Cat or Dog? Which animal to choose for a lifelong pet. Here are a few thoughts you may want to consider before you decide.


First of all, dogs. If you choose a dog you have to be prepared to venture out in all kinds of weather because of course, your dog will need walking, a lot. I used to own a dog and it didn't matter if it was blowing a storm outside, I still had to take her for a walk, actually when I say take her for a walk, I mean, she took me for a walk, and that's another thing you may want to consider; training. A dog will need to be trained, there's no doubt about it. It has to know who's master or mistress. When I took my dog, Moppet (named because that's all I did for the first three weeks after I brought her home)for walks, she at first would try and detach my arm from my body by pulling me at a fast trot along the pavement. If you have this problem with your dog, don't do what I did and buy a choke chain because, well, it chokes and its not nice to walk a dog who's constantly gagging and coughing. I dispensed with that idea and took her to training school instead. Another thing you might want to think about is barking. Dogs bark a lot; when someone knocks on the door, when the letterbox rattles, when another animal is in site and in my case, when I acquired a new boyfriend. Moppet took an instant dislike to him and would not stop barking at him as if he were Satan himself. Of course, this trait of barking at everything comes in handy if you're being burgled but not if you're trying to watch 'Lost' or American Idol. Then there's toilet training. I can't count the number of times I've woken up, stepped out of the bedroom and onto something very nasty so its always useful to keep slippers by your bed or a poop scooper.
Now, onto cats. If you choose a cat as a pet, bear in mind that you will need new curtains within a month and a new sofa within six months. If you acquire five cats for some silly reason like me, then you will need a new and bigger home and a very tolerant partner. You will also have to consider the fact that CATS ARE MANIPULATIVE. After racing around the house gleefully, knocking cups off the coffee table onto your pristine carpet and ruining your lovely white net curtains, they will instantly roll onto their backs, four paws in the air and do a cute pose to ensure that you won't tell them off or give them to an animal rescue center for unwanted and naughty cats. On the plus side, you won't have to take them for walks but you will have to let them out to go for walks and back in again after they've finished; at two in the morning, four in the morning and six in the morning usually. They also like to meow at the door and then when you get up to let them out they turn with their nose up in the air and walk off in the opposite direction. This sometimes happens four or five times before you either open the door with irritation and scoot them out with your foot(gently, I must add) or you turn the TV up. A cat flap is an extremely useful invention.
Cats are affectionate creatures though. A lot of them like to sit on your lap and be stroked but be warned, wear thick clothing unless you're one of those people who enjoy pain and  likes to be treated as a pin cushion. If you have two or more cats, they may fight for your attention and you could have them all on your lap. If you acquire an insecure cat;one that's been taken from its mother too soon, then you will have to have the patience of a saint because it will want cuddles and attention twenty four seven and when I say cuddles, I mean head up under your chin sucking your collar cuddles. This may mean having a loving relationship with your partner is a bit of a no no. I know someone who's cat was so in love with him that when he went to the toilet, the cat went too and would sit curled up on his pants and trousers as he sat on the toilet, so be warned. One more thing to consider when buying a cat is this, some cats spray urine on everything. Neutering them normally stops this problem but there are some who continue this habit, who spray on everything. Nothing or nowhere is out of bounds for them and you will try every household cleaner known to man in an attempt to eradicate the smell but the cleaner makes the smell worse. There are products on the market that you can buy though that contain an enzyme to neutralize the smell. Cats who spray do it because they are marking the territory, Another reason is that they could be insecure and stressed. This happens in a multi cat household, which brings me back to the insecure cat again so if you're prepared to let a cat who smells of wee cuddle you then that's fine but I would take the cat to a vet who can provide you with the necessary information as regards to stopping the problem or you could try a tip I picked up, of taping tin foil to the areas where its liable to pee. Cats hate foil. It means you house will look like the inside of a space craft made by a three year old but it may help stop the problem.
So there you have it. Cat or dog. Its your choice. Both make adorable pets. I'm cat person myself. I like the fact that cats are independent and if they could feed themselves they would have no need for humans  but their personalities are so varied that I couldn't imagine life without them or holes in my curtains, scratches in my furniture and pee smells in most rooms.
Cats or dogs? Why not go for both and make your life really interesting.