Are you a dog person or a cat person?

[Swift]

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

[indie]

"There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of this world: Music and cats." ~Albert Schweitzer.

[bmw318tiChic]

I used to love cats when I was younger. Now, I think that I am too lazy to be responsible for and take care of an animal.

[Swift]

I thought cats could take care of themselves?

[Boneca]

I am a severe case of both. I only have cats at the moment, but while I would never again live without cats, I will still not be a complete person until I get a dog.

[mgb]

I've had and like both. I like cats better. They are much more solitary and independant and only come to you when they are ready.

[melancholeric]

Cats (http://css.engineering.uiowa.edu/~boleary/personal/pictures/2004kitties/kitties%20003.jpg) are (http://css.engineering.uiowa.edu/~boleary/personal/pictures/2004kitties/kitties%20012.jpg) far (http://css.engineering.uiowa.edu/~boleary/personal/pictures/2004kitties/kitties%20004.jpg) more (http://css.engineering.uiowa.edu/~boleary/personal/pictures/2004kitties/kitties%20014.jpg) adorable (http://css.engineering.uiowa.edu/~boleary/personal/pictures/2004kitties/Kitties%20010.jpg), but for a reason or another I still prefer dogs.

[Last Song]

I am neither a cat person, nor a dog person. I am just a person. =|

[Hamro]

i've always admired cats and dogs for their intuition and strong senses, such as smell, vision and so on. but id probably go with a dog because it does interact more with their surroundings. they seem to have more of a spirit

[Solo]

I am definetly a cat person. Cats just seem like the pets made for INTPs. When I get out on my own I hope to have several.

[MonChat]

MonChat loves cats.
MonChat likes some dogs but has a history of cynophobia.

[glassmoon]

Most dogs have a stronger F than INTP's... Cats don't require much care as dongs, and can be left alone for many hours, unlike dogs, which naturaly live in packs and are more social and need more attention. Therefor I think a cat is better suited to INTP's.

[rich036]

Monkeys all the way..

[booyalab]

I dislike how everyone construes the 'independence' of cats as being evident of their superior intelligence (though no one's said that outright here), when in reality dogs are the smart ones...So, I prefer the smarter/friendlier/more entertaining/stronger of the two. Wolves are my favorite animal, anyway.
(edit: I'd like to make it clear, although I prefer dogs, that I don't consider myself a "dog person". Those types of labels annoy me.)

[rich036]

So, I prefer the smarter/friendlier/more entertaining/stronger of the two

So cats...

(I think the downside of both is that they both stink. Cat's breath is disgusting and dogs have that dog smell)

[booyalab]

So cats...

well cats are smarter than YOU, at least.

[rich036]

well cats are smarter than YOU, at least.

But then so are tarantulas on LSD..

(edit: But I suppose it could be deemed an insult to my fashionability.. and on that.. I'd say 60% of domestic cats are probably smarter than me too)

[Zero Angel]

Wolves are my favorite animal also. I have a fuzzy blanket on my bed with a picture of a wolf on it against night background. Its pretty awesome.

[booyalab]

Wolves are my favorite animal also. I have a fuzzy blanket on my bed with a picture of a wolf on it and a night background. Its pretty awesome.

holy crap me too! :D I bought mine at yosemite.

[booyalab]

So cats...

(I think the downside of both is that they both stink. Cat's breath is disgusting and dogs have that dog smell)

at least dogs have a chemical/hormone in their saliva with anti-bacterial qualities...do cats? I THINK NOT ....

[rich036]

at least dogs have a chemical/hormone in their saliva with anti-bacterial qualities...do cats? I THINK NOT ....

but then cats don't poo on the pavement or in fields and leave it there for children to fall in and get blinded (the most common cause of blindness in children).

[Zero Angel]

The great cat war... Cats breath wont stink unless you feed them certain kinds of food, also cats have a scratchy tongue that they use to keep themselves clean. AND cats are worried about cleanliness which explains why they use a litter box (I call it a Zen Garden).

[booyalab]

but then cats don't poo on the pavement or in fields and leave it there for children to fall in and get blinded (the most common cause of blindness in children).

at least I don't live in a place with 3-inch tall children. (edit: or 50 feet tall dogs)

[rich036]

at least I don't live in a place with 3-inch tall children. (edit: or 50 feet tall dogs)


I said fall. I don't think you need 3 inch children or 50ft dogs to be able to fall.

[glassmoon]

at least dogs have a chemical/hormone in their saliva with anti-bacterial qualities...do cats? I THINK NOT ....
Finally someone talks sense. With that scientific evidence we can conclude the debate - dogs are better than cats.

[rich036]

Finally someone talks sense. With that scientific evidence we can conclude the debate - dogs are better than cats.

Just as we can prove that humans evolved from monkeys without the missing link.

[booyalab]

I said fall. I don't think you need 3 inch children or 50ft dogs to be able to fall.
well when you phrase it so obtusely, no you dont

[booyalab]

Just as we can prove that humans evolved from monkeys without the missing link.
you are the missing link, good bye

[rich036]

you are the missing link, good bye

you are anne robinson and have a botox face and ginger hair

much similar to an orangutan..

[glassmoon]

If there's already a cat VS. dogs debate, I must add that only apartments with dogs smell. Cats have a much weaker odour.

[rich036]

If there's already a cat VS. dogs debate, I must add that only apartments with dogs smell. Cats have a much weaker odour.

Cat's urine is probably stronger smelling than dog's though.

(edit: wet dog smell, cat urine and the smell from rollers used to curl hair (well.. what I've smelt of it) are three of my least favourite smells. vomit is another.)

[booyalab]

If there's already a cat VS. dogs debate, I must add that only apartments with dogs smell. Cats have a much weaker odour.

have you ever been in an apartment with one of those cats with the urinating problem? good god! i'd much rather smell a wet dog than that anyday.

[glassmoon]

No, I never been in such an apartment, but I knew a guy who had sometimes more than 12 cats in his place, and there was no smell, only thin hairs everywhere, mostly from his dog (which isn't healthy at all...).

[booyalab]

No, I never been in such an apartment, but I knew a guy who had sometimes more than 12 cats in his place, and there was no smell, only small hairs, mostly from his dog everywhere (which isn't healthy at all...).

I'm assuming you're saying that the 12 cats is what's unhealthy, not the single dog.

[glassmoon]

I'm assuming you're saying that the 12 cats is what's unhealthy, not the single dog.
People who own dogs/cats told me themselves that eating those thin hairs can cause internal problems.

[booyalab]

People who own dogs/cats told me themselves that eating those thin hairs can cause internal problems.

well fuck, you gotta be CLEANER THAN YOUR DOG, PEOPLE!
(edit: oops, hehe I sweared)

[MonChat]

MonChat read once that if you get bit by a cat it is dangerous because feline saliva contains dangerous bacteria used to subdue prey.

[mgb]

I dislike how everyone construes the 'independence' of cats as being evident of their superior intelligence (though no one's said that outright here), when in reality dogs are the smart ones...So, I prefer the smarter/friendlier/more entertaining/stronger of the two. Wolves are my favorite animal, anyway.
(edit: I'd like to make it clear, although I prefer dogs, that I don't consider myself a "dog person". Those types of labels annoy me.)

You don't even have a dog though, you have a slipper with four legs.

If dogs are so smart, why can't you let them wander the neighborhood?

My favorite animal is a lion.

[mgb]

MonChat read once that if you get bit by a cat it is dangerous because feline saliva contains dangerous bacteria used to subdue prey.

Is is talk-in-the-third-person-day or something?

[Geoff]

Well it is if you have been bitten by a cat.

By the way, I like cats and dogs, but I do prefer the way I can go out all day and the cats scarcely notice ;)

I have also trained them to expect their evening meal at 9:30pm,which is excellent for a long day out.

That is why the cat independence suits me better than a dog when I am a slightly disorganised unplanned drop everything INTP.

My sister has a fun dog, and she is an ESFJ. Says it all to me ;P

-Geoff

[waxwing]

I prefer dogs. I'm not against cats, but maybe slightly allergic which makes being with them less fun.

That said, I would only ever own a large dog. I don't go for the little yippy ones.

[Vagabond]

Cats, because they are more independent, less attached and can take care of themselves. I love dogs, but I don't want to have one. Too emotionally attached, too many loyalty issues (he's loyal to you, if you are not attached to him, you hurt his feelings - and don't tell me animals don't have feelings, lol). So cats.

(Btw, I hate calling cats and dogs "it"... or mammals in general maybe...)

[booyalab]

You don't even have a dog though, you have a slipper with four legs.

If dogs are so smart, why can't you let them wander the neighborhood?

My favorite animal is a lion.

haha.

Because they hate you (specifically)and would run away if given a chance.

nobody cares.

[mgb]

haha.

Because they hate you (specifically)and would run away if given a chance.

nobody cares.

OK wolfy.

And how can an animal that's eats other feces be considered "smart"?

[booyalab]

OK wolfy.

And how can an animal that's eats other feces be considered "smart"?

substitute "eats other feces" with "invents internal combustion engine".....and there's your answer

[mgb]

substitute "eats other feces" with "invents internal combustion engine".....and there's your answer

I can imagine there is some combustion when your dog is digesting all that poo.

[booyalab]

I can imagine there is some combustion when your dog is digesting all that poo.
exactly! now you get it.

[mgb]

exactly! now you get it.

I also bet your face smells like poo after your dog licks you.

[misutii]

dogs are clowns and if i wanted a clown i'd go to the circus

[PsiKik]

Dog licking owners face - absolutely disgusting!

[CreativeChaos]

I was a dog lover growing up as a child. My last dog was Twinky that we gave away because our next door neighbor was shooting bee bee guns at her.
I was about 16. That's the last dog I had.

Had no pets until Pierre, my cat, came up when I was around the age of 28 and I felt sorry for him and took him in. He was the most loving, sweet cat I've had.

Dogs are not smarter than cats. They are just easily trainable. You can train a cat if you know how. I've given it a try with my present cat. But when she realizes that I'm trying to get her to do something, for treats, she scoffs and stops, even though she knows she will get treats if she does the specific thing again. Now THAT's smart! :D She will NOT be some trained monkey! HA! Cat's are just not social animals, and therefore are difficult to train.

And in defense of dogs, they are invaluable precisely because they are trainable. Do we have sniffing cats, cats leading the blind, etc.? NO! So each have their positive points.

As a pet, I prefer a cat, at the moment. That's because I don't have the time for a dog. If I retire and want a companion to walk with or whatever and have more time, I might get a dog.

[synchronous]

Dog licking owners face - absolutely disgusting!

It is what I have to look forward to every day.... :rant:

I have a preference for cats, but, I can tolerate a dog. I just don't care for the all the licking and attention seeking. It's like having a perpetual infant that you can never toilet train. I didn't mind the infant stage when my children where young, but, I knew they would grow out of it. lol.

Footnote: I presently own a neurotic beagle/terrior mix. She suffers from separation anxiety and fear aggression. My husband who has a habit of bringing home strays for sentimental reasons, picked her up at the pound/SPCA. In my post about banning breeds I alluded to the problem of redistribution of problem dogs: Owners who abandon their dogs because they are unruly, out-of-control and/or aggressive. They don't tell the SPCA, and whether the SPCA actually test for disposition and temperament before they are adopted is questionable, at least in my community. Every wants to spare the life of the pet, and would much prefer to pass along the problem. It's frustrating. Not only do I have an attention seeking pet, it wants to lunge at any stanger and dog walking down the street. I've tried everything from obedience class to clamicalm prescription (which makes her even more hypervigilant) . Nothing seems to work. Apparently, the problem is not bad enough to warrant putting her down though, according to the Vet. I suppose I have to wait until she attacks someone and does harm before its warranted. Her only saving grace is that she is excellent with the children, and I managed to get the separation anxiety under control. So, she's restricted to the house, and always goes out on leash. I never take her out in public. end. :rant:

[MacGuffin]

Dogs are not smarter than cats. They are just easily trainable. You can train a cat if you know how.

The day you train a cat to find a bomb or lead a blind person across an intersection - let me know.

[CreativeChaos]

Originally posted by CC:
And in defense of dogs, they are invaluable precisely because they are trainable. Do we have sniffing cats, cats leading the blind, etc.? NO! So each have their positive points.

Did you read my WHOLE post MacGuffin! :angry:

[mgb]

The day you train a cat to find a bomb or lead a blind person across an intersection - let me know.

I don't think that necessarily makes dogs "smarter". Cat's just don't give a shit about that stuff. Which I like. Dogs will do anything to please. They aren't finding bombs because they are smart, they are finding them so they can get treats and rewards. They just have good noses and like attention.

[MacGuffin]

Did you read my WHOLE post MacGuffin! :angry:
Yeah, sorry!

But even when they put them in mazes with food at the end, dogs always outperform cats.

I found this:


Which breeds of dog and cat are the most intelligent?

Often mentioned as the most clever dog is the sheep dog, and among the cats, the Siamese cat. It should not be applicable with the human-related IQ values for animals, nevertheless it has been estimated by some researchers that the most intelligent dogs score close to 40, and the most intelligent cats around 20.

IQ Link (http://www.aceviper.net/aceviper_net/ace_intelligence/aceviper_questions_and_answers/aceviper_interesting_intelligence_related_questions_and_answers.html#question15)

You can say dogs are more eager to please, but at some point cats have to demonstrate intelligence. Usually they come up short vs. dogs.

[mgb]

You can say dogs are more eager to please, but at some point cats have to demonstrate intelligence. Usually they come up short vs. dogs.

I would say that cats are master manipulators. They probably could do a lot of stuff, they would rather have us do it for them though. That is pretty intelligent.

[booyalab]

I don't think that necessarily makes dogs "smarter". Cat's just don't give a shit about that stuff. Which I like. Dogs will do anything to please. They aren't finding bombs because they are smart, they are finding them so they can get treats and rewards. They just have good noses and like attention.

You're confusing your values with intelligence.

I agree with macguffin.

[booyalab]

I would say that cats are master manipulators. They probably could do a lot of stuff, they would rather have us do it for them though. That is pretty intelligent.

"they probably could do a lot of stuff, they would rather have us do it for them though." this is ridiculous. By your logic, babies are more intelligent than toddlers.

[mgb]

"they probably could do a lot of stuff, they would rather have us do it for them though." this is ridiculous. By your logic, babies are more intelligent than toddlers.

Yes and no. I think your analogy may be taking what I am saying to a difficult to defend extreme.

Which is smarter, a baby that cries when they are hungry or a baby that doesn't cry when it is hungry?

[MacGuffin]

I would say that cats are master manipulators. They probably could do a lot of stuff, they would rather have us do it for them though. That is pretty intelligent.

"probably could"? I "probably could" solve math equations, but I'd rather have math majors do it. I am so much smarter than them!

[mgb]

You're confusing your values with intelligence.

I agree with macguffin.

If someone had say, x-ray eyes, they would be pretty good at finding bombs. Right. It doesn't make them more intelligent that someone without x-ray eyes. It makes them different. Not smarter.

[MacGuffin]

Yes and no. I think your analogy may be taking what I am saying to a difficult to defend extreme.

Which is smarter, a baby that cries when they are hungry or a baby that doesn't cry when it is hungry?

Neither. One is acting on instinct, the other has some kind of problem. That is not intelligence.

Showing the capacity to learn and adapt is intelligence.

[mgb]

"probably could"? I "probably could" solve math equations, but I'd rather have math majors do it. I am so much smarter than them!

In a way. Because you were able to marshall the mathmeticians into doing your dirty work, you are in a way more clever than those poor math geeks that end up doing the work. Either way the work is getting done and you are able to submit an answer that is correct.

I suppose in the end it has to do with the "values" you hold as important.

[mgb]

Neither. One is acting on instinct, the other has some kind of problem. That is not intelligence.

Showing the capacity to learn and adapt is intelligence.

Exactly. So one has learned that if it cries it will get food. The other has not.

[booyalab]

Yes and no. I think your analogy may be taking what I am saying to a difficult to defend extreme.

Which is smarter, a baby that cries when they are hungry or a baby that doesn't cry when it is hungry?

your reasoning was that since cats don't do anything we want them to do they must be smarter than dogs. Therefore, since babies are less obedient than toddlers, they must be smarter!

[MacGuffin]

Exactly. So one has learned that if it cries it will get food. The other has not.

Babies don't "learn" to cry. They cry on instinct. They cry when they are born.

[booyalab]

I suppose in the end it has to do with the "values" you hold as important.
I already fucking said that, you're confusing values with intelligence.

[booyalab]

If someone had say, x-ray eyes, they would be pretty good at finding bombs. Right. It doesn't make them more intelligent that someone without x-ray eyes. It makes them different. Not smarter.

So when dogs are different from cats in a good way they're 'different' and when cats are different from dogs in a good way they're 'smarter'.

[Flinchy]

I am a cat person. :)

Dogs may be smarter, but I don't have a pet for the intellectual conversations. ;)

Some dogs are OK, but I generally don't like all their snarling and barking.

Cats are entertaining to observe, and nice to cuddle with. :)

[mgb]

your reasoning was that since cats don't do anything we want them to do they must be smarter than dogs. Therefore, since babies are less obedient than toddlers, they must be smarter!

I never said anything about cat's being trained. I said that they get us to do what they want us to. I don't really care if babies are less obiedient than toddlers, because your analogy isn't applicable here.

Which isn't just values but also intelligence. A stupid fieldmarshall isn't going to get anything done compared to a smart one. So the cat must adapt to it's surroundings, learn what works and what doesn't. They must learn how to manipulate, which is different from a dogs ability to learn how to be manipulated.

[mgb]

So when dogs are different from cats in a good way they're 'different' and when cats are different from dogs in a good way they're 'smarter'.

No, when a dog uses it's nose to find something it is being manipulated by humans, when a cat gets a human to open a door is manipulating people.

Which is smarter, the manipulator or the manipulatee?

[file cabinet]

main experiences have been with cats. I don't mind dogs though.

[booyalab]

No, when a dog uses it's nose to find something it is being manipulated by humans, when a cat gets a human to open a door is manipulating people.

Which is smarter, the manipulator or the manipulatee?

your examples aren't even on the same level.....since i'm the better one at making analogies here, let me give one..

When a toddler is cleaning it's room it is being manipulated by his/her parents, when a baby cries to get someone to feed it it's manipulating it's parents.

which is smarter, the manipulator or the manipulatee?

give up

[mgb]

Obviously the manipulator. Too bad your stupid todler can't get the parents to clean the room for him. haa haa

[CreativeChaos]

Originally posted by MacGuffin:
Which breeds of dog and cat are the most intelligent?

Often mentioned as the most clever dog is the sheep dog, and among the cats, the Siamese cat. It should not be applicable with the human-related IQ values for animals, nevertheless it has been estimated by some researchers that the most intelligent dogs score close to 40, and the most intelligent cats around 20.

Gee! A lot happened while I was gone! Uhh... I would be willing to concede on the intelligence factor of dogs and cats if more proof were provided. However, I don't care. So. Don't (provide it, that is)

Hows this? Dolphins are said to be the next most intellegent creatures on earth other than humans. Whales are said to be as intellegent as a 5 year old. How do they figure that one out? Not by manipulation or nonmanipulation.

Also, I was also trying to point out that cats are good for some things and dogs are good for some things. It depends on what you want. (this is a really xenophobic (blah, what's the word for human centered booyalab?) Anyway, I like cats because they are clean, they are born house trained, and they DO require less attention. Totally subjective,no arguments. I LIKE THEM. PERIOD. Try and argue THAT!!! :devil:

[CreativeChaos]

Oh yeah! And

YOU can manipulate me all you want MG! :wub:

[booyalab]

Also, I was also trying to point out that cats are good for some things and dogs are good for some things. It depends on what you want. (this is a really xenophobic (blah, what's the word for human centered booyalab?)

Definitely, animals are as smart as they need to be.

[booyalab]

I never said anything about cat's being trained. I said that they get us to do what they want us to. I don't really care if babies are less obiedient than toddlers, because your analogy isn't applicable here.

Which isn't just values but also intelligence. A stupid fieldmarshall isn't going to get anything done compared to a smart one. So the cat must adapt to it's surroundings, learn what works and what doesn't. They must learn how to manipulate, which is different from a dogs ability to learn how to be manipulated.

btw,
dogs manipulate in all the same ways that cats do (with their owners), but they obviously can do more as well.

[snarled]

A tiger could kick any dogs ass. Nuff said.

[mgb]

btw,
dogs manipulate in all the same ways that cats do (with their owners), but they obviously can do more as well.

Way to prove that using examples.

I've lived with dogs for most of my life, save about 3 or 4 years. I've had cats for about 5 or 6. I definitely find cats much smarter. They don't just manipulate, they do smart things as well.

For example. The whole catching birds thing. I don't know how my cat does it, but she is an excellent hunter, much better than the dogs I have had. I can also leave her home alone for a day or two, and the house doesn't go to shit (literally and figuratively) like it does with dogs.

And that's another thing. Litter boxes. I've had dogs it took two years to house train (and this was a pretty smart dog), every cat I've had, including kittens, knows about the litter box.

My cat also recognizes her limitations. For example, she can't open doors. So she gets me to open them. Every dog I have ever seen will try and scratch through a door to open it, wrecking the door. Then they get in trouble for wrecking the door and do it again.

[booyalab]

Way to prove that using examples.

I've lived with dogs for most of my life, save about 3 or 4 years. I've had cats for about 5 or 6. I definitely find cats much smarter. They don't just manipulate, they do smart things as well.

For example. The whole catching birds thing. I don't know how my cat does it, but she is an excellent hunter, much better than the dogs I have had. I can also leave her home alone for a day or two, and the house doesn't go to shit (literally and figuratively) like it does with dogs.

And that's another thing. Litter boxes. I've had dogs it took two years to house train (and this was a pretty smart dog), every cat I've had, including kittens, knows about the litter box.

My cat also recognizes her limitations. For example, she can't open doors. So she gets me to open them. Every dog I have ever seen will try and scratch through a door to open it, wrecking the door. Then they get in trouble for wrecking the door and do it again.

Have you ever tried to take a cat hunting?
felines eat birds, canines don't.

Maybe you can read the dog's mind but as far as anyone else can tell, in the instance of getting a door to open, a dog is just operating under a different interpretation (though equally simplistic) of causality. You're projecting your values of not wanting the door to be ruined onto the dog.

You're also projecting your values of not wanting the house to be dirty onto the cat and dog. (edit: also, dogs don't need to be as clean as cats for reasons like the anti-bacterial properties in their saliva)

My dog was house trained in about a week. Most dogs can be house trained in a week-2 weeks after they become adults..even without having to reward them...you either sucked at training them or those were some damn stupid dogs.

[songbird36]

I'm a cat person, definitely.

Although I can't have one as my son is highly allergic to them.

[Geoff]

The concept of animal intelligence has to have human values and intelligence as a reference point otherwise it is meaningless to us. I dont think you can simply refute the intelligence or otherwise of an animal, dog or cat, simply because of a suggestion that we are projecting our values. Of course we are, that's how we test it. Example : a dog (or cat) may be more intelligent at a skill we can not easily measure or detect - direction finding using the earth's magnetic field, or sense of smell for something that happened hours earlier. We dont consider this intelligence without an easy point of reference for ourselves. Its clever but not human clever!

It is clear to me that dogs are more able (although it might be argued that it is just that they are more prepared to try) to learn easily testable human skills. No cat is ever going to work in an airport with a handler sniffing out drugs, or retrieve hunted prey for a hunter. Dogs seem more mechanically minded with tricks.

However, cats (like all animals) can show a surprising ability to learn things when challenged by a human. Usually they don't want to, but who is to say what they can achieve if pushed. As a true example, I keep my cats out of the main part of the house at nights by closing the kitchen door so they have kitchen (with cat beds) plus garden via catflap. Good choice I feel. This is my experience having started this over the last week.

Night 1: Cat meows at door to rest of house - no result
Night 2 : Cat scratches for a while at door and gives up
Night 3 : Cat jumps up and opens door handle thus escaping kitchen, probably by accident
Night 4 and 5 : Cat returns to scratching, presumably dimly understanding it managed to open the door once somehow
Night 6 : Cat suddenly jumps up and pulls down doorhandle to release door

Now, the cat opens the door within about 10 seconds of me closing it by jumping up and hanging on to the door handle with its weight to open the door - without anyone showing or encouraging it.

So, a sign of intelligence. Of course, you can train a squirrel to do better tricks than that to get at food.

It is interesting how animals seem to respond to the intellectual challenge given and be more than they would be without human interaction. I suspect this may be why dog and cat owners both feel their choice of animal is 'best' - they feel the animal respond to the interaction.

There is an interesting take on this in The Science of Discworld. True story of a shrimp kept as a pet that was given tricks to get its food - getting it out of little boxes, or holes, with little puzzles. Eventually it would only eat if there was a puzzle to solve. And this is a "shrimp!" - not a dolphin or whale.

-Geoff

[indie]

Very interesting anecdote, Geoff. :)

RE the tangent this thread has taken: Hmmm. . . I don't believe cats are "better" than dogs, only that my personality is better suited to be around cats. That's why I consider myself a cat person. Both types of animals have their unique intelligences, and neither one is "better" from a subjective standpoint.

[mgb]

Have you ever tried to take a cat hunting?
felines eat birds, canines don't.

Maybe you can read the dog's mind but as far as anyone else can tell, in the instance of getting a door to open, a dog is just operating under a different interpretation (though equally simplistic) of causality. You're projecting your values of not wanting the door to be ruined onto the dog.

You're also projecting your values of not wanting the house to be dirty onto the cat and dog. (edit: also, dogs don't need to be as clean as cats for reasons like the anti-bacterial properties in their saliva)

My dog was house trained in about a week. Most dogs can be house trained in a week-2 weeks after they become adults..even without having to reward them...you either sucked at training them or those were some damn stupid dogs.


Why would I take a cat hunting? First I don't hunt. Second, I have owned dogs that were great for hunting (two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers) and they were also great at wrecking toys. You are now projecting your values of not wrecking the birds onto the dogs.

As for the house not being dirty, dogs shit where they eat, I've seen it, that is not a sign of intelligence.

And as for your dog, it probably disliked being carried outside (because it's so small) so learned to be let out rather than being carried.

How about this...which would do better if you released them, dogs or cats?

[mgb]

Very interesting anecdote, Geoff. :)

RE the tangent this thread has taken: Hmmm. . . I don't believe cats are "better" than dogs, only that my personality is better suited to be around cats. That's why I consider myself a cat person. Both types of animals have their unique intelligences, and neither one is "better" from a subjective standpoint.

I think it's an inevitable tangent.

[Warrior413]

Dawgs, yo.

[booyalab]

Why would I take a cat hunting? First I don't hunt. Second, I have owned dogs that were great for hunting (two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers) and they were also great at wrecking toys. You are now projecting your values of not wrecking the birds onto the dogs.

As for the house not being dirty, dogs shit where they eat, I've seen it, that is not a sign of intelligence.

And as for your dog, it probably disliked being carried outside (because it's so small) so learned to be let out rather than being carried.

How about this...which would do better if you released them, dogs or cats?

You tried to use the example of your cat being better at hunting birds as evidence that cats are smarter, now it's irrelevant? okaaaay.....

As I said before, dogs don't NEED to be as clean as cats.

My dog has never been carried outside, making up things is a sure sign of losing an argument :)

If they weren't run over by cars, either might, since stray dogs and cats are rampant all over 3rd world countries.

[mgb]

You tried to use the example of your cat being better at hunting birds as evidence that cats are smarter, now it's irrelevant? okaaaay.....




I said she is better at hunting them, not carrying them back from the hunt.

[MacGuffin]

Way to prove that using examples.

I've lived with dogs for most of my life, save about 3 or 4 years. I've had cats for about 5 or 6. I definitely find cats much smarter. They don't just manipulate, they do smart things as well.

For example. The whole catching birds thing. I don't know how my cat does it, but she is an excellent hunter, much better than the dogs I have had. I can also leave her home alone for a day or two, and the house doesn't go to shit (literally and figuratively) like it does with dogs.

And that's another thing. Litter boxes. I've had dogs it took two years to house train (and this was a pretty smart dog), every cat I've had, including kittens, knows about the litter box.

My cat also recognizes her limitations. For example, she can't open doors. So she gets me to open them. Every dog I have ever seen will try and scratch through a door to open it, wrecking the door. Then they get in trouble for wrecking the door and do it again.

Your examples are mostly irrelevant. Cats hunt birds on instinct. Take a kitten away from its mother and it will still "know" how to hunt. That is not intelligence.

Dogs hunt in packs, and not for birds.

Cats use litter boxes mostly on instinct as well. That is why there is sand-like litter in them. Get a new different-looking litter box and don't put anything in it and see how long it takes for a cat to use it.

My dog does not scratch at doors and waits for me to open it. That is not the most intelligent behavior I've seen either.

[LuridLemur]

.

[coffeezombie]

Cats rule. Dogs drool. Everyone knows that.

[Boneca]

It seems that if cats were a personality type, most might be INTP. Dogs would probably be ESFPs.Bah. As I've already said too many times, it depends on the dog. Not all dogs are Golden Retrievers.

[melancholeric]

My dog does not scratch at doors and waits for me to open it. That is not
the most intelligent behavior I've seen either.

My Collie learned to open doors himself. And no one taught him that. ( Unlocked doors, to clarify. )

( And by the way, he was not an ESFP, I'd guess ENFP. Might have been an ENFJ too, not sure. He refused to take a test, but intuitive he was. )

[Chall T. Dow]

Only dogs for me, or maybe a nice lizard or two.

Chall T. Dow

[Miss Anthropic]

I like all animals, but cats are superior to dogs. Some breeds of dogs are just too emotionally needy. If I had a dog it would be a terrier...they don't give a damn about approval. My cats don't either!

[Miss Anthropic]

your examples aren't even on the same level.....since i'm the better one at making analogies here, let me give one..

When a toddler is cleaning it's room it is being manipulated by his/her parents, when a baby cries to get someone to feed it it's manipulating it's parents.

which is smarter, the manipulator or the manipulatee?

give up
WOW! Where did you find a toddler who could clean a room?! That must have be one well-trained toddler with amazing age-defying capabilities!

[Geoff]

It's a two way tango. Both parties are manipulating one another in the toddler/baby situation.

-Geoff

[mgb]

My Collie learned to open doors himself. And no one taught him that. ( Unlocked doors, to clarify. )

( And by the way, he was not an ESFP, I'd guess ENFP. Might have been an ENFJ too, not sure. He refused to take a test, but intuitive he was. )

I had a dog that could open a door from inside and out. At first I thought she was pretty smart but know I realize that she has enourmous seperation anxiety and wasn't getting in or out because she wanted to, it was because she had to.

[Miss Anthropic]

It's a two way tango. Both parties are manipulating one another in the toddler/baby situation.

-Geoff
Geoff, that was sarcasm. Show me a toddler who can clean a room. Tossing a couple of toys in a basket with direct supervision...ok, I guess you could call THAT manipulation if you tell them its a game, but that's not cleaning a room......it just struck me funny! (I've been there, I can't get my teenager to clean a room. Hmmm, maybe its because I didn't manipulate her well enough as a toddler ) :D

[melancholeric]

I had a dog that could open a door from inside and out. At first I thought she was pretty smart but know I realize that she has enourmous seperation anxiety and wasn't getting in or out because she wanted to, it was because she had to.
Necessity is the mother of all inventions.

That might be how my dog first learned the art of opening doors too, but he used to use the skill just because he wanted to, not because he had to. Then again, he might have learned that from simply observing human usage of doorknobs. Too late to ask himself, he's been dead for a year and a half now.

:mellow: :( :cry:

[Clara]

Bah. As I've already said too many times, it depends on the dog. Not all dogs are Golden Retrievers.*applause* ... and not all cats have intuitive intelligence (refraining from citing any specific clueless cats ;) ... Those with some Siamese ancestry are usually smart/creative at problem solving.)

(If I were to adopt a dog, it would probably be one that was part-collie. :mellow: ... sometimes I miss having a dog.)

[Boneca]

*applause* ... and not all cats have intuitive intelligence (refraining from citing any specific clueless cats ;) ... Very true. This is why I think the whole cat/dog debate is silly.
I have a cat right now who is extremely needy, constantly follows me around, gets upset if I leave and pees on the carpet...like an angsty puppy.
My (late) dog however, if I left him alone he'd just go to sleep, and he didn't crave attention more than the average...cat.

So could I say that I prefer dogs, because they are more independent?

(And melancholeric, I know how you feel. Even though it was four years ago my dog died, it can still make me cry. :()

[mgb]

Very true. This is why I think the whole cat/dog debate is silly.


That is why it so much fun. Low stakes.

[Eileen]

I like dogs, but I don't want one for myself. They require far too much energy. I am definitely a cat person.

[wezl]

I hate my cat. I like dogs but too much trouble to keep from roaming the neighborhood. Nobody cares about wandering cats.

[snarled]

:whistle:

[QrioCT]

awwww...what an adorable kitty. compared to the dog that used to live in my neighborhood and chase me around all the time. that son of a bitch... literally.

[Little Miss Krahka]

I'm not a domestic animal person period.

[ohnoaninfp]

:whistle:

http://forums.intpcentral.com/images/smilies/whistling.gif
Attached Imageshttp://forums.intpcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=205&stc=1



Sweet picture! Can I use that as my new avatar? By the way I like both cats and dogs, but I like cats better.

[ohnoaninfp]

Can a dog do this?

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:NZKw9SIY3h8J:djdejavu.8k.com/images/cat_rolling.gif

[snarled]

Be my guest ohno...

I was considering changing mine to this:

[Helios]

I gotta vote for a cat, I love mine she is the best! Cold, indifferet, and total bitch* most of the time. But really sweet at just the right moments (ie when anyone in the house is sick, like a cold she is stuck on you 24/7). That said if she when gone, I'll be done with pets in general. Growing up we had Cats,Dogs,Birds,Fish,Snails,Ducks,ect etc. (and we lived in the 'burbs!) They were all awesome (well I didn't like those damn ducks, thank God something ate them when we went to Indonesia, lol) But at this point in my life I can barely care for myself, so even the most autonomous pet ,like my cat is too much work. [Is it any wonder I can't maintain a relationship?!]





*the bitch thing was a truely unintended pun, once noticed however I couldn't remove it, cause I am a whore for puns!

[Architectonic]

when in reality dogs are the smart ones...

Looking foward to the scientific evidence that actually proves that is the case. :laser:


have you ever been in an apartment with one of those cats with the urinating problem? good god! i'd much rather smell a wet dog than that anyday.

Well this is no problem for those who live in the suburbs. Cats do their business in an inconspicuous location, rather than crapping all over the backyard (or in the street/park when you take them for walks) like dogs.

[Dman]

Cats and dogs both have advantages and disadvantages, obviously. I grew up with both & now have both. They both please me at times, and both irritate the hell out of me at times, for different reasons. Just matters which style you prefer. The way I see it, dogs are generally messier around the house and need more interaction, which can be a hassle. But you don’t take your cat to the beach with you or to the lake with you, and play Frisbee and run around and play there. Cats are just more convenient pets for a little companionship and minimal effort. Kind of like a glorified, cuddly, amusing, disease-infested parakeet. Dogs become more like part of the family.

Dogs are also ‘smarter’, hands down. If by smarter you mean ability to learn and adapt and interact. Cats have excellent instincts, they are vicious predators after all, but beyond instinct they are morons. They do have their moments though.

Regardless of “intelligence”, however, the real key is that dogs are obviously much more valuable to humans. If it came down to choosing between eliminating all cats or all dogs (admittedly a bizarre concept) dogs would definitely win. I’m not sure what my point is. Oh yeah, dogs are better. Scientifically and objectively. I’d rather have a pet that will listen to me and save my life if there was a fire in the house, or a burglar, regardless of if they like to eat feces and sniff butts and crap in the lawn. Ah, but at least my cat is keeping me safe from all those ferocious sparrows outside.

[booyalab]

whoa, this is like the second time I've agreed with you in a week or so. What's happening?!?!?

["InsertNameHere"]

"owning a cat is like taking care of a crazy hormonal self-involved teenage daughter...they don't come aound unless they want something."~moi~
Thats why i prefer cats! They do "their own thing" and leave me the hell alone!!!

[booyalab]

"owning a cat is like taking care of a crazy hormonal self-involved teenage daughter...they don't come aound unless they want something."~moi~
Thats why i prefer cats! They do "their own thing" and leave me the hell alone!!!
try worms, they're cheaper.

["InsertNameHere"]

worms...nah. I'm afraid of those.

[Dman]

whoa, this is like the second time I've agreed with you in a week or so. What's happening?!?!?

My guess - my influence is beginning to help you see The Truth.

[YardGnome]

Cats are much too temperamental and the fact that I am allergic to them sure doesn't help.

I am definitely a dog person....

Gnomes make nice pets too!

[Geoff]

worms...nah. I'm afraid of those.

That's right, and what if it suddenly turns on you? ;)

-Geoff

[CreativeChaos]

That's right, and what if it suddenly turns on you? ;)

-Geoff

Yeah, Well if it is the Worms of Araccus (Dune) You'd BETTER run!!! :shock:

[Geoff]

We should get a special version of the dictionary just 4 ewe.

-Geoff

[CreativeChaos]

We should get a special version of the dictionary just 4 ewe.

-Geoff

You've never seen the movie Dune? The worms? The spice?

[CreativeChaos]

Okay. Here is my Quintessential Pole Cat. Hee!

[CreativeChaos]

And can YOUR dog do this? ;P

[Geoff]

You've never seen the movie Dune? The worms? The spice?

You mean the books? :lol:

It's Arrakis...

-Geoff

[Geoff]

And can YOUR dog do this? ;P

aww what a pretty cat. Is it yours? I love these tabby/ginger mixes.

-Geoff

[CreativeChaos]

aww what a pretty cat. Is it yours? I love these tabby/ginger mixes.

-Geoff

Thankie! :D This is her as a kitten, showing all of her lovely markings. :D

http://forums.intpcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=201

[Geoff]

Oh she is gorgeous. I would name her 'Cinnamon'. What is she called?

-Geoff

[CreativeChaos]

Oh she is gorgeous. I would name her 'Cinnamon'. What is she called?

-Geoff

Ohhhh!!! What a cute name!!! That is purrr-fect. Unfortunately I called her Charmane. :(

[CreativeChaos]

We're dog people - no cats allowed! Besides they'd get EATEN!



Oh, yeah!!! I just had a good laugh over this dog and cat the other day. The dog was about the size of that one and was frolicking around this cat. Hee! This dog and cat seemed to know each other. They are two of the "loose" animals in our neigborhood. The cat was non-chalant and not worried, sitting out in the middle of the yard, while the dog would make "mock charges". Hee!

[Sir Isaac Lime]

Pretty much just an animal person. I tend to like cats because they don't bother you unless they need food.

[Eileen]

Pretty much just an animal person. I tend to like cats because they don't bother you unless they need food.

That's true for the most part, although I have an extremely lonely and bored cat who will bother me if he is bored. However, even when it's just that he wants to be fed, I kind of resent being bothered. I just do not need to have any children right now.

[Architectonic]

Since when do cats only hang around when they want something?

[CreativeChaos]

No kidding...that happens to me almost daily. One thing about having a big dog is that it gets you out of the house. I have to exercise him daily. Sometimes it's a chore, but usually I am happy to be outside. And almost daily we play the "stalk the cats" games. Those cats are pretty brave. They will sit in the middle of the sidewalk and don't budge and inch as we approach.

One day he stalked a metal silhouette of a cat (yard ornament) in the frontyard of a local cat lady. Out of curiousity, I actually let him lunge for it - and he took a big chomp on metal cat! He is not so curious about it anymore, but he still likes to stalk cats. Now I know better than to think he might ever coexist peacefully with one.

Heh! THAT reminds me of my cat and my hamsters. I got four dwarf hamsters as a "cat TV". I was afraid my cat was getting too bored while I was away at work. Well, as usual she was fascinated for three days and then nyah! But I began to really love these cute little creatures. I ended up buying 6 aquariums, tons of wheels and tubes. I had tube stuff going all over the place. It was fun to set up different little "puzzles" for them to go through. I'd watch them for hours. Hee!

Well, at times I would let one out to crawl around my cat. I was watching and right there, of course. Well, I did this often, and begin to think it was safe, because my cat would just let them crawl all over her, and whe wouldn't budge or try anything. Then one day one of the hamsters was crawing around in front of her. I was right next to both. Then "SNATCH". She caught the hamster in her mouth before you could blink an eye. Yikkes! :eek: The hamster "SQeeked!!". I fussed at my cat to get her to stop and started prying her mouth open, say Nyahh ayaah! The hamster was not harmed. Blah! Needless to say I never did THAT again. Nature WILL prevail! Haa!

[Claverhouse]

PLACE-HOLDER FOR CLASSIC STATUS

[kuranes]

Definitely a classic thread! Perhaps the best one I ever read on the site. This thread should be copyrighted. The debate between Mgbradsh and Booyalab was great. They were both at the absoute top of their form. And we got Mac in there too. This is good enough that it could be used as a promo for the forum, if we ever hypothetically wanted such a thing.

I like dogs better than cats, but have always assumed cats were smarter. I guess I hadn't been considering the redoubtable Border Collie as I thought this, though. They are awesome dogs. I've had more contact with Siamese cats than with BC's though, so no personal experience/observations to compare.

As far as whether i'm a "dog person" or a "cat person" I consider myself a "cat person", if i had to choose. I will be more of a "taker" vs. a "giver" on average, unless I respect the hell out of you, or get called on it. Not proud of that, but it's my track record. I see dogs as being more giving. Cats as . .you got it. I might prefer sending a cat out as an "agent", if I had the ability to do so in some Harry Potter-type world. Hence the phrase "cats paw", for assistant.

Wolves are cool. So are coyotes. See Meshou's post on the animals that cheat. Which brings us back to this thread's creator. Or is he a fox? I forget.

Edit - Which kind of animal would i want to own as a pet? A dog. But that doesn't make me a "dog person." I am a cat person, because I am a taker.

[MacGuffin]

Cats are stoopid!

[moni]

ah, although i like dogs... i think i'm more of a cat person. they do not require too much attention, but can still be just as loving.

[Hexchild]

I'll just be lazy and repeat a post I made on an earlier thread:




I would never keep a cat. I'd forget about it and leave it starving someday, not to mention all the trouble I'd have to go through to keep it reasonably happy.

Cats seem to have a tendency to keep me, though. Whether or not I want it.


I don't really mind cats much though. They don't bug me much. Dogs do. Dogs are too energetic and take too many liberties invading my private space. I would never let a dog keep me.

[afton]

This is no brainer. A cat is an INTP. I'm 100% cat person,
though I don't mind dogs.
Unfortunately my housemate hate cats and I have to rehome
my lovely baby. Heartless bastard.

[Loco_Mullus_Surmuletus]

I adore cats, I've been living with them all my life. Really, I couldn't imagine my world without a cat.... it wouldn't be home anymore. But though, Since I live on my own for 3 yrs, can't have pets in my place and that makes me really sad....

[MasterMerk]

They're both annoying and filthy, but I'd prefer the dog (depending on the breed)

[Ivy]

I answered "Neither/Indifferent" because it really depends on the individual cat or dog in question. I HATE yippy little dogs, but I LOVE big dopey ones. We have a Malamute mix named Eli who is just a good guy all around.

Ordinarily I love cats, but our current cat is SO neurotic as to render herself practically unlovable. She had ringworm when she came home from the shelter, unbeknownst to us, so we had to sequester her in a bathroom for the first two months she was here, when she was only 8 weeks old. As a result she's just off the wall neurotic. I feel bad for her, but DAMN.

[lunagoth]

My cat tested ISTP

[eyebyte_atWork]

My cat tested ISTP


Funny


I am a dog person.

If I were to have any animals - and the choice was between a cat or dog - the dog wins.

[Biff_Loman]

Dogs never leave you alone. Cats fuck off for a while. Cats are better.

[Oppenheimer]

Does every forum in the universe have a cat thread? I have a feeling the internet would operate much faster if cats were never mentioned again. With the possible exception of cat hunting season, which I understand is becoming quite popular in the South.

[EmmaPeel]

Dog. I'm allergic to cats. That's a lot of cat people. :P

[charred_heart]

cats are much easier to raise in hot countries, and they don't stink up the place. Especially important in hot countries, where smells move at the speed of light.

[Heleuiski]

Miaow

[wildcat]

I moved (from the Lebanese border) to Galilee in March 1978. I was given to understand another Finn, named Hermo, lived akin to the village where my new home was to be.

I sent a word to Hermo. I gave it to be known I should like to have a friendly little chat with him.

Eventually I met Hermo in the West Bank, in a cafe owned by a good Arab friend of mine.

I ordered him the double absinthe.

It soon proved to be a mistake. It became apparent Hermo could not digest a beverage.

After his meagre second absinthe he became hostile without a reason.
I had a problem in my hands.

The third Absinthe I paid for him was a bit too much.
Hermo became kind of uneasy. He cursed me and left the table.

I was glad he did not hit me. He stowered a head over me, with enormous muscles. I should have been dead meat.
I never mentioned him about my new found kitten. Just a day or two before our friendly rendez vous I had spotted and saved a kitten under a moving truck in Jerusalem. I put him in my pocket and called him Il Gattopardo: a Wildcat.

Once Wildcat was out of his infancy I never felt the need to feed him.
Il Gattopardo succeeded to become the leader of all the wildcats in the vicinity.
Before long Wildcat became a superb hunter: he was extremely cunning and quick.

Il Gattopardo commanded the ultimate respect of his wildcat community in the nearby forest..
It goes without saying I was proud of him.

After midnight, even after he became adult, he came to my room. Peacefully he slept upon my chest.

At the same time my wife had a dog. Her name was Nancy.
Nancy hated my guts. When we walked about the dusty Israeli roads, she never accompanied me. She chose the other side of the road to accentuate her independence.

Every time I touched my wife Nancy had a hysterical outfit. She was jealous and possessive.
Nancy hated me and loved my wife.

Never get a bitch dog. Be wary.



I got a brief letter from Hermo a couple of years later. :)

[Shimpei]

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/cats _Small_.jpg

[cerene]

I'm neither, I like parrots!



-

[Ivy]

I love that photo, Shimpei.

We went to a dinner party last night (well-- a "order chinese, stick the kids in the playroom, and sit around and drink wine while we ignore them" party). My friend who was hosting it had just rescued a stray mama cat with four kittens, and they were hanging in the bathroom. SO cute. Then her giant dog wouldn't stop sniffing my crotch. I was definitely a cat person last night!

[kuranes]

My own personality has elements of both, but I would say on that front I'm leaning in a cat direction, all things considered.

On the front of which animal I would prefer to associate my catlike self with, I think a dog. I would prefer a dog for a pet, especially if I lived away from the city and my dog could use a doggy door to run in and out, and play outside without having to worry about getting run over by a truck.

[cryingmime]

I'm all about cats. I'm hardly home enough to raise a dog, it wouldn't be fair to expect him to hold it for the 11+ hours i'm at work. at least, with a cat, they can go when they want to go.

and yes, we do have a cat. her name is Frehley

r

[last_caress]

Dog.

[aklight]

Neither. I prefer to be friends with wild animals, like spiders. If you think cats are cool and independant, think about spiders! They don't even know what you are. They just know that they exist. They are at peace, like me. I don't care if there's something a million times bigger than me or more powerful than me, I'm not going to worship it.

But I do like cats and dogs too. In the future, if my family wants pets, I won't have a problem with it.

[EmmaPeel]

cats are much easier to raise in hot countries, and they don't stink up the place. Especially important in hot countries, where smells move at the speed of light.

Cats are quite stinky, and their litter boxes smell like crazy.

[booyalab]

Definitely a classic thread! Perhaps the best one I ever read on the site. This thread should be copyrighted. The debate between Mgbradsh and Booyalab was great. They were both at the absoute top of their form. And we got Mac in there too. This is good enough that it could be used as a promo for the forum, if we ever hypothetically wanted such a thing.


yeah, I read this thread again just now. I'm thinking that if any of us leave, the forum should be shut down.
(edit: btw, mg was still wrong)

[charred_heart]

Cats are quite stinky, and their litter boxes smell like crazy.hey, they are ashamed of their stink, unlike those exhibitionist four legged drool factories!

[wildcat]

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/cats _Small_.jpg
Lucky you, four wildcats! I wish they could write posts in this forum.

[Stoic]

Cats need to drop the bad attitude, until then I'll favor dogs.

[dissolved girl]

A link on the nature of feline intelligence.

http://www.messybeast.com/intelligence.htm

Oh, and I like kitties. My cat appreciates my singing like no one else (mind you, it's possible she thinks I'm in pain...).

[Semiramus]

I love all animals, but kitties have always been my favorite. Dogs tend to be way too needy.

[Faust06]

The debate between Mgbradsh and Booyalab was great. They were both at the absoute top of their form

I thought it was a little redundant. Booyalab's done better... this one was just too easy.

I like dogs better (depending on the breed), but I wouldn't want to invest my time into taking care of one. Cats just wander around and look cute. They're useless.

[SolitaryWalker]

I think this cat/dog discrepancy could be ascribed to the scheme of introversion and extroversion. Cats tend to embody characteristics exhibited by introverted characters because of their composure, and limited interaction with their masters. Though dogs, however, frequently require a lot of attention from their master and resemble some of our human extroverted companions. In one way perhaps when we look into the shade of a pet, we tend to appreciate what we see in ourselves, so I would guess that Introverts are more likely to favor cats than dogs, this could also attest to the fact that most of our voters have gone with the feline representative.

[mgb]

yeah, I read this thread again just now. I'm thinking that if any of us leave, the forum should be shut down.
(edit: btw, mg was still wrong)

Bullshit he is.

[Madrigal]

I'm a dog person.

I don't care which is smarter, which is more loving, which is more independent, which is more graceful, which is high or low-maintenance. I could not care less about all of these factors.

When I ask myself what I want in my house, I judge on the basis of usefulness. The company of a dumb animal is not something I need more of. It is extremely narcissistic to crave the affection of an animal as opposed to a human being, precisely because an animal will accept you unconditionally. It is a master-slave relationship.

So if I want a dumb animal in my house it is only because it serves a purpose other than this fourth-rate companionship animals provide. I would choose a dog for protection. A smart dog can bark when it hears an intruder, it can sense someone that is untrustworthy. It can kill a mouse if there is one. It can attack people.

Dogs have historically been more useful to man than cats. They are hunters, shepherds, guardians and protectors, leaders of the blind, drug-detectors, policedogs, sled-dogs, fetchers, message-carriers during battle, they can be trained to be useful in countless ways. Cats are useful for catching mice, but dogs can do this too. Cats have historically had a more "mystical" relevance to man, as many cultures have considered them a sacred symbol.

We may argue endlessly on the benefits of the companionship or affection one or another can provide. But in terms of sheer usefulness to the human race, dogs far surpass cats without a shadow of a doubt.

[Ivy]

Dogs have historically been more useful to man than cats. They are hunters, shepherds, guardians and protectors, leaders of the blind, drug-detectors, policedogs, sled-dogs, fetchers, message-carriers during battle, they can be trained to be useful in countless ways. Cats are useful for catching mice, but dogs can do this too. Cats have historically had a more "mystical" relevance to man, as many cultures have considered them a sacred symbol.

We may argue endlessly on the benefits of the companionship or affection one or another can provide. In terms of sheer usefulness to the human race, dogs far surpass cats without a shadow of a doubt.

I could not care less about how historically useful either one has been, when it comes to picking one for myself. It's a cost/benefit analysis based on what I need vs. what the animal can provide. Playmate for the kids? Check for both. Something soft and furry to stroke during Daily Show? Check for both. So it comes down to individual animals. I don't have any mice, any need for a hunter/blind leader/drug detector/sled dog. I don't really need an animal to do ANY of those things for me.

[Madrigal]

I could not care less about how historically useful either one has been, when it comes to picking one for myself. It's a cost/benefit analysis based on what I need vs. what the animal can provide. Playmate for the kids? Check for both. Something soft and furry to stroke during Daily Show? Check for both. So it comes down to individual animals. I don't have any mice, any need for a hunter/blind leader/drug detector/sled dog. I don't really need an animal to do ANY of those things for me.
Your animal needs are then reduced to "companionship" and "affection". Children don't actually need animals to occupy their time, they can just as well do any other thing like practice a sport or play a game. I think their interaction with other children would be more beneficial anyway. And I wouldn't want an animal to cuddle up with while watching television, since my bf already tells me I don't give him enough affection.

As I said, I can't debate against "needs" such as companionship or affection from animals. I can only objectively judge their usefulness to the human race. Dogs are workers, they always have been, and this is their most admirable quality. Try to imagine a world without all of those working dogs helping human beings in their daily tasks.

[mancroft]

I've walked out with a few old dogs on my time!

:sadbanana:

[Ivy]

Your animal needs are then reduced to "companionship" and "affection". Children don't actually need animals to occupy their time, they can just as well do any other thing like practice a sport or play a game. I think their interaction with other children would be more beneficial anyway.

They get plenty of that, and plenty of reading and games and sports, and there's still time to play with the animals. Playing with the cat, dangling a string and watching her bat at it, is a lot of fun for my kids. Throwing a ball for the dog, romping with him, loving him up, also good fun.


And I wouldn't want an animal to cuddle up with while watching television, since my bf already tells me I don't give him enough affection.

I'm capable of cuddling more than one living creature at a time. :)


As I said, I can't debate against "needs" such as companionship or affection from animals. I can only objectively judge their usefulness to the human race. Dogs are workers, they always have been, and this is their most admirable quality. Try to imagine a world without all of those working dogs helping human beings in their daily tasks.

I wouldn't want to-- I admire dogs for their work, too, but it really doesn't factor into my own preference for which I share my household with. You're trying to force objectivity onto an inherently subjective preference.

[MrECrow]

I prefer cats. :devil:

[Madrigal]

You're trying to force objectivity onto an inherently subjective preference.
That's exactly what I'm avoiding, actually. I cannot argue with people who claim that a cat better suits their companionship needs than a dog. The debate becomes endless. Personally I tend to dislike both cats and their owners.

That's why I'm introducing an objective element in the discussion, which is usefulness as workers and assistants of mankind. You may tell me that companionship is as valid a "function" as the labour that animals provide for human beings. Perhaps I'm being subjective when I state that the unique companionship provided by a cat is of little historical importance in comparison to the essential work dogs have provided and will continue to provide us with all over the world, for the rich and the poor, the oppressors and the oppressd. Maybe I'm also being subjective when I say that the companionship provided by any animal is of a fourth-rate quality. Yes, in that sense I am blatantly subjective. Animal labour is more important for human advancement than animal companionship.

Which is better as a companion? I don't care. It's as if you asked me which is better entertainment, Oprah or Sally Jessy. Humans are the best companions a man could have.

Anyone else who wants to resist this argument saying they don't care about the importance of animal labour, please understand there's no point. As workers, dogs win hands down. As companions, neither can be objectively assessed. While both provide companionship, both do not provide comparable labour.

I will continue to regard cat-lovers as I do people who make bizarre marriage decisions (most people). "But how can they put up with...??" My bewilderment is the same. I don't care to argue with married couples over their choices of life mates, and I don't care to argue with anyone else over the "love" they get from their animals, be they cats, dogs or tarantulas. Carry on, I say, but don't invite me to your house if you have a cat, because their shit sticks worse than anything, and they tear my stockings, thanks. :D

[mad99001]

One of my mad dreams is to accumulate 10,000 hectares of land, fence it off, and then breed 10,000 hectares of dogs, and then one day let them all loose.

Now that madrigal has made it plain to me that dogs are such a wonderful cheap source of labor for the human species I will have less reservations about realizing this dream.

[Madrigal]

Now that madrigal has made it plain to me that dogs are such a wonderful cheap source of labor
Don't forget the cheap source of companionship and unconditional source of "love". :p

[mad99001]

Don't forget the cheap source of companionship and unconditional source of "love". :p

Yes, you are right.

[mad99001]

But in all fairness to cats they have also provided much labor and usefulness to human beings by relentlessly killing vermin. They have thus improved harvests and prevented many diseases. I don't think humans would have allowed them to persist if their labor wasn't useful in some sense.

[Sidewinder]

I own two Bengal cats and would take them over any dog. I just can't stand to own a dog, too whiny and needy for my likes, I am too often off in my own world to have to deal with an active dog. I definitely agree with whoever said cats are case pets for INTPs

[Madrigal]

But in all fairness to cats they have also provided much labor and usefulness to human beings by relentlessly killing vermin. They have thus improved harvests and prevented many diseases. I don't think humans would have allowed them to persist if their labor wasn't useful in some sense.
That's important, although I am not sure you can call it "labour", because they are simply doing what comes naturally to them. They are not trained and taught to do something unnatural, as is the case with the dog occupations we mentioned earlier. A cat actor, for example, I'd consider a working cat. A cat catching mice is just being itself.

[Ivy]

That's important, although I am not sure you can call it "labour", because they are simply doing what comes naturally to them. They are not trained and taught to do something unnatural, as is the case with the dog occupations we mentioned earlier. A cat actor, for example, I'd consider a working cat. A cat catching mice is just being itself.

Dogs are bred for certain proclivities which are then molded. My dog, a sled-dog breed (Malamute), certainly seems to be doing what comes naturally to him when he drags me all around on the leash. He is imminently trainable in all other areas, but the pulling is in his blood.

[venerationOFrabbits]

http://usera.imagecave.com/otching/activeimagination129-copy.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/otching/dogs3-7-05031.JPG

http://usera.imagecave.com/otching/dogs3-7-05034.JPG

http://usera.imagecave.com/otching/dogs3-7-05044.JPG

http://usera.imagecave.com/otching/strapdress030.JPG

http://usera.imagecave.com/otching/activeimagination126.JPG

[Ka.avik]

No, no, veneration! we're talking about dogs, not ... four-legged ... walking sandpaper ... things.

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/malamute.jpg

somethingfluffy

[TheFallandRiseOf]

Dogs eat their own poo.

The one thing preventing cats from taking over the world is the uselessness of their cute little mitten-like paws.

The cats are backing Darwin on this one...

[Ivy]

No, no, veneration! we're talking about dogs, not ... four-legged ... walking sandpaper ... things.


That's a gorgeous Mal. Hands down, my favorite breed.

[C.J.Woolf]

veneration, Mrs. Woolf approves. Her favorite dog was a Boston terrier. She was very smart and enthusiastic. I never met her, though.

[Limey]

Though I'd like to agree with the fictional "Jack" character in Meet the parents, since a Dog is easier to break and will hide it's genitals with it's tail when chastized by even junior members of the pack/family unit, I am still more inclined to accept the dog as the bottom most member of the clan.
I think most dogs are ESFPs :)

I don't think of cats as giving any affection, in fact, they're usually just wiping the scent glands on the sides of their mouths on you to mark you as their ilk.
The Bastards....
plus, you can't smack a cat around a bit and they aren't very good bed companions.
My wife had a cat when I met her, it got scat on the duvet cover. It wasn't me, I wipe thoroughly. Dirty winnet and clag having selfish creatures.

[stopharian]

I have a parrot. Smarter than a cat or a dog and better smelling than both.

[venerationOFrabbits]

veneration, Mrs. Woolf approves. Her favorite dog was a Boston terrier. She was very smart and enthusiastic. I never met her, though.

Genius, in fact. Smarter than most people, including hubby

[barbiebling]

Really I am a pig person, I can't wait to have my own house with lil piggies running around.........cats are a close second to my true love, the pig!

[PonderBee]

http://www.mikefullerton.com/blog/content/binary/sleeping_dog.jpg

If I must choose - dogs every time.

[Ivy]

That is an adorable little tiny dog-stiffy!

[Jennywocky]

I think dogs are great in theory, but they are too codependent for me to live with. I can't even take care of the ENFP I've adopted, let alone a dog living in my house.. and I tend to be allergic to them to boot.

Even though they really can irk me with their aloofness and "go to hell" attitude, cats and I share a similar mentality and lifestyle, so we are compatible roommates.

[BerberElla]

I'm a cat person, always have been. Not that i have one yet but one day, someday, on a not so P day.

Anyway right now, I am too busy caring for the fox that seems to feel safest sleeping at the end of my garden. :mellow:

[Jennywocky]

Anyway right now, I am too busy caring for the fox that seems to feel safest sleeping at the end of my garden. :mellow:

A fox? How neat! I've only ever seen two, in the wild.

[BerberElla]

A fox? How neat! I've only ever seen two, in the wild.

This fox has been visiting since Spring last year, turned around one evening to find her staring at me from my hallway.

I feed her which is about all I can say i really do, don't know why she keeps returning, but at least 3 nights a week there she is at the end of the garden.

It is cool.

[naruto littles helpers.jpeg]

If I must choose - dogs every time.

oh, yeah! well, check this cat out, and please do observe closely how how he kicks your dog's ass in quantifiable cuteness to constantinople:

http://forums.intpcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4377&stc=1&d=1175451365

[Jennywocky]

This fox has been visiting since Spring last year, turned around one evening to find her staring at me from my hallway.

I feed her which is about all I can say i really do, don't know why she keeps returning, but at least 3 nights a week there she is at the end of the garden. It is cool.

Very much so. Aren't they mostly nocturnal? And all the ones I have seen have been afraid of people.

I remember seeing one on Timothy T[whassisname?]'s videos of Alaskan grizzlies [he's the ESFP bear lover who got killed by bears a few years ago, after having taken some great video footage over the years]. It would befriend him every time he went up, and it would play fetch with him and a ball and the whole works. Very cute.

[Birdsnest]

I have yet to find the perfect pet. I like birds a lot, especially parrots, cockatoos, canaries. I'm more of a bird person. But I appreciate the independance of cats, its just that I can't really have one, due to allergic reaction to the fleas and cat scratch fever.

I love other peoples dogs, and visitor dogs that stay a few days. I most like highly intelligent dogs that learn quickly, such as black labradors, golden labs, and retrievers, scotty dogs, airedales, schnauzers, German Shepards. I am not into poodles or show dogs at all. I think when I retire and I'm home all the time, I may get a dog, but for now, because I work, they aren't comfortable being alone all day, so I don't get one. I also can't stand the barking variety, digging variety, or extra smelly ones, and might be allergic to the fur of certain dogs, not all.

Overall, I am much more of a plant person than a domestic animal person, because I have enough work feeding myself and family. I most appreciate the nature in the wild that comes for water that I put out fresh daily, so I think I am happier watching nature without 'owning' it. I have a good rapport with the nature in my yard, from cardinals, bluejays, brown thrashers, turtledoves, finches, woodpeckers, possums, squirrels, cats, chameleons, lizards, glass snakes, etc.

I'm definitely a bird, plant & wild nature person, that settles it. I've considered joining one of those bird watching things, and am looking into getting some good binoculars so I can.

[Anonymous]

I dislike both.

[Methofelis]

I have dogs and cats. I'm a bad person.

[Jivinjeffjones]

I have dogs and cats. I'm a bad person.

But which do you love more?


Is a ferret like a compromise between a dog and a cat, or are they on a whole different level? I've always wondered.

[Methofelis]

But which do you love more?


Is a ferret like a compromise between a dog and a cat, or are they on a whole different level? I've always wondered.

I love my fish in my pond the most, actually. The cats and dogs beg too much. Koi rule.

[Jennywocky]

But which do you love more?


Is a ferret like a compromise between a dog and a cat, or are they on a whole different level? I've always wondered.

Ferrets. Ick. It's Ferret Stomping Day!

If M can't decide between dog or cat, perhaps she would put one of each in a box and see who wins. (And if they both swallow each other, beside the time/space rift such a bizarre incident would cause, then she wouldn't have to pick either of them.)

[Methofelis]

Ferrets. Ick. It's Ferret Stomping Day!

If M can't decide between dog or cat, perhaps she would put one of each in a box and see who wins. (And if they both swallow each other, beside the time/space rift such a bizarre incident would cause, then she wouldn't have to pick either of them.)


Well... my dogs are all large. My cats are, well.. cat sized. I don't think there would be a fair fight. It would have to be every cat against one dog. Or we'd all just implode and everything would be ok, apparently.

[PonderBee]

That is an adorable little tiny dog-stiffy!

Every inch of that pup is adorable - even that one! Not my dog tho.

I've been fighting the impulse to get another dog for so long.

[Jivinjeffjones]

I love my fish in my pond the most, actually. The cats and dogs beg too much. Koi rule.

Your cats beg?? Seriously? That's the coolest thing I've heard all week!

[Methofelis]

Your cats beg?? Seriously? That's the coolest thing I've heard all week!

Well, if you count tripping me up when I walk into the kitchen, pawing at my legs because they must be STARVING after not eating for.. an hour? The little bastards... needy.

[PonderBee]

http://forums.intpcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4377&stc=1&d=1175451365

That one is so adorable - but after cute I thought there's gonna be cat hair in that keyboard.

[Geoff]

Well, if you count tripping me up when I walk into the kitchen, pawing at my legs because they must be STARVING after not eating for.. an hour? The little bastards... needy.

Haha, yeah. They do that don't they. Mine also do the "random running around in the hope of tripping you up so you land in such a way that food cupboard opens" tactics.

[Methofelis]

Haha, yeah. They do that don't they. Mine also do the "random running around in the hope of tripping you up so you land in such a way that food cupboard opens" tactics.

I have this one little black kitten, Namenlos, who just wandered in a few weeks ago... she is mute. She opens her little mouth to meow, and gets nothing out. Ever. All she does, while the others try to kill me, is tap my foot with her paw and stare like a pitiful child. It's adorable.

[naruto littles helpers.jpeg]

That one is so adorable - but after cute I thought there's gonna be cat hair in that keyboard.

er, good point. the cute can only go so far.

[Niffer]

enngh. i like all animals equally. i used to have a thing for hamsters though :3

[George_McFly]

I'm allergic to cats and I used to be scared of dogs. I used to have a pet hermit crab though.

[Ivy]

enngh. i like all animals equally. i used to have a thing for hamsters though :3

you mean all cuddly animals, right?

[rhinosaur]

That one is so adorable - but after cute I thought there's gonna be cat hair in that keyboard.
When I saw that I thought oh no, random keystrokes!

[Toonia]

Cat and dog person. I may lean a little more towards cats because they are quiet, but i love all furry faces. :gm:

[Niffer]

you mean all cuddly animals, right?

>: not just them. humans are okay.

reptiles and fish are okay too (fish are better to eat though).

[C.J.Woolf]

Well, if you count tripping me up when I walk into the kitchen, pawing at my legs because they must be STARVING after not eating for.. an hour? The little bastards... needy.
That's not begging, that's demanding.

[Jennywocky]

Well, if you count tripping me up when I walk into the kitchen, pawing at my legs because they must be STARVING after not eating for.. an hour? The little bastards... needy.


That's not begging, that's demanding.

Yes. I always send them to their rooms, for doing that. No bed-time stories for them!

If we wanted that, we'd have had puppies instead of kids.

[Methofelis]

That's not begging, that's demanding.

That's some damn cats are going to go live in the backyard.


Yes. I always send them to their rooms, for doing that. No bed-time stories for them!

If we wanted that, we'd have had puppies instead of kids.

My kids have never come close to being as bad as a puppy. Puppies are cute... until they eat my books. When they eat my books, I suddenly have a strong desire to get a nice new fur rug.

[Jennywocky]

My kids have never come close to being as bad as a puppy. Puppies are cute... until they eat my books. When they eat my books, I suddenly have a strong desire to get a nice new fur rug.

Actually, we house-sat a puppy (black lab) before we had our first child.

Yes, the puppy was just crazy. Trashed the entire kitchen. Disrupted our lives. We had to put up gates to keep it in the kitchen.

Ironically, although my wife would never want to own a dog, she cried when we gave it back. The dog was just so darn lovable.

[Methofelis]

Actually, we house-sat a puppy (black lab) before we had our first child.

Yes, the puppy was just crazy. Trashed the entire kitchen. Disrupted our lives. We had to put up gates to keep it in the kitchen.

Ironically, although my wife would never want to own a dog, she cried when we gave it back. The dog was just so darn lovable.

I have a bad habit of taking in strays. I have six cats and three dogs right now, (only one dog and three cats are mine,) and while they are all very sweet animals... I cannot wait till the others get homes. My home is theirs, not mine. As If I wasn't messy enough on my own...

[bluegill-prime]

dogs rule, cats drool! I can't recall where I heard that, but the Disney Channel seems a likely suspect. I harbor animosity towards cats in general, because they are aware of their evolutionary superiority and seem to get off on flaunting it at me.

[Methofelis]

dogs rule, cats drool! I can't recall where I heard that, but the Disney Channel seems a likely suspect. I harbor animosity towards cats in general, because they are aware of their evolutionary superiority and seem to get off on flaunting it at me.

Ah, that's what makes them so nifty...

[Jennywocky]

Ah, that's what makes them so nifty...

Yes, it's the main quality that leads me to both love cats and want to crush them a minute later.

[Methofelis]

Of course. There have been times my cats met a swift nudge out the door due to that nice trait.

[prplchknz]

Depending on what you mean if you mean which do I like better; then I say both the same for different reasons. If it's which would most likely survive with me as it's owner/not go mad; I'd have to say a Cat. I do like dogs, just can't really see me taking care of one, my mom and brother agree that if I get a pet I should get a cat, or live with someone who has a dog, and let them take care of it. Now my brother can keep anything alive, me I tend to forget and it dies; maybe I shouldn't be allowed to own living things. My negligence would kill it.

[563 740]

Cats piss me off with all their slinking around. It's like "I know you live here asshole, no need to be sneaky about it!"

[ohtarie_aranel]

I love my kitty. I've had him since I was very young. I just don't understand dogs. Their slobbery mouths gross me out, and in my experience they aren't as cuddly.

[Limey]

http://www.mikefullerton.com/blog/content/binary/sleeping_dog.jpg

If I must choose - dogs every time.

Hey! to use an Olympic euphemism;
I can see John Thomas on the Pommel horse

[CTG]

dog person. i have a shih tzu. but i've always wanted a fat cat.

[IntenseNitroTruckPow]

Though I like both equally, I kinda distrust people who can't stand cats.

[Methofelis]

I love 'em both...

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/l_727ec158c5a1f678b4a2dcc766404e48.jpg

My three cats and dog get along great. I'm also debating getting another rat. Like dogs, but smaller and cheaper.

[ieatcheese]

I prefer dogs. On my plate, cooked promptly and served at 1800 hours. No, I'm kidding, I like dogs and would be happy to have one keep me company.

[rek]

I love both, but dogs the most - they are mans best friend for a reason.

[Ferrus]

Dogs are less chewy and sinewy than cats, they provide better sustenance.

[Acala1]

Cat person...

[Andromeda]

Dogs are less chewy and sinewy than cats, they provide better sustenance.

:o:lol:

I'm a cat person, personally.

[Acala1]

Dogs are less chewy and sinewy than cats, they provide better sustenance.

Now the realization come to me, dog has more meat than cat...:theclap:

[MacGuffin]

Cats rot your brain and make you crazy (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/magazine/09_10_catcoat.html?ex=1354856400&en=217ff0517c90a794&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink).


Here’s a little-known and slightly terrifying fact: According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 million people in the United States are infected with a parasite that may migrate into their brains and alter their behavior in a way that — among other things — may leave them more likely to be eaten by cats. New research into this common parasite — Toxoplasma gondii — may offer clues to the phenomenon known to the unscientifically-minded as “crazy cat lady” syndrome.

[Ptah]

Dogs are for the moojority.

[MacGuffin]

Dogs are for the moojority.
There are more owners of dogs than cats, but there are more cats owned than dogs.

The average cat owner has 2.3 cats.

Which is not unusual, considering how cats make people insane (see link from my post above).

Cats want to eat your brain.

[Domino]

Cats want to eat your brain.

You smell like steak. I warned you.

[MacGuffin]

You smell like steak. I warned you.
That's why I own a dog.

She won't do anything without consent.