NationStates Jolt Archive

Which do you have and why? If you have something other than a cat or dog, tell us why it makes a good pet.

I love both

dogs r da best! :)

Dogs.

Cats like to shit in little boxes around the house. Dogs go outside.

Cats for sure!

Dogs have the appearence of being very unclean. Cats on the otherhand seem to be practically obsessed with being clean! Not that that is necessarily a good thing.

Also, dogs seem to be very loud and obnoxious, always yapping and slobering all over people (exspecially big dogs), whereas cats are very calm and reserved, asking for small attention and nothing else. Though they may not be as obviouse, they have something about them that makes them very appealing. They also require only a small amount of upkeep while dogs are a continuous chore.

And as for where they go to the bathroom, I would much rather have a cat that is more sanitary and goes to the bathroom in the same place everyday and decentely covers it up, then a dog who leaves its crap lying around in your yard for you to step on.

I have two dogs; English Springer Spaniel, and a mix; Newfoundland, German Shephard, Great Pyrenese, and Black Lab. Also, a grey kitten, a tortoise, and a bearded dragon.

I have a cat and a turtle. The turtle doesn't do much but chill out in his tank but the cat plays with string which is always amusing.

I like both but I have to go with cat since thats what I have.

Xats, I'm sure Celtlund already knows why. As for the rest of you, you can check out this thread (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7737390#post7737390)

I like ferrets. I havetwo little itty bitty baby ferrets and they are so cute. The few things that are a hassle are:

1) They steal anything and everything they can fit into their mouths

2) Their cages have to be cleaned ATLEAST once a week with pine-sol and rinsed thoroughly.

3) The smell on their fur can be fixed once a week with special ferret conditioner that smells really sweet.

4) There has to be a litter box in every room so they can use the restroom in them if they can't reach another one.

That's pretty much it...and you have to feed them ferret food...no kitty food cause it makes them sick...trust me...I had one who ate it alot and she passed away. We got a new one and stuck them on the ferret fatkins diet. LOL

4) There has to be a litter box in every room so they can use the restroom in them if they can't reach another one.

I was not aware they could be litter box trained. Does their mother train them, like kittens are trained, or do you have to train them? I've never had one or known anyone who does, but I understand they are wonderful little pets.

I wuv wittle kitties! :)

So yeah, I voted for cats.

I fucking eat cats. Alive.

Dogs. Hands down.

Cats but dogs are okay. I live in a town house with no real yard so a dog ( especially the larger breeds which are my preference ) is out of the question. If I had a house with a fenced yard I would have both. I do cat rescue and have 5 special needs cats at this time.

I've had both. Each have their strong points.

Cats: Independent, catch mice and give them as gifts, good lap warmers.

Dogs: Loyal, protective, obey commands.

But I like dogs the best for the reasons listed.

I fucking eat cats. Alive.

Alph, if you keep using those nasty words, I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap.

love,

Mom

No option for both, but I do prefer cats. More low-maintenance, and right now my girlfriend's border collie's fur is all over my khakis and her tabby's isn't.

I'm a vet tech student so naturally I love all critters.
BUT the best pets are rats.
No kidding. Rats are intelligent, affectionate, warm and cuddly. They are very clean. You can train them to do all sorts of tricks and even come when they are called (with a whistle, kissy sound or clicker). They are cheap, easy to take care of and don't take much space. Also they do not bite. I used to breed rats and I never ever was bitten by a rat. Even if you go in a pet store and grab a rat that is not used to people it will not bite, just squeak and try to get away. (Yes there are always exceptions). They are great for kids, they are great if you are gone a lot, etc. etc.
Rats are the perfect pets! Do a search for 'pet rats' and you will find tons of websites. Check 'em out, seriously. Rats are way better than mice (smart but evil), hamsters (dumb and mean) or guinea pigs (sweet but dumb). The only critter that comes near a rat is a ferret. But rats don't get into things and steal things like ferrets do, ferrets are way more work. Rats are better for people who want a pet that is easy to take care of.
Check out www.afrma.org (American fancy rat and mouse association) for cool pics and links.
Rats are snuggly! Especially the boys. They will spend all day sitting on your shoulder or in your arms. Oh, and as they get older they will learn to go back to their cage to potty, they don't potty on you! ;)

Ferrets rule!
Yeah- there is a little odor, but I like it. Choice of food for them also helps.
Clean regularly, litter box daily (but ain't nuthing like a cat box- phew)
They can be considered 'caged' animals by landlords.
They do take thing- like keys, shoes (different ferrets have different fetishes) but they 'stash' it in very specific places. Once you know, you know where to look. Ok, maybe getting the keys out from inside the couch is a little tricky...
They adjust to your schedual pretty well. They need a few hours of playtime a day, but they'll do it when you prefer they did, mostly. Even 2am.
A ferret will constantly challange one's ingeniuty on how to keep them out of things- like the garbage can. Or the christmas tree. (Ever hear of the upside down xmas tree? A ferret owning family resorted to hanging it from the ceiling...)
Ferrets make you laugh.

I also have cats and dogs but, that's because the ferrets needed playtoys...

[QUOTE=Yvarr]I'm a vet tech student so naturally I love all critters.
BUT the best pets are rats.[quote]


I will not dispute what you have said about rats. They may very well make fine pets, but I think you would have a hard time convincing most people they do.

In any case, love the "friend" that has chosen you as a pet.

Ferrets rule!
Yeah- there is a little odor, but I like it. Choice of food for them also helps.
Clean regularly, litter box daily (but ain't nuthing like a cat box- phew)
They can be considered 'caged' animals by landlords.
They do take thing- like keys, shoes (different ferrets have different fetishes) but they 'stash' it in very specific places. Once you know, you know where to look. Ok, maybe getting the keys out from inside the couch is a little tricky...
They adjust to your schedual pretty well. They need a few hours of playtime a day, but they'll do it when you prefer they did, mostly. Even 2am.
A ferret will constantly challange one's ingeniuty on how to keep them out of things- like the garbage can. Or the christmas tree. (Ever hear of the upside down xmas tree? A ferret owning family resorted to hanging it from the ceiling...)
Ferrets make you laugh.

I also have cats and dogs but, that's because the ferrets needed playtoys...

Sounds like a real fun pet.

I hope your ferret decides to keep you as a parent. It sounds like you are a good one.

I'm not sure what to put. I have a cat who thinks she's a dog.

Cats...very very amusing...but my cats are all outside...what purpose does a dog serve other than to:

1. Chew/eat anything and everything, including your iPod, cell phone, leather furniture, hundred dollar shoes, clother, ties, photographs, etc....
2. piss/shit anywhere and everywhere, including the foot of your bed, in the bathtub, on the furniture, under the table, in the yard, in fron of the pool steps, etc.
3. slobber everywhere and hump everything

Cats...hands down...they kill all the rodents around our house....keep vermin in general away....don't need too much attention.....piss/shit in smae place and cover it up....purr

Dogs suck monkey balls...

Gotta vote for dogs. You can't wrestle with a cat.

I'd say cat, but you can have alot more fun with a dog. but dogs are dumb as hell.

Well...let's see you try to get 12 cats to pull a 300 pound sled through -35 degree weather. 'Nuff said

Dogs.

Y'all could sit here comparing the various attributes of dogs and cats all day, but the point of contention really doesn't necessitate such debate. A pet is essentially a proxy child; the object is to love, raise, and nurture another living being in exchange for affection and companionship. Literally speaking, cats are too independent and aloof to qualify as pets at all.

End discussion. :rolleyes:

Cats, definitely. Dogs are like Velociraptors... you know why? They should all be destroyed.

I don't recall any ancient civilisations worshipping dogs, either.

Dogs all the way. I have both a dog and a cat. My cat is very stuck up on herself... like most cats. Or maybe it's because she's been running the house for a long time... she should be assasinated :mp5:

dogs have masters,
cats have slaves.

I vote for dogs but I love most animals by default

Dogs are like Velociraptors... you know why? They should all be destroyed.


cats are the ones with retractable claws


I don't recall any ancient civilisations worshipping dogs, either


I dont know of any current civilisations worshipping cats, im pretty sure its because those ancient civilisations are well ancient

My dog miaows when he wants to go out in the garden. Go figure. But dogs (as long as we count the miaowing ones)

I woudl ahev to say dogs, and after that, fish

Dogs because they are:
Loyal
Friendly
Intelligent (far more than cats)
able to be left outside without eating wildlife
playful
willing to do things with you other than get patted

Fish because:
Easy to look after
Cheap
Attractive
Friendly (I have a clown loach that always swims to the side of teh tank to greet me)

Although, look at this dog... its mine, around 7 weeks ago :
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/time_lapse/Zoe003.jpg

how could you resist :cool:


My dog miaows when he wants to go out in the garden. Go figure. But dogs (as long as we count the miaowing ones)
LOL.. you read footrot flats :P.... or seen the movie

I prefer cats, myself...

I don't dislike dogs, but I'm somewhat of a loner (as in, I prefer to be left alone more often than not), and do not enjoy the constant attention that a dog would give...

An occasional show of affection from an animal that otherwise considers me an equal (rather than a "master"), is something I find to be much better than the "Pet me! Pet me! Throw the ball! Throw the ball! Let's go for a ride! Let's go for a ride!" kind of obnoxious treatment the average dog showers its owner with every waking minute of the day...

I don't want a loyal, always-by-my-side kind of companion... I want a "I'll see you whenever" kind of companion...

And the cat is perfect for that...

I'd find a dog to be too much like a "smothering" relationship... I need my proverbial "space"...lol

Not to mention all of the other ways in which a cat is better than a dog... Cats are (generally) cleaner, quieter, and much less maintenance...as has been mentioned in the thread above...

Animal psychologists have also put forth another good point:

Dogs "love" their owners because they see them as a superior... They feel obligated to like you, do your bidding, etc, simply because they see you as the leader of their pack...

A cat, on the other hand, doesn't have this "follower" mentality... If they "love" you, then it is a sign of actual, respectful affection... They view you more as an equal than a master, and if they choose to show you affection, then they are doing so by choice, rather than obligation...

Speaking in terms of human relationships, wouldn't you want someone who chooses to love you simply because they want to, rather than because they think they have to?

heh I'm the insensitive bastard who voted no pet.

heh I'm the insensitive bastard who voted no pet.

yo, i'm with ya. animals are good for two things - eating and testing potentially lethal make up on. its the only thing. what good is a cat? or a dog? they are not capable of emotion or rational thought. they do not understand you when you talk to them, no matter what you might believe. yes, dogs can match word patterns to actions. fine. they can not realise why it is a good thing that they stopped humping grandma's leg. they are not like hairy little humans. they are shit

Well...let's see you try to get 12 cats to pull a 300 pound sled through -35 degree weather. 'Nuff said

Or hunt. I have owned dogs, but much purr-fer low mainitenance cats. :D

Dogs.

Y'all could sit here comparing the various attributes of dogs and cats all day, but the point of contention really doesn't necessitate such debate. A pet is essentially a proxy child; the object is to love, raise, and nurture another living being in exchange for affection and companionship. Literally speaking, cats are too independent and aloof to qualify as pets at all.

End discussion. :rolleyes:

You had the perr-fect answer until you got to the, "Literally speaking.." I definately agree with what you said about the object of having a pet. They are all wonderful. :)

Although, look at this dog... its mine, around 7 weeks ago :
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/time_lapse/Zoe003.jpg

how could you resist :cool:

Cute pup. Thanks for the picture. Take good care of it.

yo, i'm with ya. animals are good for two things - eating and testing potentially lethal make up on.

What about the dogs that help the handicapped, like leader dogs for the blind and helper dogs for the disabled?

In the middle ages, they killed off a lot of cats because they believed they were evil. As a result, the rodent population grew and helped carry the plague that wiped out millions of people.

My cat fetches. :)

i love dogs. My dachshunds are so sweet and show their affection so much more than a cat.

Cats. Easily.

How can an animal that worships human beings be intelligent?!

That said, it's probably not a good idea to tar all members of a species with the same brush. Both cats and dogs can vary a great deal - I had a cat that walked me to the bus stop every morning, fetched sticks and loved to eat lettuce.

I have a question for you guys with ferrets - do they catch 'vermin' well? And how do they do with kids? Where do they do their business? (Okay, three questions)

Francis

Well, as having everything from anoles to zebra finches invading our house, I will say dogs in the dog/cat arguement, but my personal favorites have been tiger salamanders. Dogs are affectionate, playful, and more then anything else, useful. A properly trained dog can do almost anything, including catching mice. And there is no way you are going to aqcuire a "guide" or "search-and-rescue" cat. But, like I said, for a compainion, tiger salamanders. All you have to do is feed them nightcrawlers and clean the cage once a month or less, and you have a cold, slimy, ultimately greedy, awesome little critter that will take your fingers affectionately in their toothless mouth every time you stick them in its cage. :D

My cat fetches. :)

We had one that did that. We would make a ball out of alumimum foil, throw it, and the cat would bring it back to us and want us to throw it again. Didn't slobber all over it either. :D

I fucking eat cats. Alive.

Dogs. Hands down.

:eek: :(

Cats are nice, but dogs are soo much better!! I got a choclate lab!

Wow, i'm suprised someone hasn;t said something perverted on this thread....

all hail dogs. cats make my eyes itchy.

I don't recall any ancient civilisations worshipping dogs, either.

What about Hunter Gatherers and other early human settlements that relied on dogs to help them survive, or even the Alaskans who raise sled dogs to help them hunt and travel, you also forget about sheepdogs who help farmers protect and herd their animals. :confused:

I will not dispute what you have said about rats. They may very well make fine pets, but I think you would have a hard time convincing most people they do.


Boy, have you got that right! I got my first pair of rats about 15 years ago, and I've spent the last 15 years trying to show people how awesome they are. It amazes me that people will talk about how cute mice or hamsters are but if you mention rats they think you're a freak.
Oh well. Their loss, I guess.

My cat fetches. :)

So does one of mine... crazy Oriental Simese kitty. He also ferries balled up pairs of socks from my room into the living room if I forget to close my sock draw.