Posts Tagged ‘adoption’

It is always a good time to adopt pets, but June has been designated cat adoption month.  By far the most common pets are dogs and cats.  If I asked a person the difference, I would probably get a strange look and an answer like “one barks and growls, where the other meows and purrs.”  But there are other differences that affect them as to whether they may be the right pet for your family.

First off, dogs need to be cared for, whereas cats are independent. Dogs are descendants of pack animals.  Dogs like company and will never be bored if one spends a lot of time with it.  Their pack mentality allows the dogs to be trained more easily as they crave attention.  On the other hand, cats love to spend a lot of time alone.  Cats are solitary hunters that are more attached to their environment than they are to other cats.

The pack behavior also relates to how a dog is built physically.  In the wild they are designed to run down their prey.  This translates to dogs being built as long distance runners.  Dogs need a lot of space as they love to run around.  Cats are designed to stalk their prey.  Their instincts lead them to sneak up on their prey and then pounce.  This leads to cats being built more as sprinters rather than long distance runners.  Contrary to dogs, cats are very happy in small places.

When looking at  the nature of dogs and cats, the former loves to please you, but the latter always love to please themselves.  Well, dogs are more affectionate when compared to cats.  Dogs will wag their tail, and even their whole body, to show affection.  A cat will only show affection by allowing you to scratch it behind the ears.

Unlike dogs, cats are lap animals.  A cat will tolerate being smooched, but on the other hand, you will be smooched by a dog.  Dogs are happy to see you when it is awaken from sleep, but a cat will just pretend to be sleeping, even if you try to wake it.

Dogs tend to be your friends at night and protect you from harms way by scaring the intruders.  Cats, they will just run for cover.

By knowing your lifestyle, you can determine what pet is best for you.  Dogs are more social, require more attention and space.  Cats on the other hand tend to be happy being by themselves and don’t require as much attention and space.   Both species can be rewarding pets.

If you have any questions about the right pet for you, please contact our office!