Cats or dogs?

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

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. Came back with his head held high. Proud day as a cat owner.

[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]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

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. Came back with his head held high. Proud day as a cat owner.

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]

Wow, go your cat for getting justice for the local cats! Cats are so underestimated. 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]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

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]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

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.

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Spoiler:

Bali playing fetch.


Bali loving belly rubs.

[pennydreadful]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

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.

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

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.





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:

Spoiler:

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

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by pennydreadful

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.





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:

Spoiler:

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

http://24.media.tumblr.com/0a019bc03...m7coo1_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.

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)

Originally Posted by Prowler

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

Originally Posted by 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.

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/10/26/8...69928415_f.jpg

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

[Electric]

Originally Posted by 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 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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by pennydreadful

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.





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: