How are cats different than dogs?

United States
June 25, 2008 7:03pm CST
Do you have cats and dogs? How do they differ from each other? What are the main differences between your cats and dogs? I've had cats and dogs over the years. Actually two dogs and three cats, plus the kittens from awhile back. And they can be very similar and very different. My cats are lazy and super energetic, all in the same day. Ironic! They wake up during the day and lounge around like big lazy furballs and the second that the sun goes down they zip around the house acting crazy. My dog never did that. He was more reserved and kept to himself, but he was super friendly and protective. If someone came near the house, even friends he would bark his head off. My cats run and hide from strangers. Sometimes I used to wish that my dog had more energy and would chase his tail or do funny tricks like a cat. Now, sometimes, I wish that my cats were more like my dog (when he was with me) and would be more reserved and not run all over the place.
2 people like this
16 responses
• Philippines
26 Jun 08
They are the opposite animals, the south and the north. the noisy dog, the sophisticated cat, the sporty mutt, the sexy cat. but sometimes they could be good friends.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 08
Cat and dog! Different as night and day. As you say, they are two completely unique animals and I love them both! Thank you for your comments.
• United States
26 Jun 08
We have tamed dogs so dogs will be submissive. Cats have never truly been tamed. They use us...lol. Overall we own dogs, while cats own us. I think that is one of the attractions of cats, their finicky nature. I always owned both until my daughter was born. She has an allergy to cats so now we just have two dogs. My dogs will do anything to please me. They are great with tricks and stuff. Try to get a cat to rollover, they will just laugh at you...lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 08
That's sweet! I had not thought of having a dog since my daughter was born. But perhaps a dog would get along with her better than the cats. She has a kitten and runs her kitten around the house and the kitten puts up with it. But the two older cats do not put up with her and run away from her! A dog might be a better play pal as she gets older. Thank you for your response.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
26 Jun 08
We have three dogs and one cat. Our cat pretty much does her own thing for the most part. She will come up and want attention sometimes, but not all the time like the dogs. My cat is very vocal (for a cat) and meows and hisses a lot, but still nothing like the dogs. They are all three loud!
• United States
26 Jun 08
My male cat, Big Man is vocal too, especially at night when the lights are out. He wails and talks at the top of his voice. My dog used to bark a lot. But he was a very good boy!
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
26 Jun 08
The huge difference between my dog and cats is my dog COMES when I call him. The cats on the other hand just look at me and sorta have that "are you kidding me" look on their face. My dog also doesn't cry when I wake him up unlike the cats do. After responding to your discussion I am starting to ask myself why I even have the cats LOL. My dog and cats have the same amount of energy they love to play and they love to sleep.
• United States
26 Jun 08
Yes, dogs do love to hear our voices. Cats are often annoyed by them!
• United States
26 Jun 08
I don't have any pets right now. I've only owned one cat in my life and several dogs. I would like to get both.
• United States
26 Jun 08
Hello Anne Marie Both of them are such joys to have . If you get them around the same time sure ebough they will be good friends . It is always so cute to watch them play together.
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I have both, and too many of each. Hmmm differences. Well the cats just appear smarter. You call them and they look at you like "yea, what do you want? Do you really expect me to walk over there?" Where as the dogs will bark and run for anything. Cats are cleaner. Doesnt matter if I bathe my dogs, they always smell "doggy" after being outside ten minutes. Dogs will eat anything - and I mean anything. Cats are too smart to fall for that. Cats are smart enough to get out of the way when a visitor comes to the house. Where as the dogs fall all over themselves barking the whole time and acting like - well - DOGS. LOL
• United States
26 Jun 08
That barking thing can be good when someone is outside the house, but not when welcome guests are inside!
• Canada
26 Jun 08
My husbad and I are both extremely indepedent people, so the last thing we wat are overly dependent pets. Our cats do what they want, and come to us when they feel like it, instead of always ollowing at our heels like the dog we're pet-sitting does. Our cats only rely on us for food, water, and a warm lap to sit in whenever THEY feel like it! ;)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Cats are very independent, indeed! That's what I love about them.
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
20 Jul 08
well i have cats but no dogs. my partner do have quite a few dogs. i can't really say that there are certain things that are different. each individual cat and dog has their own personality. all of them have their own funny quirks. the only differences i can tell is that cats sleep more. my cats can be sleeping more than 18 hours a day. cats can jump higher than dogs and land safely from a higher height. as for the rest, i guess it's really up to the character of the cat/dog. cheers ;p
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I'm a cat lover myself. We've had dogs...one in particular that we got really close to. Cats go in the litterbox and its much easier to clean than a mess on the floor LOL Marsha
• United States
26 Jun 08
My cats are very clean too. Not like dogs. My dog used to live outdoors and go near the back of the yard. So he was very clean. Most dogs are not like him. I love cats too.
@2wicelot (2945)
26 Jun 08
I used to have a cat a long time ago. It was a nice creature, very clean and mostly non-violent. I think dogs are different because you have to clean them and you have to clean after them. Plus they bark and may bite. I really prefer cats especially when they are a bit older and don't run around much. They just eat and sleep most of the time. I think they are easier to manage than dogs.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
26 Jun 08
So cats are softer than dogs and less likely to send somebody to the hospital. Cats are more moody and dogs react more sharply. Dogs smell more than cats. Dogs can eat anything and cats choose their meals more discrimately. They look different and some people love one and hate the other. I personally don't want something around me that can scratch. Or bite. I like to look at the goodlooking animals but keep a pet ? I'd rather not.
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
26 Jun 08
cats tend to be cleaner and more organized. cats have a feminine personality, even the male cats. cats are more independent. they bathe themselves, & go to the bathroom on their own in their litter box. dogs tend to be sloppy and careless. dogs tend to act masculine, even the female dogs. dogs need someone to bathe them and take them out to go to the bathroom. both cats and dogs are loving and sweet and smart and caring. they both act like little kids and require a lot of attention, love and want to be with you all the time. they will both act up when you leave the house..both hate being left alone at home.
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
2 Jul 08
The major difference that I see is that cats purr. I love it when one of my cats curls up in my lap and purrs. A dog has no such mechanism. A dog barks, growls or whimpers. No purring at all.
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
20 Jul 08
Hello there Beautyqueen, there is a big difference between cats and dogs. Although I love dogs I consider cats to be more cleaner. Whenever they defecate they tends to cover it in order that no one sees their mess, with dogs they do it anywhere and anyhow. Cats tends to clean themselves while dogs have to be bathe by their owners. To me kittens are more senitive. I used to have a dog named blackie and he was like a son to me. What I dislike about him is that he will see me in my working clothes jump one me and then I have to change. Even when I told him Blackie stop it, it is like he get the instruction to muck me and destroy stockings. Unlike a cat, which will only meow at you rubbing their furs at on your legs and go to mind their own business. Anyway I truly love blackie and was disappointed to leave him with the neighbour when I was moving because I was unable to take him with me.
@monaliu (344)
26 Jun 08
I like cat far more than dog. I like cute animal.I have a cat and she always sleeping with me.he he...like me,she spleep during the night.ha ha.
• China
26 Jun 08
Dog is far more intelligent than cat.He can help u out of danger sometimes and keep your house safe.They are more like useful creature to human being.plus dogs are more easily trained to poo in toilet. I am still mad at my previous cat who still poo under my bed after so much hard training on him. apartfrom cats' appearance, We really benifit more from dogs than cats.