The second most popular pet to own in the United States is a cat, the first one surpringly being a fish. The third most popular are dogs and according to Psychology Today, “A set of new surveys has given us an interesting snapshot about the status of dogs and cats, at least in the United States. The first thing to note is that there are more cats can dogs in the U.S., with 86 million owned cats compared to 78 million owned dogs. However there is a quirk here, since 39% of all American households own a dog compared to 33% of American households with cats. The reason is that cat people like higher numbers with 52% owning more than one cat, as compared to dog owners where only 40% own more than one dog.” There are a few reasons why cats are preferred over dogs in the United States. I personally believe that cats make better pets over dogs because cats cost less money than dogs to keep, they don’t require much work in general, they don’t require as much attention as dogs do, and are usually healthier and live longer.
The first reason (and most important reason) why cats are better in comparison to dogs as pets is because cats have fewer annual costs to cover. Basic things like food, toys, damages to your property, etc. and medical fees. Yearly cost for maintaining felines is around $599 which is significantly cheaper in the long run from the $947 cost for a canines, based off a study (Petcha). Comparing dog and cat owners, a majority would find that dogs are considerably more expensive than cats. My argument is further validated as there is an even bigger cost difference for vet bills when we compare and contrast these two animals. “While on average, routine annual veterinary care might cost between $200 to $400 for dogs and $90 to $200 for cats.” (Wellness) Adding on to my point, dogs tend to have more diseases and injuries than cats do resulting in more time and commitment from their owners. Dogs have to be bathed regularly also, requiring more upkeep to maintain them. Cleaning up after dogs either on walks or in one’s yard is another component of care with dogs that lucky owners of cats do not have to deal with, aside from simply litter box care. As you can clearly see, dogs are not the way to go unless you prefer loads of upkeep associated with your pet.
Cats aren’t better just because they have lower annual and medical fees, but also because cats do not require as much maintenance as dogs do. Obviously they all need love and affection from their owner, but aside from that, let’s observe other stuff these pets need from us. Part of the maintenance of a cat is to replenish their food and water bowls once every day. Having an indoor cat also requires you to clean their litter box once or twice a day, accordingly. An annual check-up at the vet is also necessary. Cats also groom themselves but dogs need regular baths to keep their coat in tip-top shape. The overall necessities of a cat is feeding them every day, cleaning their litter, annual vet visits and affection. On the contrary, dogs need to be walked every single day regardless of whether since they need the exercise. According to PetMD, your dog needs from 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise every day to be exact. On top of these needs, dogs also have to be trained in a way that cats don’t since cats already tend to be courteous and considerate housemates. (Not to mention how they’re cleaner.)
More reasoning to justify my argument is that cats are naturally way more independent than dogs. As I previously stated, cats groom themselves, dogs can’t, cats can keep themselves busy and drain their own energy without much help from the owner, dogs don’t. Since dogs have to be taken outside to use the bathroom with supervision, they need sitters if their owner(s) are gonna be gone for even a night. However, cats are so independent they can be left alone for even a weekend as long as their food is prepared ahead of time. But dogs can get very anxious if their owners demand too much independence on their part. For example, if you tend to leave your dog alone all the time, they probably left the house in terrible condition as they will chew on and ruin your furniture. Some cats may also scratch up your couch if they aren’t provided with a scratching post or tree. Felines can get their needs more easily fulfilled, by showing them some loving when they want it. There is no debate that cats more independent than dogs making life easier for their owners. In conclusion, felines are superior to canines because felines cost less, they are less maintenance, they are independent, and because cats have a longer life expectancy than dogs and are in better health than dogs. If you were thinking about getting a dog, consider the facts that I have brought to your attention. Don’t just get a dog because everybody says so. Yes they make lovely companions but truly look at the statistics and see which suits you better.
