Cats vs Dogs: Which Pet Is Better for Your Household?

Cats vs dogs: are cats or dogs better?

Cats vs dogs is one of the oldest arguments in any household, and when a couple or a family is choosing a pet, it is rarely about which animal is better in general. It is about which one fits your schedule, your home, your budget and everyone's noses. Asked that way, the argument has an answer, just not the same one for every home.

The usual version goes like this: one person wants a dog to hike and cuddle with, the other points out who will be walking it at 6 a.m. in February. Both are making real points. The trick is to argue about the household you have, not the pet of your childhood.

Time: the biggest difference

Dogs ask for more of your day. The ASPCA says dogs need exercise to burn calories, stimulate their minds and stay healthy, and that exercise also helps prevent the boredom that can lead to destructive behavior. How much depends on breed, age and health, but most dogs also need to go outside several times a day, which shapes your mornings, evenings and travel plans.

Cats need less scheduled time, but not zero. The ASPCA advises scooping the litter box at least once a day and fully cleaning it at least once a week, brushing or combing regularly, trimming nails every two to three weeks and keeping cats indoors. A cat can handle a long workday more easily than most dogs, which is often what tips the argument in busy homes.

The verdict

What it sounds like

What does a cat or a dog cost?

The ASPCA's 2021 cost estimates are a useful starting point. They put the annual cost of a dog at $1,391 and a cat at $1,149, covering food, routine vet care, preventive medication, toys, treats, pet health insurance, a license and grooming supplies. Cats add litter, at about $150 a year in the estimate.

The first year costs more because of one-time expenses. The ASPCA puts the first-year total at $3,221 for a dog and $1,904 for a cat, including spaying or neutering, initial vaccines, a carrier, training for dogs and dental care. These are averages from 2021: your area, the animal's size and its health can move them a lot, so price out your own list before anyone signs adoption papers.

Allergies: test before you choose

If anyone in the house has allergies, settle that first. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says a truly allergy-free breed does not exist, and it cites a 2011 study that found dog allergen levels in homes with so-called hypoallergenic dogs did not differ from homes with other breeds.

Cats are not off the hook either. ACAAI notes that cat allergens are found on the fur, skin and saliva, that hair length, sex and time spent indoors are not linked to allergen levels, and that homes with more than one cat have more allergen. Spend real time around the specific kind of animal before you commit, and talk to an allergist if symptoms show up.

Do pets make you healthier?

Somewhat, maybe, and carefully. Harvard Health reports that an American Heart Association scientific statement linked pet ownership, especially dog ownership, to lower cardiovascular risk, and that dog owners walk about 20 minutes more a day than non-owners on average. The same article says the evidence that cat owners have lower blood pressure is limited.

The catch is that nobody knows for sure whether dogs make people healthier or healthier, more active people choose dogs. That is the classic correlation vs causation problem. Pets can offer real companionship, and dog walks can lead to conversations with neighbors, but getting a pet as a health plan is a poor reason on its own.

A quick checklist for your household

Answer these together, honestly, before you pick a side:

• Who will feed, walk, scoop and clean every day, including on bad days? Write a name next to each job.
• How many hours is the home empty on a normal weekday?
• Does anyone have allergies or asthma, and have they spent time around this kind of animal?
• Does the budget cover the first year and an unexpected vet bill?
• Do you rent, and does the lease allow this pet?
• How often do you travel, and who cares for the pet then?
• Do you want a pet that joins your outdoor life, or one that shares a quieter home?

The ruling

This one depends on the household, and that is a real answer, not a dodge. If someone has the daily time, the space and the budget, and is excited to walk a dog in the rain, a dog can be a wonderful fit. If your days are long, your home is small or money is tight, a cat is usually the more realistic choice.

What does not settle it: "My aunt's cat was mean, so cats are mean." That is a hasty generalization from one animal. If the real fight is about who will do the work, solve that first, since chores are among what couples fight about most. Still stuck? Paste both sides into the argument judge.