Many people think that cats are better than dogs. Cats are easy to care for, quiet, and relatively inexpensive. Even they groom themselves. There are certainly benefits to owning a cat that you won’t get from owning a dog. Here are 10 reasons that cats are better than dogs.
1. Cats Don’t Take up Much Space
Having shared a bed with a golden retriever or even a tiny dog, you know how much space they take up. As a result of their size, their desire to stretch out into everyone’s personal space, the space they need to play and exercise, and their stuff (such as a dog bed or dog toys), dogs need lots of space to live a happy, healthy life.
Cats, however, do not require a lot of space to thrive. You can pretty much guarantee your kitty will be happy as long as you can provide them with the essentials, such as litter boxes (you need one litter box per cat plus one extra) and food and water dishes.
2. Owning a Cat Is More Affordable
Compared to dogs, cats are generally more affordable over their lifetimes. In general, adoption fees for kittens and cats are lower than they are for puppies or dogs, particularly during kitten seasons or when the shelter has a large influx of kittens. Shelters may even waive their fees or offer a two-for-one deal on kitten pairs.
Owning a pet comes with plenty of expenses, from supplies to caretakers. Because dogs have a tendency to destroy their toys, they have to be made from much tougher (and much more expensive) materials—or replaced often. Buying cat toys is relatively cheap, and making them yourself is even cheaper (and easier).
Dogs need plenty of exercise to stay healthy, but getting two or three walks a day can be difficult with a full-time job. A 20-minute walk can cost $15 to $20 on average for a dog walker. Cats, on the other hand, are perfectly content lounging, napping, climbing a cat tree, and playing with their toys alone at home while you work. It’s even better if you have two kitties since they’ll keep each other entertained.
3. Cats Are Perfectly Content Indoors
For dogs to live a healthy and happy life, they require a lot of exercise, plenty of walks, and time outdoors. Nevertheless, if you do not have a yard or access to parks, or if you have limited mobility, this can be a challenge.
Not only are cats much safer indoors, but they’re also perfectly content curled up on a sunny couch or perched next to a window. You can let your cat watch birds and bugs all day long by cracking a window (but make sure it’s not open too wide for her to escape).
4. Cats Are Quieter
There is no denying that incessant barking can get pretty annoying, whether your dog is barking at a passerby, another animal, or simply because its favorite toy is under the couch.
Even though cats make some noise, especially at night when they are most active, meows and purrs tend to be relatively quiet. Meowing and purring are cute, but even better, you’ll begin to recognize what your cat’s meows actually mean. Learn how to differentiate between a meow that means “I’m hungry” and a meow that means “Cuddle me!”
5. Kittens Require Less Work Than Puppies
Both puppies and kittens require an incredible amount of time, energy, and attention. Between getting it comfortable in its new home, introducing it to its new diet, and starting some preliminary training, you may be a little bit sleep-deprived during the first few weeks with your new pup or kitten.
Once kittens are weaned from their mothers and have learned the basics of using the litter box, they can be left at home unsupervised during the day once they have been trained for potty training.
Would you like to be extra safe? Don’t let your kitty get into mischief while you’re away. Because of its smaller size, it won’t be able to cause much damage (if any) while contained.
6. Cats Keep Pests at Bay
Cats are natural-born hunters, so it’s in their DNA to stalk, hunt, and pounce on their prey—even if it’s on a television screen. While cats should never, ever eat bugs or mice they catch, pest-free homes are just one of the many benefits of owning them. The scent of your cat can deter rodents from entering your home; if they detect a hunter in the home, they are less likely to enter.
7. Cleaning the Litter Box Is Easier Than Constant Walks
While it may be a little weird that your cat pees and poops in strategically placed boxes all over your house, cleaning out a litter box is far easier than taking walks late at night, during scorching summer days, or through freezing snow, all while scooping up dog poop with a plastic bag over your hand.
One of cats’ instincts is to bury their pee and poop, so they are naturally very clean creatures. They do this to hide their territory from predators who, like cats, use their sense of smell to find prey. Even though house cats aren’t typically hunted by predators, neat, clean, and completely covered waste can benefit humans
8. Cats Clean Themselves
It’s no secret that dogs love stuff that smells bad-from garbage, to dead animals, to poop-and they like to roll around in it, too. Due to this, dogs require routine bathing and grooming, which can be very costly.
The cat is essentially a self-cleaning machine. While you may want to brush it once in a while and clip its nails as needed, cats do a good job of keeping themselves clean.
9. Cats Understand Personal Space
You may not want a dog following you around the house, nudging you to play fetch after a long, stressful day at work. While cats may get an unfair rap for being cold or distant, they really understand (and appreciate) the concept of personal space. Cats don’t require your constant attention or energy, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax after a long work week.
10. Cats Provide Health Benefits
It has been said that owning a pet can reduce stress and make you live longer. However, there are certain health benefits that cats provide their owners. Purring, for example, may heal human muscles and bones. The frequency of vibrations has been shown to have positive effects on joint mobility after an injury.