** idk what kind of cat my cousin had then that'd give me kisses and beg for my food and sit in my lap all the time. That cat kicked ass.

[IndigoErth]

I wish cats got as big as even beagle-sized dogs, wtf.
Anyone looking for a big one, the Savannah is supposedly largest, being mixed with the Serval; though size supposedly varies on how far removed they are from their Serval heritage. And then there are those that just go for the big one and own the Serval... o.O Would be cool to have one, they seem like cool cats in videos, but I'm sure that's probably a pretty big commitment and decision (and price tag). (And maybe risky...)

My mom always kind of wanted a Maine Coon, but we've heard they supposedly can have a somewhat oily coat and need to be bathed.... so, sounds like a little too much upkeep (not to mention cost) for us.


All in all though, one of the best cats we ever had was a long-haired black and white cat of unknown breed that showed up here for free. Even once watched him chase a big black lab(?) out of our yard and chased that dog half way home down the street. :tlol: Came back with his head held high. Proud day as a cat owner. :D

[Powder]

I'm allergic to cats so that decision was kinda made for me. I like them, though, however I do prefer dogs overall.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Anyone looking for a big one, the Savannah is supposedly largest, being mixed with the Serval; though size supposedly varies on how far removed they are from their Serval heritage. And then there are those that just go for the big one and own the Serval... o.O Would be cool to have one, they seem like cool cats in videos, but I'm sure that's probably a pretty big commitment and decision (and price tag). (And maybe risky...)

My mom always kind of wanted a Maine Coon, but we've heard they supposedly can have a somewhat oily coat and need to be bathed.... so, sounds like a little too much upkeep (not to mention cost) for us.


All in all though, one of the best cats we ever had was a long-haired black and white cat of unknown breed that showed up here for free. Even once watched him chase a big black lab(?) out of our yard and chased that dog half way home down the street. :tlol: Came back with his head held high. Proud day as a cat owner. :D


LOL! My Mischief used to actually ATTACK dogs (the bigger they were, the more he wanted to tear into them) and the odd part was he was an indoor-only kitty for most of his life including when we first took him, so I have no idea why he acted that way. He was quite the scrapper, though, and would occasionally get into fights when he got out, which was rare until hubby and I moved in with my grandmother and my #$&@* ex aunt-in-law decided to start letting him outside against my wishes. He was fine with my grandmother's Rottie, oddly enough, but any OTHER dog that came around.....

Mischief turned ONE Rottie "cat-killer" into a "scardey-cat"! He literally rode rodeo on the dog's back, after pulling a four-foot fur-gnarl on his belly. (Basically, he slid under the dog, rolled onto his back and raked all four claws on the belly, then jumped on his back and grabbed hold. I kid you not.) The owner got mad because he'd been bragging about his "cat killer" and it turned into a wuss and never looked at another cat again. Serves him right, IMO. Then again, this is the same cat that used to unlock doors and open those child-proof latches on cabinets and drawers. I miss him. Awesome cat.


Also, there was a company marketing a "new" breed, the Ashera, but it was actually just buying Savannahs and reselling them. However, rumor has it that the cats are hypoallergenic, too!

[IndigoErth]

:lol: Wow, go your cat for getting justice for the local cats! Cats are so underestimated. :D While ours never wanted to attack any, he was not afraid to chase them off; the only one dog he was afraid of was the nutjob next door, but no human should have trusted that one either.

[Netkeeper]

My mom always kind of wanted a Maine Coon, but we've heard they supposedly can have a somewhat oily coat and need to be bathed.... so, sounds like a little too much upkeep (not to mention cost) for us.
My brother used to have a Maine Coon [got him for free actually]. He didn't need to be bathed, his coat wasn't bad, it was poofy and fun to pet.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Always kinda wanted a Ragdoll, too. They are like little furry babies, they LOVE to be held and petted. And they are beautiful, too.

Fave breeds- feline:

Balinese
Scottish Fold
Ragdoll
Oriental Shorthair
Siamese
Manx/Bobtail
American Curl
Munchkin


canine:

Dalmatian
Golden Retriever
Boston Terrier
Pomeranian
Shetland Sheepdog
Fox Terrier
Boxer
Scottish Terrier

[Electric]

Sorry cat lovers, but I cannot stand cats. Add in a mild allergy as a kicker and to me cats are just the worst.

Love dogs. Grew up with them, have one now. I'm also one of those people that will blatantly go out of my way to pet a dog. If I come to your house, and you have a dog, I absolutely have to see it.

[IndigoErth]

Always kinda wanted a Ragdoll, too. They are like little furry babies, they LOVE to be held and petted. And they are beautiful, too.
Our cats are mutts for sure, though we've suspected there might a ragdoll in their heritage somewhere as our 13 lb. longhair has the supposed personalty. Outright begs and cries to be held and cuddled, happily goes limp in your arms. Hard to believe he's 11... he's such a big baby you'd think he was still only a year or two.

[DarkFell]

I've bonded with very few dogs in my lifetime. I still like them, but most of them tend to be quite hyper around me. Perhaps I need to hang with more dog loving people.

I just tend to luck out more with cats. Currently enjoy spoiling a tabby lying against my leg as I type this comment.

[Prowler]

1. Pit bulls are not dangerous.
2. Most pit bull owners are not thugs and do not use their dogs as weapons.
3. Pit bulls are so, so sweet. They do not deserve the bad rap that they get. They are loyal and adorable little buttheads.

Then why do people tend to use certain breeds of dogs for certain things over others? Other than their very strong bites and jaws, I'm sure they're easier to train to be aggressive dogs than, let's say, basset hounds.

And I'm not sure I'd let a strong dog whose bites can be pretty dangerous around kids.

Also, no offense, but EVERY single dog owner ALWAYS says that his dog doesn't harm anyone... even if he barks aggressively at you and roars at you continuously.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

This is true. Pit bulls were BRED to FIGHT. It's even in their name. They were originally bred as pit fighters, with an ancestery of bulldogs, which are known as tenacious biters. Just as Dobermans and German Shepherds were bred as protectors. They are naturally more aggressive because that's what they were created for. It's not hard to figure out. Yet people often spoil these dogs and treat them as if they were an oversized lap dog. And then they wonder why one day it suddenly attacks a neighbor's kid who simply walked unknowing into it's territory. They may be loyal, but they are also very overprotective at times.

[PangolinFeets]

Anyone looking for a big one, the Savannah is supposedly largest, being mixed with the Serval; though size supposedly varies on how far removed they are from their Serval heritage. And then there are those that just go for the big one and own the Serval... o.O Would be cool to have one, they seem like cool cats in videos, but I'm sure that's probably a pretty big commitment and decision (and price tag). (And maybe risky...)


I knew someone with a pure-bred serval. I have to say, they are really cool pets. It made cute chirpy noises and would pounce into your lap (like, all 40lbs of it.). I haven't had any experience with Savannahs, but my sister has a Bengal. He's very pretty (plush pelty coat, black pads and nose, bright green eyes), but it seems like he only really bonded with her. He's an F4 so he's cat-sized.



Always kinda wanted a Ragdoll, too. They are like little furry babies, they LOVE to be held and petted. And they are beautiful, too.

Fave breeds- feline:

Balinese
Scottish Fold
Ragdoll
Oriental Shorthair
Siamese
Manx/Bobtail
American Curl
Munchkin


canine:

Dalmatian
Golden Retriever
Boston Terrier
Pomeranian
Shetland Sheepdog
Fox Terrier
Boxer
Scottish Terrier

I've always adopted mixed-breed dogs so I don't have much to say on dog breeds. I did have that terrier-mix for a while and we think he was part Jack-Russel and Rat terrier. He was a fun dog, but definitely meant for a person that had the time to work with his behavior problems.

Cat breeds, however, I'm all about. I've been able to experience a lot and I have to say your list is pretty close to mine. I will only ever own oriental or balinese cats. Not to say I haven't adopted strays in the past. My experience with adopting cats is pretty mixed. I had two that were great, but rarely sought me out for anything other than food. My sister picked up a feral off the street and even though she raised her up from a kitten, she grew into a pretty destructive force. She was pretty aggressive and ripped up her mattress. A friend of mine in the city also adopted a stray kitten off the street and she's extremely aggressive and territorial, to the point where people won't go to his house because they are scared of his cat.

But omg, Balis and OSH are such fantastic cats. I've never met one that wasn't basically a dog in a cat pajamas. They are affectionate, playful, clean, smart, and easy to care for. Plus, compared to most pure breds, they're cheap!
Someone before said they don't understand why someone would want a cat that's like a dog? Well, I can't have a dog in my house and I frankly don't have the time for one anyway. But I still want a pet that's gonna get excited and lovey when I get home (and can use a litter box). There you go.

Ya'll are gonna have to deal with my cat videos, because my cats are awesome. But here's one of my kitty playing fetch and then begging for belly rubs.


-Gtrhfm-uu8
Bali playing fetch.

7OUs7IUUbH8
Bali loving belly rubs.

[pennydreadful]

Cats are cute and soft and small but most of them don't really care about YOU

Like when I called my brother's old cat he'd just look at me like "I ain't going over there" well **** u I just wanted to pet your poofy fur

Not true; my fave boy sleeps in bed with me every night. Cats just do things on their terms. They actually did research and found that the part of a cat's brain responsible for emotions is more similar to the same part of the brain in humans than a dog's brain is. So emotionally, cats are wired very much in the same way that humans are and that's why they behave differently from dogs.

1. Pit bulls are not dangerous.
2. Most pit bull owners are not thugs and do not use their dogs as weapons.
3. Pit bulls are so, so sweet. They do not deserve the bad rap that they get. They are loyal and adorable little buttheads.

I'm a believer in bad owners, not bad dogs. The media loves to sensationalize dog attacks by bull terriers and show less interest in reporting attacks by other breeds. Newspapers and tv portray them as vicious, bull terriers then get bought by dumbasses who are trying to look tough (and who usually don't desex their dogs because they think it somehow impacts on their own masculinity - according to the American Humane Society, 86% of all fatal canine attacks involve an unneutered male dog). Said dumbass is then too lazy to train their dog properly and unfortunately, because the bull terrier has a rep for toughness, it's more likely to be bought by criminals, abusive personalities and jerkoffs in general.

The dog is then not trained properly, may be abused, might not be properly socialized and will probably be left alone with children (and for the record, I don't think children of a certain age should ever be left alone with any type of animal).

Malamutes and Huskies both bite people, have strong prey instincts and are quite stubborn and independent (just like bull terriers) - but they're not viewed as a dangerous breed. The American Veterinary Medicine Association has said that bull terriers are the second most tolerant dog breed (after golden retrievers).

Bull terriers are a lovely and misunderstood breed. I used to volunteer at a no-kill animal shelter and we saw a lot of them coming through our doors, and I was never once afraid of any of them - and I'm a person who's actually a little frightened of big dogs, especially if they bark. They're the breed most likely to be abused, tortured, abandoned and killed. They don't bite harder than other breeds - they don't have "locking" jaws; a study has actually shown that a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler have a harder bite force.

c_dQsV7Ba-A

75GEzD6wh8o

You can't condemn an entire breed based on the actions of a few - that's like saying all humans are monsters just because we have people like Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Besides:
just lookit his little butt wrinkle! Adorable to the max!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/0a019bc0361d748de5cdf3d9ec1a3741/tumblr_n06svgcyhd1sem7coo1_500.jpg



If I weren't a lazy slob who hated exercise, I'd totally get an American Bull Terrier - I'm in love with their handsome Roman noses. :D

[Shiro Kame]

I like cats mostly. They're able to survive on their own without becoming feral, they don't need much discipline and maintenance as dogs, get rid of vermin, won't leave little gifts on your lawn like dogs, and they're less likely to wake you up at 2 in the morning with horrendous howling.

[Electric]

Not true; my fave boy sleeps in bed with me every night. Cats just do things on their terms. They actually did research and found that the part of a cat's brain responsible for emotions is more similar to the same part of the brain in humans than a dog's brain is. So emotionally, cats are wired very much in the same way that humans are and that's why they behave differently from dogs.



I'm a believer in bad owners, not bad dogs. The media loves to sensationalize dog attacks by bull terriers and show less interest in reporting attacks by other breeds. Newspapers and tv portray them as vicious, bull terriers then get bought by dumbasses who are trying to look tough (and who usually don't desex their dogs because they think it somehow impacts on their own masculinity - according to the American Humane Society, 86% of all fatal canine attacks involve an unneutered male dog). Said dumbass is then too lazy to train their dog properly and unfortunately, because the bull terrier has a rep for toughness, it's more likely to be bought by criminals, abusive personalities and jerkoffs in general.

The dog is then not trained properly, may be abused, might not be properly socialized and will probably be left alone with children (and for the record, I don't think children of a certain age should ever be left alone with any type of animal).

Malamutes and Huskies both bite people, have strong prey instincts and are quite stubborn and independent (just like bull terriers) - but they're not viewed as a dangerous breed. The American Veterinary Medicine Association has said that bull terriers are the second most tolerant dog breed (after golden retrievers).

Bull terriers are a lovely and misunderstood breed. I used to volunteer at a no-kill animal shelter and we saw a lot of them coming through our doors, and I was never once afraid of any of them - and I'm a person who's actually a little frightened of big dogs, especially if they bark. They're the breed most likely to be abused, tortured, abandoned and killed. They don't bite harder than other breeds - they don't have "locking" jaws; a study has actually shown that a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler have a harder bite force.

c_dQsV7Ba-A

75GEzD6wh8o

You can't condemn an entire breed based on the actions of a few - that's like saying all humans are monsters just because we have people like Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Besides:
just lookit his little butt wrinkle! Adorable to the max!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/0a019bc0361d748de5cdf3d9ec1a3741/tumblr_n06svgcyhd1sem7coo1_500.jpg



If I weren't a lazy slob who hated exercise, I'd totally get an American Bull Terrier - I'm in love with their handsome Roman noses. :D

Glad someone else is defending pit bulls!

It is truly the owner, not the dog. Yes, they can be bred to be fighters, but if theyre properly trained they are some of the most obedient and loving animals.

As someone who owned one, they are not inherently fighters like theyre made out to be. No more aggressive than any other dog breed. Or cats.

The thing will cats and even small dogs is, they can be as aggressive and vicious as they ant, and they dont get a rap for it, because their bite is not the same as a large dogs. So for that, large dogs are often much better trained and behaved than smaller pets, though there are some that attck people, it only seems more prominent because you hear about it on the news.

Fact is, the recorded breed of dog that bites the most people per year is actually golden retriever, because sooooo many people own them But again, thats recorded. No one ever reports when their shitzu bites their neighbor on the daily, or when their cat nips at their owner.

Currently own a big bad ole German Shepherd, who was a rescue and has not shown any sign of aggression, has played with 2 year olds, small dogs, and anything else you can imagine (minus squirrels)

Then why do people tend to use certain breeds of dogs for certain things over others? Other than their very strong bites and jaws, I'm sure they're easier to train to be aggressive dogs than, let's say, basset hounds.

And I'm not sure I'd let a strong dog whose bites can be pretty dangerous around kids.

Also, no offense, but EVERY single dog owner ALWAYS says that his dog doesn't harm anyone... even if he barks aggressively at you and roars at you continuously.

Theyre like humans, each one is different. Its stereotypes that give breeds bad names.

And no offense, but every cat owner ive encountered SWEARS their cat is loving and nice, after it hisses at me for stepping within twenty feet of it, clawing me for sitting on "their" couch and biting me because i tried to walk past it on the stair. Talk about territorial. I wouldnt let a hissing, biting cat around small children either

I like cats mostly. They're able to survive on their own without becoming feral, they don't need much discipline and maintenance as dogs, get rid of vermin, won't leave little gifts on your lawn like dogs, and they're less likely to wake you up at 2 in the morning with horrendous howling.

Few breeds of dogs howl, and can be trained not to bark, they also catch vermin, theyre easier to discipline than cats, they dont need a litter box that stinks up your house, and false, cats have woken me up numerous times at multiple friends houses when they jump on me in the middle of the night and wont leave cause theyre not disciplined.

Sorry, but cats have a downside too

[Lethal Lullaby]

Yeah. All these dogs, such as the rottweiler, pitbull, etc, that are claimed as "bad/violent dogs" aren't necessarily. If anything we should be afraid of the chihuahua. Evil lil' critters. (I kid. I love the lil' guys. X3) Old neighbors have pitbulls and they are so lovable. ^-^ our current one has a Rotty who is such a sweetie too.

I believe I chose the I like both dogs and cats equally option. Because I do adore both. Still waiting on the day where I can have a dog and cat, but I'm happy with the two dogs I have now.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Um, penny, that's not the bull breed we're talking about. It's this one:

http://spa.fotolog.com/photo/10/26/80/pazenari/1268269928415_f.jpg

While they are similar, the pit I'm referring to is larger, and it's head is wider and shaped differently.

[Electric]

Yeah. All these dogs, such as the rottweiler, pitbull, etc, that are claimed as "bad/violent dogs" aren't necessarily. If anything we should be afraid of the chihuahua. Evil lil' critters. (I kid. I love the lil' guys. X3) Old neighbors have pitbull and they are so lovable. ^-^

I believe I chose the I like both dogs and cats equally option. Because I do adore both. Still waiting on the day where I can have a dog and cat, but I'm happy with the two dogs I have now.

god, id swear that the Chihuahua is the most aggressive and vicious breed of anything. People want to talk about an inherently nasty breed, there you go!

joking, naturally, i have met one absolutely sweet chihuahua named Kiko, all he wanted was love

[Electric]

This is true. Pit bulls were BRED to FIGHT. It's even in their name. They were originally bred as pit fighters, with an ancestery of bulldogs, which are known as tenacious biters. Just as Dobermans and German Shepherds were bred as protectors. They are naturally more aggressive because that's what they were created for. It's not hard to figure out. Yet people often spoil these dogs and treat them as if they were an oversized lap dog. And then they wonder why one day it suddenly attacks a neighbor's kid who simply walked unknowing into it's territory. They may be loyal, but they are also very overprotective at times.

Just read this. I spoiled my old rottweiler and now spoil my German Shepherd who was a rescue that used to be beaten by a baseball bat by her previous owner. She is a therapy dog now that goes once a week to a nursing home. Hardly this vicious protective monster

What you are referring to are called "stereotypes" which, not unlike the stereotypes of humans, are usually false

[Bry]

I'm a believer in bad owners, not bad dogs. The media loves to sensationalize dog attacks by bull terriers and show less interest in reporting attacks by other breeds. Newspapers and tv portray them as vicious, bull terriers then get bought by dumbasses who are trying to look tough (and who usually don't desex their dogs because they think it somehow impacts on their own masculinity - according to the American Humane Society, 86% of all fatal canine attacks involve an unneutered male dog). Said dumbass is then too lazy to train their dog properly and unfortunately, because the bull terrier has a rep for toughness, it's more likely to be bought by criminals, abusive personalities and jerkoffs in general.

The dog is then not trained properly, may be abused, might not be properly socialized and will probably be left alone with children (and for the record, I don't think children of a certain age should ever be left alone with any type of animal).

Malamutes and Huskies both bite people, have strong prey instincts and are quite stubborn and independent (just like bull terriers) - but they're not viewed as a dangerous breed. The American Veterinary Medicine Association has said that bull terriers are the second most tolerant dog breed (after golden retrievers).

Bull terriers are a lovely and misunderstood breed. I used to volunteer at a no-kill animal shelter and we saw a lot of them coming through our doors, and I was never once afraid of any of them - and I'm a person who's actually a little frightened of big dogs, especially if they bark. They're the breed most likely to be abused, tortured, abandoned and killed. They don't bite harder than other breeds - they don't have "locking" jaws; a study has actually shown that a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler have a harder bite force.

c_dQsV7Ba-A

75GEzD6wh8o

You can't condemn an entire breed based on the actions of a few - that's like saying all humans are monsters just because we have people like Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Thank you for this. I've met my share of Pit Bulls who were total sweethearts and I've met my share of tiny fluff balls who were aggressive little jerks. It's all how they're raised and handled. They've got personalities influenced by their experiences and teachings just like anyone else.

Anyway! To answer the question, I am 100% a dog person. I've had a my share of negative cat experiences and almost none with dogs, but I still like cats... I just don't have any desire to adopt one. But I've got friends who have/had cats that I got along with great. I get the appeal, I just don't really share it.

And because it's an excuse to post it, here's a picture of my best pal in the world with his favourite ball:

https://igcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/11419296_1450328925273278_1769820750_n.jpg

[Lethal Lullaby]

god, id swear that the Chihuahua is the most aggressive and vicious breed of anything. People want to talk about an inherently nasty breed, there you go!

joking, naturally, i have met one absolutely sweet chihuahua named Kiko, all he wanted was love

XD my older cousin had a chihuahua named Honey. She seemed to dislike my brother and younger cousin. Idk why. But she was nice to basically us girls of the house.

Boyfriend has a chihuahua/daschund(?) mix named Rascal, that used to nip and jump at me when I first went over to his house. But now he and I have really gotten along with each other. ^-^

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Unfortunately, I've known too many pits that were spoiled in a bad way, and they were some of the dumbest dogs I've ever known besides. It's not a stereotype when it's speaking from personal experience. It's simple observation. Known plenty of dogs of MANY breeds, and they were always the least well-behaved, other than a few irritating Chihuahuas and one Boxer who was a chewer. Maybe it was the owners, but when nearly every one I've met is like that, I kind of have to wonder if there's not something inherently wrong with the breed mentally. Breeding does introduce defects in both dogs and cats, because many breeders want certain traits at the expense of health or other issues. (Persians are known for asthma, hairballs, and allergies, Chihuahuas are highly strung and nervous, etc....) Large dogs are also prone to hip displacia(sp?), which we learned the hard way with our Dalmatian; we also learned he was the target of a neighborhood sociopathic brat and his BB gun for YEARS without our knowledge. When finally put to sleep for the hip displacia, he had been X-rayed with 77 BB's in his body. Might have contributed, but other big dogs I've known since then have had it too.

[Electric]

sorry youve had mainly bad experiences, but please, believe me when i say its not the whole breed. They can be sooooo sweet and wonderful, just like any other dog or cat. Each animal is an individual, they can all be sweet, with the exception of a few bad eggs. Though again, spoiling a dog doesnt usually have anything to do with it, mainly history and training.

As far as hip displacia, extremely common in big dogs. had to put down my perfectly healthy 16 year old shepherd a few years ago because she could just simply not walk, and we had been carrying her everywhere (food, water, outside to go to the bathroom) for over 6 months.

current shepherd has started showing signs, but were not certain as her back is pretty messed up from what were assuming was that evil b*tch and her baseball bat.

Thats terrible about the BBs, did you address the issue when you found out?

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Wasn't much we could do. No proof, though he'd also busted a sliding glass door and when the parents were contacted, nothing was ever done. And that was several years earlier. He was just a punk in general, with parents who didn't give a frack.

Don't get me wrong, the pits I've met were still "sweet", they just didn't listen or obey anyone, even the owners. They were hyper and destructive, and jumped on people constantly. And this was "playing"- I'd hate to see what they'd be like if they were provoked. Sadly, they were just treated like big babies, allowed to run amok, and they WERE overprotective, as well.

[Electric]

Thats terrible, im sorry. Cant stand that.

And if theyre left to do what they please, those people should not own the dogs. Nothing personal to them, but if you want to own a large dog it NEEDS discipline. Because if not trained, they can be dangerous if its in their personality.

[pennydreadful]

Um, penny, that's not the bull breed we're talking about. It's this one:

http://spa.fotolog.com/photo/10/26/80/pazenari/1268269928415_f.jpg

While they are similar, the pit I'm referring to is larger, and it's head is wider and shaped differently.

That looks like an American Bull Terrier, though I'm no expert. Over here, most folks universally refer to bull terriers (regardless of whether they're Staffordshire, English, American or a cross) as "staffies".

But yeah - I tend to refer to bull terrier breeds collectively for that reason; though we recognize that there are sub breeds, we get so many crosses and they're such a common dog here that it's rare for the full "proper" breed name to be used. I personally don't like referring to them as pit bulls at all, but that's just a personal quirk of mine.

Also, as far as cats acting narky towards people goes - they can pick up on if someone doesn't like them and tend to react accordingly. They're completely different from dogs behaviorally and if they have a stressful home environment where their needs aren't being met, they're going to be more prone to acting out towards visitors. If you've ever watched the tv series "My Cat From Hell", you'll see that in every instance, the "problem cat" actually just has a clueless owner who isn't giving it what it needs (like safe space of its own, non-aggressive treatment from owner's cat-hating partner, a clean litterbox, a scratching post, adequate stimulation/playtime, somewhere it can go to get away from kids, not spaying/neutering etc).

IMO, that show should be required watching for everybody.

We have to remember - animals can't tell us how they're feeling with human words: they tell us with animal words. We have to learn to listen and understand what they're trying to tell us.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

So true. Very few people ever become fluent enough in "Catese" to understand them properly. Thank goodness I had one that was such an excellent translator! Mischief was also very fluent in human English, for a cat. He understood more words than any animal I've ever met, and could even "speak" a few. Ice cream was the most obvious, but he could get his point across regarding a few others as well.

The one I linked above is based on more mastiff blood, I believe, and is the more common type here. Not sure what the type you showed has in its ancestry, but both also have bulldog, so- just different breeds all branching off the same original stock, AFAIK.

One thing I've noticed, is that dogs are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior, while cats will usually show more timid behavior when mistreated or not raised properly.

[Electric]

gonna have to disagree to some extent there. ive seen mistreated cats in shelter who willdo whatever they can to attack you. with dogs, again, its individual. go to any local shelter, plenty of abused dogs there will be quaking in a corner, tail between their legs just by you looking at them. Sure if you get close they may snap at you, but theyre still scared, not aggressive. Much easier for a quick nimble cat to run away when its scared the a bulky dog. fight or flight, both still timid

[Zak The Neutrino]

I can see some of the arguments in here about dogs both ways. I've had a few friends that have had dogs that are known as dumb breeds or aggressive breeds that I haven't been impressed with. They did their due diligence training them and they have still gone off and bit people or children. One was a dalmatian and the other was a pit bull. I have another friend with a pit bull and she almost attacked me one time when I was trying to get my coat from their bedroom to leave. I personally think that is a bit extreme.

My dog is territorial but she is very smart. She is a mix of german shepherd and golden retriever. She doesn't like adults on our property without them being with one of us. She however never growls or barks at the neighborhood children. My family and my kids friends can walk right in and she greets them like a friend. However I know for a fact if you broke into my house your butt would get tore up. I came in one night late after coming back from a convention right after we got her and she was ready to attack me until I turned on the light and she saw it was me.

Btw talking about breeds I personally think our cat acts like a dog. He is a Maine Coon. He is big and follows you all around the house just like a dog.

This is the devil cat I was talking about. New in the saga. We got home last night after being at my brothers house for a fire. I got home sat on the couch with my feet dangled over. He just came up bit my foot and then walked away. I just don't get it. I never did anything bad to him.

[Electric]

I swear, animals are so diverse just like us. theres good, theres bad, theres quirky, theres calm, energetic, lazy, mean, sweet, mentally unstable, superior intellect and everything in between

[Zak The Neutrino]

I swear, animals are so diverse just like us. theres good, theres bad, theres quirky, theres calm, energetic, lazy, mean, sweet, mentally unstable, superior intellect and everything in between

Most definitely. I'm convinced our cat is bi polar.

It really turns me off to get anymore animals after these two. You just never know what you are going to get. Although for the most part our dog is really awesome. The only issue I have with her is we can't get her to stop taking food from people. We got her as a rescue and I'm wondering if she does it because she at one time never knew when her next meal was coming. We've tried and tried to break her of the habit. It's got better but not gone.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I guess I've just never met a "good" pit. A few bad-egg kitties, too, but they usually just go off to sulk and ignore ya. A few anti-social cats, but again, they usually just go sulk/hide. Most of ours have been feral rescues or found-on-doorstep abandoned kitties, and they've all turned out sweet and well-mannered. (Though Bandit had an issue with spraying, but it was because he wasn't fixed at the time.) Never even had any scratching issues.

Mischief was an interesting case, though- he could read people like a book, and if he didn't like you, you had to go. Not because we were catering to the cat, or that he was aggressive or mean, but he would rarely EVER growl or swat at people, and the few times he ever DID it was at folks who were bad news to have around. He KNEW. We quickly learned to pay attention to how he reacted to people. If he came up and wanted to be petted right away, they were okay. If he growled or hissed at someone, there was something rotten and they would not be welcome again- and it always proved right. Had some of my uncle's meth-head friends come in once, he acted like they were the devil himself- and they turned out to be thieves as well as druggies. Go figure.

[Mayhem]

That looks like an American Bull Terrier, though I'm no expert. Over here, most folks universally refer to bull terriers (regardless of whether they're Staffordshire, English, American or a cross) as "staffies".
Unsurprisingly, given this is the UK and our links with Aussieland, then the same applies here. Pitbull is the name given to the dog type that MsMD linked to. Staffy is what we'd call the dog that Penny posted videos of. Ain't he a cutie! :D

Either way, yes they have a reputation, but I'll completely agree that a lot of the issues are entirely down to the owners, and the types of owners (knuckledraggers) that buy the dogs as a penis substitute. Mind you, there are quite a lot of female owners in the north as well, so it can't always be that.

My brother's fiancee loves Staffies, she's a vet nurse, and has done much to convince both my brother and myself that they are woefully misunderstood. Thankfully we have both met wonderful Staffies over the years, that are incredibly friendly and playful. I wouldn't necessarily have one as a pet even now, but I no longer have the "fear" about them when you know there are responsible owners treating them properly out there.

If anything we should be afraid of the chihuahua. Evil lil' critters. (I kid. I love the lil' guys. X3)
You HAVE seen my user photo, right? ;):lol:

[ProactiveMan]

I'm allergic to both, but that is not to say that I don't like them, just that I don't care to be around them... and they smell.

[pennydreadful]

Y'all need to watch the Dear Kitten videos - they're a handy guide to understanding cat behavior. :P

m0Cd0xOHx7Q

[Lethal Lullaby]

You HAVE seen my user photo, right? ;):lol:

Lol yes. Yes I seen it. Lolz >u<

[Netkeeper]

Um, penny, that's not the bull breed we're talking about. It's this one:

http://spa.fotolog.com/photo/10/26/80/pazenari/1268269928415_f.jpg

While they are similar, the pit I'm referring to is larger, and it's head is wider and shaped differently.
There are several related breeds classified as a pit bull dog:

American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier [aka Amstaff]
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
American Bulldog
Bull Terrier

Many of these breeds WERE indeed bred for fighting but guess what, that practice was banned in England in 1835, these dogs have not been used for these purposes for GENERATIONS. You will not find a pit bull dog bred for that purpose unless you went looking for one by means of, idk, some illegal underground dog fighting ring or some ****.

[Candy Kappa]

Turtles.



I like both cats and dogs very much, but I think cats comes on top.

I really like Bengal Cats and Norse Fairy Cat, but I'm fairly open to any cat, even the naked ones that are so ugly they are kinda cute.

As for dogs, Pugs are hella cute and they make me both sad and happy seeing them. But I'd never buy a pug and support the atrocities the breeders do, maybe when Retro Pugs gets more mainstream. Shibas are pretty cool to, we're currently looking into maybe getting one. But they do require a lot of training and a strong leadership to keep them obedient, as they are very intelligent and have dominant hunt instincts.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Many of these breeds WERE indeed bred for fighting but guess what, that practice was banned in England in 1835, these dogs have not been used for these purposes for GENERATIONS. You will not find a pit bull dog bred for that purpose unless you went looking for one by means of, idk, some illegal underground dog fighting ring or some ****.


Yeah, but the point was that they were created for that purpose to begin with. It's genetically wired into them now, and there ARE still quite a few that are still used for that purpose. In fact, illegal dog fighting is a very lucrative underground business in many places, particularly among gangs and organized crime- which is, of course, not surprising, but there are plenty of otherwise "respectable" people who engage in it, too. We just don't hear much about it outside of the occasional bust like Michael Vick and other high-profile offenders. But fore every Vick that gets busted, there are at least a dozen others who go uncaught- and business is booming....

[Netkeeper]

Yeah, but the point was that they were created for that purpose to begin with. It's genetically wired into them now, and there ARE still quite a few that are still used for that purpose. In fact, illegal dog fighting is a very lucrative underground business in many places, particularly among gangs and organized crime- which is, of course, not surprising, but there are plenty of otherwise "respectable" people who engage in it, too. We just don't hear much about it outside of the occasional bust like Michael Vick and other high-profile offenders. But fore every Vick that gets busted, there are at least a dozen others who go uncaught- and business is booming....
Business may be booming, and I won't dispute you there since I don't really know anything about the numbers, but the fact still stands that you're not going to find a pit bull dog [or any other breed for that matter] bred for that purpose unless you go looking.

It really doesn't matter if fighting is "in their genes", fighting other dogs is not an instinctive behaviour like my beagle's prey drive, where she instictively goes after a rabbit despite never being trained to. The fighting dogs are bred for their musculature, not their ability to fight -- you have to TRAIN the dog to fight with it. This is why the owners are the problem, not the dogs themselves. Breeders can only affect the appearance, health, and physical attributes of the dog they are breeding, not hard-wired instinct.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Unless you're specifically breeding for agression, docility, herding, or any other mentality, which are defining traits of many breeds. Not kidding, fighting dog owners will strangle, drown or even use dogs that aren't "tough" or mean enough as fighting "bait". They die horribly. And then when they DO occasionally get busted, the dogs deemed capable of being rehabilitated, often go to animal shelters for adoption- even though they've been specifically bred and raised to fight. There's a dark side that most people never see or hear about, unless you've been involved with organizations that deal with animal abuse. I've seen the worst of what goes on, and I'm sorry, but no amount of blame on owners alone can account for that.

[Electric]

Business may be booming, and I won't dispute you there since I don't really know anything about the numbers, but the fact still stands that you're not going to find a pit bull dog [or any other breed for that matter] bred for that purpose unless you go looking.

It really doesn't matter if fighting is "in their genes", fighting other dogs is not an instinctive behaviour like my beagle's prey drive, where she instictively goes after a rabbit despite never being trained to. The fighting dogs are bred for their musculature, not their ability to fight -- you have to TRAIN the dog to fight with it. This is why the owners are the problem, not the dogs themselves. Breeders can only affect the appearance, health, and physical attributes of the dog they are breeding, not hard-wired instinct.

This

Most pets, cats included, have some form of genetic aggression. They WERE bred for fighting, based on their physical features, good sense of determination, etc. but that doesnt make it genetic..

Here:

So many Pit Bulls being aggressive is a myth. According to the 2008 testing of 218 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society, the passing rate for American Pit Bull Terrier 85%, American Staffordshire Terrier 83.9%, Staffordshire Bull Terriers 88.0%. Last years testing also showed that out of the 218 breeds tested 119 breeds scored lower than 83.9% (the Bully low) and only 69 breeds scored better than the Bully’s 88.0%. Mixed breeds came in at 85.4%. Breeds that scored lower than 83.9% include, Beagle, Border Collie, Dalmatian, Greyhound, Caviler King Charles Spaniel, and Toy Poodles.

[pennydreadful]

Unless you're specifically breeding for agression, docility, herding, or any other mentality, which are defining traits of many breeds. Not kidding, fighting dog owners will strangle, drown or even use dogs that aren't "tough" or mean enough as fighting "bait". They die horribly. And then when they DO occasionally get busted, the dogs deemed capable of being rehabilitated, often go to animal shelters for adoption- even though they've been specifically bred and raised to fight. There's a dark side that most people never see or hear about, unless you've been involved with organizations that deal with animal abuse. I've seen the worst of what goes on, and I'm sorry, but no amount of blame on owners alone can account for that.

There's a really ugly side to the greyhound-racing industry as well.

Honestly, at this stage I'm opposed to breeding in general. It's insane to me that people will plop down exorbitant amounts of money for a kitten or a puppy just because it's purebred when thousands upon thousands of animals are homeless and are put down. I think it's immoral to buy rather than adopt when there are so many homeless animals out there, and so many unwanted litters coming into the world every year due to idiots being too cheap or stupid to spay and neuter their pets.

I mean we all have breeds that we think are particularly cute but at the end of the day, a shelter cat or shelter dog isn't going to love you any less than a cat or dog with pedigree papers.

[Zak The Neutrino]

There's a really ugly side to the greyhound-racing industry as well.

Honestly, at this stage I'm opposed to breeding in general. It's insane to me that people will plop down exorbitant amounts of money for a kitten or a puppy just because it's purebred when thousands upon thousands of animals are homeless and are put down. I think it's immoral to buy rather than adopt when there are so many homeless animals out there, and so many unwanted litters coming into the world every year due to idiots being too cheap or stupid to spay and neuter their pets.

I mean we all have breeds that we think are particularly cute but at the end of the day, a shelter cat or shelter dog isn't going to love you any less than a cat or dog with pedigree papers.

We had a greyhound when I was a kid. He was a former racer that had been retired. He was a really good dog. That I think is the sad part of that industry is they only race them for the first few years of their life and then they are done. Now you have to find homes for them all which doesn't always happen.

The problem is some people don't want to adopt because they have had bad experiences. You don't know what you are getting or what that animal has been through. I've known several people who have adopted a dog and then come to find out it has a mean streak where it is dangerous because it was beaten in it's life. I've had family members that have had this issue so for me I will only adopt young animals that haven't had time to be through much. Our dog was about 10 months old when we adopted her. Her only issue is she scrounges for food. That I can live with.

[BubblyShell22]

I know Yorkshire terriers are known ratters, and there were times where my mom was playing with Toby and he'd stalk her before he'd start playing. He even stalked a bird once. He was still the most awesome dog in the world though.

As for cats, I'd rather have an outside cat, which is what we've had here at home since we live in the country. If I were to get a dog, I'd definitely get a Yorkie since they don't shed.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

This

Most pets, cats included, have some form of genetic aggression. They WERE bred for fighting, based on their physical features, good sense of determination, etc. but that doesnt make it genetic..

Here:

So many Pit Bulls being aggressive is a myth. According to the 2008 testing of 218 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society, the passing rate for American Pit Bull Terrier 85%, American Staffordshire Terrier 83.9%, Staffordshire Bull Terriers 88.0%. Last years testing also showed that out of the 218 breeds tested 119 breeds scored lower than 83.9% (the Bully low) and only 69 breeds scored better than the Bully’s 88.0%. Mixed breeds came in at 85.4%. Breeds that scored lower than 83.9% include, Beagle, Border Collie, Dalmatian, Greyhound, Caviler King Charles Spaniel, and Toy Poodles.


There have ben actual studies on how animals can be bred for docility specifically. In fact there is a research project in Russia involving foxes, where the "cuter" animals also are the most affectionate and sociable- showing that some physical and psychological traits go hand in hand. It's not fully understood yet, but breeding for things like size, "cuteness" (ie, bigger eyes, fluffy coats, etc) produces animals that bond more easily to humans. conversely, breeding for a larger and stronger animal might also lead to more aggressive animals.


There's a really ugly side to the greyhound-racing industry as well.

Honestly, at this stage I'm opposed to breeding in general. It's insane to me that people will plop down exorbitant amounts of money for a kitten or a puppy just because it's purebred when thousands upon thousands of animals are homeless and are put down. I think it's immoral to buy rather than adopt when there are so many homeless animals out there, and so many unwanted litters coming into the world every year due to idiots being too cheap or stupid to spay and neuter their pets.

I mean we all have breeds that we think are particularly cute but at the end of the day, a shelter cat or shelter dog isn't going to love you any less than a cat or dog with pedigree papers.


Agreed. Almost all of my pets have been rescues or adoptees from homes that could no longer keep them. Only one was from a breeder(the Sheltie) and he was very timid at first. Our Dalmatian was purebred, but had come from a previous owner who trained him quite well. He was one of the best dogs we ever had. I used to rid him around like a horse when I was little, LOL! (And he was huge....)

[PangolinFeets]

There have ben actual studies on how animals can be bred for docility specifically. In fact there is a research project in Russia involving foxes, where the "cuter" animals also are the most affectionate and sociable- showing that some physical and psychological traits go hand in hand. It's not fully understood yet, but breeding for things like size, "cuteness" (ie, bigger eyes, fluffy coats, etc) produces animals that bond more easily to humans. conversely, breeding for a larger and stronger animal might also lead to more aggressive animals.


Its because when you breed for 'cute' traits (large eyes, smallness, docile personality, etc.) You are, in fact, breeding for infantility. That's how we got dogs from wolves in the first place. We want cute, subserviant, non-aggressive animals. The process of domestication is the process of choosing traits that we assign to babies, but in a full-grown animal.
And you can buy those foxes, if you can shell out the 4k for one.




Agreed. Almost all of my pets have been rescues or adoptees from homes that could no longer keep them. Only one was from a breeder(the Sheltie) and he was very timid at first. Our Dalmatian was purebred, but had come from a previous owner who trained him quite well. He was one of the best dogs we ever had. I used to rid him around like a horse when I was little, LOL! (And he was huge....)

I have mixed feelings on this. I used to be 110% against purchasing pets and only advocated for adopting cats and dogs. But then I got a few bad eggs, and so did some of my friends. These were pets that probably should not have been available for adoption (or were grabbed off the street). Then when we rescued an oriental short hair cat, we fell in love with the thing. So as a happy compromise, I've adopted a Bali/oriental mix and a pure bred oriental, both adults, from breeders who couldn't sell them for specific reasons.
I am 100% behind spaying/neutering your pet though. I had neighbors that have a colony of stray cats living at their house and they just breed like crazy. Then we would find dead ones under our deck because they would starve over winter. I'm also against getting rid of an animal after you take responsibility for it. So I did a lot of research when finding, and before taking in, any of my pets.

[Electric]

There have ben actual studies on how animals can be bred for docility specifically. In fact there is a research project in Russia involving foxes, where the "cuter" animals also are the most affectionate and sociable- showing that some physical and psychological traits go hand in hand. It's not fully understood yet, but breeding for things like size, "cuteness" (ie, bigger eyes, fluffy coats, etc) produces animals that bond more easily to humans. conversely, breeding for a larger and stronger animal might also lead to more aggressive animals.



If you're saying that cuter animals are more docile, you're going to need some heavy proof for that because "might" won't cut it. Rats are considered ugly by most, yet are easily the most social and tame pet rodent you can own, as opposed to the hamster, which more than likely will bite a lot, despite its fluff and eyes.

That study I posted is an actual study on exactly what we are discussing, by a reputable company focused on this research, and it proves there is nothin statistically significant to show pits of any type are more aggressive and less sociable than ther breeds, in fact, they are one of the better ones.

Cute does NOT equal friendly. I'm sorry but that is absolute garbage. Sure physical may relate in part to psychological. A dog with long legs may like to run. Etc. but there is absolutely nothing in a pits dna that says "you have strong muscles and good determination, you are going to be aggressive" it's a proven study, not some opinion or belief. They are stereotypes reinforced by media focus on the instances where the dog is purchased to be trained to fight; then is poorly cared for so an incident occurs. The Pits are not naturally aggressive dogs, they are TAUGHT by terrible people.

Another fun fact: before the 1980s, pits were considered good nanny dogs, meaning good with children. They became one of the most popular breeds then, and even better, showed no statistical evidence of aggression towards people in any record.

[PangolinFeets]

If you're saying that cuter animals are more docile, you're going to need some heavy proof for that because "might" won't cut it. Rats are considered ugly by most, yet are easily the most social and tame pet rodent you can own, as opposed to the hamster, which more than likely will bite a lot, despite its fluff and eyes.

That study I posted is an actual study on exactly what we are discussing, by a reputable company focused on this research, and it proves there is nothin statistically significant to show pits of any type are more aggressive and less sociable than ther breeds, in fact, they are one of the better ones.

Cute does NOT equal friendly. I'm sorry but that is absolute garbage. Sure physical may relate in part to psychological. A dog with long legs may like to run. Etc. but there is absolutely nothing in a pits dna that says "you have strong muscles and good determination, you are going to be aggressive" it's a proven study, not some opinion or belief. They are stereotypes reinforced by media focus on the instances where the dog is purchased to be trained to fight; then is poorly cared for so an incident occurs. The Pits are not naturally aggressive dogs, they are TAUGHT by terrible people.

Another fun fact: before the 1980s, pits were considered good nanny dogs, meaning good with children. They became one of the most popular breeds then, and even better, showed no statistical evidence of aggression towards people in any record.

Duckie is right, in a sense. I'm not a geneticist, but I did learn a lot in college as part of my major. Cuteness doesn't equal less aggressive, but traits associated with infantility, in that species, typically are. It's called Neoteny.
She's referring to the insanely-famous study by Belyaev. I don't have the link for it off my proquest site (you'd need a log-in to read it), but I have a study that discusses it here. It's really interesting. Basically, by selecting only 'tameness' as a trait to be passed on, they created bizarre dog-like foxes in all sorts of weird colors due to pleiotropy (because those traits just happened to be linked with 'tameness' (E.I. neoteny, domestication, baby stuff).) This is all what domestication is so the proof is in the cows, dogs, cats, ferrets, etc., that we see everyday.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763232/


Here's another good read on genetic traits link with neoteny are also linked to defects in the neural crest. Pretty cool stuff.

http://www.genetics.org/content/197/3/795.full

[MsMarvelDuckie]

That was indeed the very study I was discussing. National Geographic even did an article on it. They have been selectively breeding for more tame animals, in part to determine how domestication began in the first place. They used foxes because they are similar in many ways to dogs. What they have found is that breeding for a more tame animal seems to lead to animals that are also "cuter". This indicates a link in the genes for the two traits, so breeding for cuteness in canines would most likely yield more docile pets. So the reverse probably hold true as well. Cuteness is a subjective term, but the infantile appearance triggers a Nurturing reaction in humans.

As for purebred vs mixed, many purebred animals do tend toward a variety of health issues, depending on the breed, many of which are directly related to the qualities being bred for.

[Lethal Lullaby]

I like dogs with those 'wrinkles' like the Shar Pei. >//u//< omg i could sit for hours pulling/pushing those wrinkles and that dog would get so much hugs from me.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c4/c8/74/c4c8747c28b30fabb5905100e50c7358.jpg

*dies* :tlove:

[Mayhem]

I like dogs with those 'wrinkles' like the Shar Pei. >//u//< omg i could sit for hours pulling/pushing those wrinkles and that dog would get so much hugs from me.
The family of one of the girls in my year at junior school bred Shar Pei. They were like one of the only, or THE only breeders of them in the UK at the time, and they were a rare breed apparently in the 80s. The parents were even on TV a couple of times because of it. Lovely dogs, having been to their house to see them, but the "wrinkled" skin can cause health issues so I believe.

[Lethal Lullaby]

The family of one of the girls in my year at junior school bred Shar Pei. They were like one of the only, or THE only breeders of them in the UK at the time, and they were a rare breed apparently in the 80s. The parents were even on TV a couple of times because of it. Lovely dogs, having been to their house to see them, but the "wrinkled" skin can cause health issues so I believe.

Ah yeah probably. Also gotta clean between the folds.Maybe a mixed breed of Shar Pei and some other dog. Like the Akita or Chiba Inu? Don't a lot of pure bred dogs have some sort of health issue(s) anyways?

[pennydreadful]

Yeah, if memory serves there was a doco made a ways back that did a bit of an expose on the American Kennel Club and how many health problems some of their award-winning showdogs have. I'm paraphrasing at best, but I do remember it was an interesting watch.

[PangolinFeets]

Unfortunately, the process of keeping a pure bred line also is, to a lesser extent, inbreeding. So any genetic concerns associated with a breed will usually perpetuate through most lines. A good breeder knows of the health concerns associated with their breed and is careful about selecting partners with distant, healthy lines. For example, with my aunt and her Sphynx breeding program, Sphynx are at risk for a heart defect. You can tell if its in a line through genetic testing. So she has each of her cats tested in order to guarantee best health.

[BubblyShell22]

I don't care what anyone says about Pit Bulls. I don't trust them and will always be wary around them. Same goes for Dobermans and Rottweilers. Sure, some may be sweet dogs, but I've heard too many stories about attacks and how the owners always say that the dog was always gentle at first and then turned aggressive.

[Electric]

And i will always be wary of cats, of any breed. Had too many bad experiences with them. They always seem so lovable and sweet, but they jump at any second, deciding to claw or bite at you.

[Lethal Lullaby]

I don't think I've ever had/experienced any problems with dogs or cats.
I mean I do have a small scar near my right eye, that is hardly noticeable, from when a cat had scratched me.

What I wish is that we could've kept many of the dogs we used to have throughout my life. Had an Akita names Akira when i was really young, but since my stepmom's dog and him didn't get along Dad got rid of him. Even though my mom said she'd take him... Gma bought my brother and I an American Eskimo Dog that we also named Akira. Then my aunt and cousins had moved in, which included the garage being changed into a big room, and Akira was taken to the humane society. THEN since he didn't want to go near anyone else he had to be put down.. Had an Akita/Pitbull mix, who was a big sweetheart, but unfortunately scared of almost everyone and everything, then he had died of a heart attack. Used to have a pitbull puppy named Zues, until he got really ill and passed away, which was really sad.

[PangolinFeets]

I've had more experiences with aggressive cats than dogs (honestly, I don't think aggressive dogs get much of a chance. In most cases, its a death sentence), but I've also had more positive experiences with cats than dogs. And I've had a lot of exposure to both, but I think most people don't get the opportunities to interact with specialized cats breeds as opposed to dog breeds and, generally, dogs are easier to habituate to a more pleasing demeanor than cats. I have no empirical evidence behind that statement, but that's my experience.

[Slade]

Woof mother f*cker!!! :lol:

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Not to mention people tend to forget that ANY animal can be dangerous when provoked or badly frightened. If it feels threatened in some way or simply wants to be left alone, the animal really has only ONE recourse to communicate that- by acting violently toward the source of the threat or irritation. Cat or dog, or even pet bird or lizard, any of them can lash out when it feels the need. We may not understand the reason, but there almost always IS one. But when a cat lashes out, it does far less damage than most dogs.

Though I did get a few scars from Mischief when he would play rough. Never bothered me, though, as I knew it wasn't really intentional. He simply liked rough play and had all his claws. It was a risk I took in having some quality play time with him. Though there were times he'd get really ticked off and go a little postal. Life is unpredictable when you live with a vicious attack kitty, LOL! (There were times I would've taken him over a guard dog ANY day, too... He was almost literally fearless.)