Cats or Dogs?

Perhaps the only question that is more dividing than politics is whether you prefer cats or dogs. For some, man’s best friend proves far superior, but for others, having a feline friend is preferable. As someone who loves both species equally, it’s hard to choose between such lovable creatures.

On the one hand, dogs are typically more energetic, playful, and cuddly. If you’re looking for some fitness motivation, going out to walk your dog is an easy way to start becoming more active. Dogs are also a great way to socialize more, as they are awesome companions to bring along when mingling with other dog owners. Yet they can also be a handful, and if you aren’t a fan of being woken up at the crack of dawn to take them outside for their potty time, you might be more inclined to adopt a less high-maintenance pet.

On the other hand, cats maintain themselves (which can be convenient for a pet owner who doesn’t like when their animal tracks in mud and doesn’t clean themselves), are generally calmer, and knead biscuits (free massage!). They are pretty independent and are typically quieter (except for maybe orange cats…). However, if you don’t like the sound of hairballs being hacked up or scratching behavior, cats may not be the best fit for you.

While most people might hotly contest one or the other, my solution is this: get both! In my opinion, the more the merrier. I hope to own both a kitten and a puppy one day.

To those of you who are allergic to either or both species, I feel very sorry for you. Even if you can’t personally enjoy having a cat or a dog as a pet, here are some cute stories to brighten your day:

Truffles the Kitty is a friendly feline who helps kids feel more at ease during their optometrist appointments at A Child’s Eyes, an eye clinic in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania run by optician Danielle Crull. She was adopted in November of 2017 after being spotted in a church parking lot. The owner of the eye clinic explained that Truffles was very easy to train as a kitten and not phased when she first wore glasses. Since then, Truffles has adopted several more pairs of specs and walks around the clinic at her will. Crull stated, “It can take me a long time to build a child’s trust to get them trying on glasses, but in struts Truffles in her glasses, and the children immediately feel at ease around her.”

The Dogist is a blog run by Elias Weiss Friedman, who documents the “beauty of dogs.” A graduate of Boston University, Friedman walks around New York City and approaches dog owners walking their pets, asking if he can take pictures of them. He asks the owners for the backstory behind their pets and inquires about any quirky personality traits they may have. Besides his email newsletter, Friedman runs multiple platforms (@thedogist) on Instagram, X (previously known as Twitter), and TikTok. With millions of followers, The Dogist is popular for good reason, as the dogs he photographs are always cute and sure to brighten your day.

Loving Cats Worldwide (LCWW) is an international cat extravaganza founded by cat judge Steven Meserve. Meserve showcases “best of breed” kitties, ranging from Bengals to Mainecoons. He is a passionate cat rescuer and enjoys spreading his love for cats around the world. The Meserve Foundation aims to “drastically reduce the numbers in need and ensure a brighter future for all cats”.

Nala the golden retriever is a beloved canine most popular on TikTok (@adventuringwithnala), where she went viral for her “Nala stomp.” Nala’s owner, Chris Lindamood, is an avid outdoorsman who loves to go hiking and backpacking across the country with Nala. The Nala stomp is a dance that Nala does with her owner, during which she goes into between his legs and stomps her legs back and forth while he sings, “She stomps, she stomps, she do the Nala stomp!”

Whatever your preference, it’s clear that both cats and dogs are wonderful friends to have. If you don’t already have a pet, hopefully this article will inspire you to get one of your own someday!