Caring for Cats Versus Dogs

So you're thinking about getting a pet, you like cats because they're independent creatures, but you also like dogs because you can play with them no matter what time of the day it is. You find yourself at crossroads deciding which pet to get. Let's look at each, first, our ever independent feline friends.

CATS

Cats are normally seen as independent because they don't need a person to constantly give them attention, they normally sleep all day and can amuse themselves endlessly with bits of dust in the sunlight or with some object just laying about. Even so, cats are still a lot of work when it comes to care. Kittens need to get their first shots by the time they are 6 to 8 weeks old. It is also a good idea to spade or neuter the kitten when they are approximately 8 weeks old, even if the cat is to be an indoor pet. Not doing so for indoor pets will lead to obnoxious noise during times of heat which can last for several weeks on end.

It is a good idea to know the type of cat that you are getting as well. It might not matter to most people whether a cat is a tom cat or a calico, but it does make a difference as to whether or not that cat is naturally short or long haired. Long haired felines require a LOT of care when it comes to their coats and shed tremendous amounts in hot weather, more so than an average cat who will shed their coat in the summer and re-grow it in the winter.

Out-door or in-door? This is something you need to keep in mind. If you keep a cat out doors in a garage or let them out of the house then medication against fleas, ticks and other nasty critters is a must. Medications like these can be gotten at the local pet store or convenience store, though the price is higher for medications bought from the vet often the medication sold there is more affective than what is found in stores. For cats that are in-doors beware of shelves. Once a cat has become about a year old, he or she will take to climbing anything and everything in the house. No matter how high. Cats love being in high places and often single out places in a home to take naps away from anyone else. Also, be aware of places that a cat can crawl under, like a bunk bed or a standard mattress bed. If a cat doesn't want to be found, that is one of the first places they will likely be. Out of sight and, normally, out of reach as well. This can be a problem if you have a cat that gets sick, as when cats are sick they go off on their own and don't like to be disturbed. That out of reach place beneath a bed is the ideal place for that cat to go, especially when they don't want you applying medicine.

Claws are another issue. Because scratching with the front paws is a natural, instinctive action for cats, furniture and other things with legs, like wooden tables, stools or chairs, can be torn up. If you choose to keep the cat outside, rather than inside, declawing will not likely be an issue. A cat kept in-doors, however, is another story. There are scratching posts for in-door felines, but often you will have to train your cat to scratch the post rather than your furniture. For those who don't have time or simply do not want to mess with dealing with ripped up furniture, there is the option to declaw the cat. This is a useful option for those who have more than one cat or also have other pets in the house. It is best to have a cat declawed before they reach 6 months of age.

Kittens that are declawed may have to stay over night at the clinic, usually the feet are bandaged up and the paws will be tender for several days. Keep in mind if you do choose to declaw your cat that you DO NOT let this cat outdoors for any reason! Cats who do not have front claws are vulnerable to dogs, other cats, or other predators; not just in defending themselves, but will also make escaping into a tree much harder. It is often best to leave the cat with back claws when getting a cat declawed and most veterinarians won't remove those claws in any case. Simply clip the claws with a nail clipper to keep them dull if desired.

Whether you keep a cat inside a garage or inside a house there is one important thing you should consider, house breaking the cat. Cats are considered to be very "clean" because they bury their droppings. When outside, a cat will dig a hole, do its business, and then cover it up. Make sure you read up on how to house break a cat before you consider taking on a cat or kitten. It is recommended that you have one litter box per cat to avoid fighting and avoid one of your cats from seeking other places to do their business. Cats can be very touchy about this. It is also a good idea to empt a liter box at least once a week.

Cats, like dogs, love to play. The difference is that cats like to choose their own time of day rather than be willing to play all the time. Many pet stores and convenience stores carry various cat toys suited for most any age and size of cat. Getting these toys may help keep your cat from making off with a pen, which might be a choking hazard for them, or any other round object that could be dangerous.

DOGS

Dogs are seen as man's best friend, loyal, lovable and playful. They can also be quite the handful to take care of as well. They love to play with anything and everything and often times see just about everything in life as a game. Puppies should be given their first shots when they are 6 weeks old. Dogs do not reach sexual maturity until they are 6 months old, because of this, you can wait a little longer to have them spade or neutered than you might for a cat. The recommended time frame is from 4 to 6 months of age. Not doing so can lead to temporary changes in behavior during times of heat, some male dogs become more aggressive.

When choosing a dog, it is a good idea to consider what sort of dog you are looking for. Unlike cats, dogs often are very easy to adopt at any age and adjust quickly to new homes and families. In this case, it might be ideal to adopt a dog from the local shelter rather than searching out for a puppy at a pet store or from someone whose dog had a liter. Dogs come in many different sizes and sometimes their breeding and gender can have an affect on their personality. Dogs that are pure bred are often highly sought after, but also can be very costly.

In-door or out-door? This can be a tough thing to decide on when getting a dog. An outdoor dog won't need to be house broken, however, you will need to provide medication against ticks, fleas, and the like during the various seasons. A dog kept outside also needs a warm bed to go into. This means either housing them in a garage, proving a way for them to get in and out as needed, or by building or purchasing a dog house to suit their needs. Whether a dog house or the garage, though, the place must be kept dry at all times to ward off sickness during wet and cold seasons. If you have more than one dog, make sure all of them can get in and out of the dog house easily, as when the cold season sets in they will curl up together to keep warm. A dog that doesn't have companions, should be provided with an old blanket or old wool or cotton clothing in their bed to keep warm.

In-door dogs need to be house broken, the recommended age is at 7 weeks. Be sure to read up on house breaking a dog as it is vastly different than with a cat. That's just a start. There's also a matter of keeping their claws clipped if you have tile or wood floors because their claws are hard and will scratch up any surface that isn't carpeted. Instead of clawing furniture like cats do, dogs will chew. They will chew anything and everything. From clothes to shoes, to pillows left on the couch, stuffed animals, even things they may dig out of a trash can. This can be a major issue, to avoid such occurrences, an owner should provide their dog with plenty of pet safe toys with which to chew on. These can be found at local pet stores and convenience stores, be sure to make sure any toys are not too small or too big for the dog. Everything from rope to specially made stuffed animals, rubber bones, specially made bones and balls are available for dogs.

Dogs can also be trained to do tricks or listen to commands, such as "sit" or "stay." Such training takes a lot of time and patience. The best time to start training a puppy is when they are 8 weeks of age. Training can take weeks just to learn one particular behavior, however and can be time consuming as commands must be constantly repeated along with the desired action at the command. Be sure to read up on how to train your dog before you begin.

Also keep in mind that because dogs are so playful all of the time they need constant love and affection from their owners. Dogs who are left alone for long periods of time often attribute this to being "abandoned" by their "pack" which is how they view their family. Because of this the dog will whine, whimper, or bark until someone of the family comes to get them. This is an important factor to keep in mind, most apartments won't allow dogs because of this noisy behavior that might disturb other residents.

Keeping all this in mind, you are ready to decide whether you want a cat or a dog. Take care in choosing one over the other and make sure the pet you get suits your needs and life style. If you do not have a lot of time to spend with your pet, it might be best to go with a cat and provide the cat with toys to ensure they will not get bored.