Me, I favour dogs. They get you out for exercise that you probably(in my case) wouldn't take. They love you unconditionally and respond to you in a way that in my opinion cats don't. If they leave a mess it can be cleaned up as you know where it is and they protect you. :D

Cats on the other hand are more inclined to cupboard love. They kill the birds and c*** all over my garden. What do you all think? I Think I know what Kitty will favour. Also Moon Maiden do you have a cat and is it black (or does that go with the broomstck and cauldron stereotype)

I must say I prefer dogs to cats, but I don't mind either.

Also Moon Maiden do you have a cat and is it black (or does that go with the broomstck and cauldron stereotype)

:lol: :D :lol:
yes actually I do have a cat and yes she is black. I had three cats previously to her. Two black toms (brothers) and a tortie and white queen.

Witches do favour cats it seems, but many choose other animals as familiars. Modern day witches also have brooms and cauldrons :D :wink:

As for the cat/dog question. I prefer cats. I was once given a pedigree alsation. Gorgeous she was, but neither myself or my partner had the time she needed, so we found a loving home.

Moon Maiden

I like both cats and dogs, but only have a cat in the house. I think there are problems with domestic cats and the bird population - we got ours from a cat shelter and had him spayed, and luckily he doesn't bring back half the local wildlife any more.

The problem with dogs is that they are so dependent upon people, and need walking twice a day. If I lived in the country I'd have a dog, but it's just not practical with my life the way it is.

Strangely enough I agree with Mike. I have 3 cats but would have dogs if I lived in the country.

cats - poetry in motion
dogs - gibberish in neutral

or

a dog is a yes-animal for someone who can't afford a yes-man.

I love both cats and dogs. I'd have a dog if I had a big house, garden and bags of free time.

As it is we have a black and white cat from the Sheffield Cat Shelter (plenty more pitiful outcasts in need of loving homes there).

I happen to think that cats really are not very clever at all, they just give a good impression of it, fuelling our anthropomorphism. I'm not denying they have 'liitle peronsalities' or they can tell the difference between odd and even, but if they were any bigger they'd eat you.

I prefer cats. Dogs just seem dirtier to me, the way they slobber and cr*p on pavements, fields, or wherever their owner takes them. They are also very loud - I'd not like to be woken up early every morning by the dog barking madly just because the milk or post has been delivered. They also have a tendancy to smell and make the whole house smell. When you visit a house that owns a dog, you know as soon as you walk in that a dog lives there, without seeing or hearing the dog, just by smell. Cats on the other hand bury their cr*p, clean themselves more often, aren't as loud, and are much more independent. When they want something, they're also friendly too! I have 1 cat, and although he's been spayed, it does not stop him from bringing home a few birds a week and the occasional mouse! Thats a downside to cats, but its just their instinct. So give me a cat anytime. 8)

Originally posted by "Phanerothyme"

but if they were any bigger they'd eat you.

I'm not sure that precludes them from being clever :)

Dogs... although I can't justify why... :lol:

Dogs - Although I have had both.
Reason - More personality, my dog is mad, he can be a real pain at times, but on other times he can be really cute and funny.



PS Just thought of a strapline for this site
The Forum is for life, not just 1 post :D

I,m getting a Boxer next week and the good thing about them is they don,t have hair as such and never needs clipping.
That cuts down the smell t020 was implying.

I have two dogs a German Shepard Cross and i have a Doberman Cross both rescue dogs

Cats!! theyre lovely creatures. If i was going to be another animal id be a cat and already have some cat like features such as thinking im queen and only being friendly to people when i want something. Ive got 2 cats - one is very similar to my avator - i cant remember whether it actually IS her or whether i downloaded it cos it looked so similar. My dog is very loud and will bark at anyone who walks past the house, whether it be 3am or not. Although he gives more affection than my cats he comes across as dumber and hes more troublesome. I have to disagree with t020 though - my dog only smells if hes rolled in something. Hes groomed regularly and hes washed in a special shampoo and my house definitely doesnt smell! If anything, the cats are messier, with all their fur everywhere and when they throw up and its just grass.

I don't mind either but I think I lean slightly on the dog side.

Dogs. I love dogs. We've got a 9 year old mongrel who we got from the RSPCA.

Dogs.

I don't know why but I just can't seem to bond with cats at all.

I see dogs as having a purpose, which is to protect the home. But cats, well I just can't work them out!

You're writing about cats and dogs and you've an exam today? Are you that confident?

Good luck.

You're writing about cats and dogs and you've an exam today? Are you that confident?


Yes, I am. I have been revising for months now, and have stuck to my revision plan which has gone over every single part of my syllabus for every exam twice so yes, I am feeling confident.

Posting things on here are helping to ease my mind too.

It used to be cats, but now it's dogs.
I am sick to death of cleaning up after my neighbours' cats, $^%^& creatures. :x I do not let my dog into other people's gardens and allow her to crap where she pleases and dig up their gardens (no, I'm sorry, but your cats do NOT bury it - at least not in your victimised neighbours gardens :P ). And she doesn't bring home wildlife. She is a loving (if dotty) friend, and I'd be devastated to lose her.
If it must be something besides a dog, give me rats any day - friendly, intelligent, full of character - and they don't crap in/dig up/ strip of wildlife other people's gardens either :lol:
btw - my cat-owning neighbours recently cat-proofed their flower patch. I thought that was exceedingly cheeky - forcing their own pets to leave their smelly gifts in someone elses garden. :roll:

CATS and WILDLIFE: Please bring cats into the house after dark, as this cuts down the harm they do to wildlife dramatically, and is far more useful than belling them. If all cat owners were responsible enough to do this, we would be losing far fewer of our native small mammals.

Originally posted by "cosywolf"



CATS and WILDLIFE: Please bring cats into the house after dark, as this cuts down the harm they do to wildlife dramatically, and is far more useful than belling them. If all cat owners were responsible enough to do this, we would be losing far fewer of our native small mammals.

No. Cats are free animals and I will not be holding mine prisoner each night. It is a fact of nature that cats catch birds and mice. If we had not domesticated them they would catch even more as they would be much hungrier without their feeds of Whiskas. We shouldn't interfere so much in nature, cats always have and always will kill birds.

Originally posted by "t020"



CATS and WILDLIFE: Please bring cats into the house after dark, as this cuts down the harm they do to wildlife dramatically, and is far more useful than belling them. If all cat owners were responsible enough to do this, we would be losing far fewer of our native small mammals.

No. Cats are free animals and I will not be holding mine prisoner each night. It is a fact of nature that cats catch birds and mice. If we had not domesticated them they would catch even more as they would be much hungrier without their feeds of Whiskas. We shouldn't interfere so much in nature, cats always have and always will kill birds.

All animals are 'free' but we choose to control some and not others. Cats have the unfair advantage that they receive the benefits of our care (free food, safe environment) but are still allowed to roam free. Wild cats quite rightly rule their life by the law of the jungle and yes, we shouldn't dictate whether they kill birds or not, but if we're to give cats the advantages of being a pet they should be controlled by the same rules we lay down for other pets.

Originally posted by "t020"



CATS and WILDLIFE: Please bring cats into the house after dark, as this cuts down the harm they do to wildlife dramatically, and is far more useful than belling them. If all cat owners were responsible enough to do this, we would be losing far fewer of our native small mammals.

No. Cats are free animals and I will not be holding mine prisoner each night. It is a fact of nature that cats catch birds and mice. If we had not domesticated them they would catch even more as they would be much hungrier without their feeds of Whiskas. We shouldn't interfere so much in nature, cats always have and always will kill birds.

Urban Cats aren't really a problem, since most of their prey is actually small rodents and th odd pigeon,

but in rural areas domestic cats have wreaked a terrible toll on the population of small voles, shrews etc that has prompted many a campaign to have them shot.

A BBC wildlife experiment asked rural cat 'owners' to keep a diary of what their cats brought in - and it was shocking (if you're a small furry mammal that is) a single cat could easily bring twenty or thrity voles/shrews/harvestmice/rare mammal of choice a week.

Cats were probably domesticated to keep grain stores free of rodents about five thousand (or more) years ago. If we had not domesticated them there would be as many cats as there are wildcats in england now, i.e almost none. (a few left in Scotland I believe).

A bell on the collar helps, but to go to the lengths of many american cat owners and having the animals de-clawed (toes removed at first joint) strikes me as even worse animal cruelty than that which cats inflict on small mammals and birds.

Cats would've killed rare animals whether we domesticated them or not, more so if we hadn't as that would be their only food. People that dislike cats tend to be people that look at it from a human selfish point of view of liking to look at rare 'beautiful' animals such as rare birds, but could not give a toss if a cat killed a pigeon because they don't enjoy spotting them. A pigeon is as valid as any other living bird, and birds are down the food chain from cats. Nature is that way, so I'm sorry if it ruins some peoples selfish bird spotting hobbies, but thats the way it is. Also, my cat has a bell and it has stopped him a bit, but he still catches quite a few, and I certainly wouldn't start cutting off parts of his paws to stop him.

Originally posted by "t020"

Cats would've killed rare animals whether we domesticated them or not, more so if we hadn't as that would be their only food. People that dislike cats tend to be people that look at it from a human selfish point of view of liking to look at rare 'beautiful' animals such as rare birds, but could not give a toss if a cat killed a pigeon because they don't enjoy spotting them. A pigeon is as valid as any other living bird, and birds are down the food chain from cats. Nature is that way, so I'm sorry if it ruins some peoples selfish bird spotting hobbies, but thats the way it is. Also, my cat has a bell and it has stopped him a bit, but he still catches quite a few, and I certainly wouldn't start cutting off parts of his paws to stop him.

Theywouldn't kill more because there would be far less of them if we hadn't domesticated them. Having domesticated them, I do feel that we have a responsibility to exert control over their behaviour. They are neither wild nor free, bless them, they are a human construct. Just like dogs.
Dog owners have responsibilities towards their dogs and the public, and I really really believe cat owners do as well.
Cats do have a negative impact on urban wildlife. I'm not talking about rare birds only - you'd be amazed how many small (and quite large) wild mammals we share our urban lives with. Cats are not wild. There are millions of them. It does not hurt them to keep them inside at least from your bedtime until dawn. It does however have a negative impact on biodiversity if you leave them out.
Taking cats claws out is a cruel habit - how are they supposed to protect themselves? Filthy idea.

Given the ever expanding cat population, all owners should neuter their little fluffy one(s) *now* to stop this getting any worse. If the population was lower then the impact on wildlife would be far less.
I hate all this "I'll just let her have one litter" nonsense. A single female cat can potentially give rise to around 20,000 offspring over 5 years.
A large proportion of cat owners won't try to find homes for kittens, they just chuck them out onto the street to fend for themselves, resulting in a growing population of starving and diseased feral cats.

Not to neuter is cruel to the cat population as a whole.

Hello

This is my first post. I have two cats who it is great to come home to they give me unconditional love. Does anyone have a male tabby my male tabby freddy can be a little moody sometimes and could sulk for England this can be very annoying. Lauren my black short hair spends most of her time grooming and the rest sleeping.:hihi:

I mostly prefer cats.

Im a cat person.

Dogs are too... waggy waggy sniffy sniffy Im your best friend with the brains of a lettuce who will NEVER leave your side.

Cats are more...
Me. :D

CATS and WILDLIFE: Please bring cats into the house after dark, as this cuts down the harm they do to wildlife dramatically, and is far more useful than belling them. If all cat owners were responsible enough to do this, we would be losing far fewer of our native small mammals.

If people stopped pulling out hedges because they want nice fences instead then the damage to small birds and mammal poulation would improve, it's not the cats fault that nesting areas and materials have been stripped by people. Domestic cats have always hunted but it's only since designer gardens have come in that wildlife levels have been damaged.

I like both, i have a cat at the moment but i have had a dog in the past, would have one now, but cant really afford one

cats - poetry in motion
dogs - gibberish in neutral




Love it! Perfect description of my dog.

I've nearly always had both cats and dogs and love them equally. They have different things to offer and can't really be compared directly.

I know my dog misses me, but the current cat (and most of the previous cats) dooesn't actually give a toss, as long as somebody feeds and fusses him!

Dozy

No. Cats are free animals and I will not be holding mine prisoner each night. It is a fact of nature that cats catch birds and mice. If we had not domesticated them they would catch even more as they would be much hungrier without their feeds of Whiskas. We shouldn't interfere so much in nature, cats always have and always will kill birds.

I've always kept my cats in at night, nothing to do with them killing birds and mice, it was purely to stop them getting run over.

http://www.cats.org.uk/catcare/faq_environment.asp#7

Dozy

I... waggy waggy sniffy sniffy Im your best friend with the brains of a lettuce who will NEVER leave your side.



I like that - I think I'll have it included in our wedding vows, instead of the "with all my wordly goods I thee endow" cobblers.:love:

Dozy

got to be cats for me...
weve got a cat who is 1,all he does is eat and sleep the lazy little sod..then looks at me like iv got 3 heads if i dare not to stroke him..lol

How does anyone ever make up their mind with this question, I never can!:love: :love: :love:

I prefer dogs. Cats just don`t seem to do much really, with the exception of my mums cat, that actually thinks its a dog:loopy:

I'm definately a dog person. Even though I haven't got one! I have a house rabbit at the minute which isn't quite the same! Me and my friend have this thing where we believe you can tell if someone likes cats or dogs just by looking at them. We're not bad at it either!

i favour dogs, i like cats, just wouldnt have one

"If I were all the man that he is cat,
If there were men like this the world could begin!"
Charles Bukowski.

Obviously a cat lover.

I like and live with both, they are so different its hard to say that one is better than the other... i luvs em all :D

I'm definitely a dog person... always had dogs in the family from being a young boy so I guess my fondness of them stems from that. Will eventually get a dog myself when I have the time and space to look after one.

A dog person :hihi:

A dog person :hihi:

What's wrong with that???

I'm a cat person.


a neighbour's daughter was savaged by their 'soft as a brush' spaniel
my sister in law was attacked by their 'wouldn't hurt a fly' mongrel


I just don't trust dogs. For all the posts about killer cats I've yet to hear about a cat trying to get a toddler through the cat-flap.

I don't have a cat at the moment but the kill-list of my last cat is as follows:

flies - squashed against window & licked off
worms - placed in shoes for safe-keeping
polystyrene - the bigger the better
tin foil - shiny
half a roast chicken - still warm!?!?!?!
a rabbit skin

What's wrong with that???

Nothing ......:suspect:
I'm just saying I'm a dog person :love:

Nothing ......:suspect:
I'm just saying I'm a dog person :love:

And we aren't just referring to the canine variety either, are we? :hihi: