Choosing Between Dog and Cat: What Fits Your Life Best? 

"Should I Get A Dog Or A Cat," You Wonder

Choosing between dog and cat can feel like a tug-of-war—your heart says “both,” but life’s not that simple. You’re dreaming of a furry friend—maybe a playful pup or a chill kitty—but indecision’s freezing you. You're confused. "Should I get a dog or cat," you ponder as you consider your individual circumstances. Which do you want? It's a decision between a dog vs cat lifestyle.

It’s not just preference—it’s lifestyle, personality, and practicality. From time to space to cash, every factor whispers, “Should I get a dog or cat.” Let’s break down what matters—and why—so you can pick the pet that thrives with you.

Dog Vs Cat Lifestyle: Which Is Right For You?

Bluntly, there are times when a cat makes more sense, and there are times when a dog makes more sense. This is what we're going to explore in this article... which makes more sense for you personally to answer the question, "Should I get a dog or cat?"

As you know, there's no choosing between dog and cat for us because we have both a dog and cats. What we have is because, for the most part, we picked them out. While it's true we've had cats dropped into our lap over the years, at this point in our lives our pets are handpicked.

I was raised with dogs. Until I met Laura 27 years ago I was solely a dog guy. Keep in mind, I had no experience with cats until I met Laura. But having now experienced both, I'm just going to tell you, there are definite advantages and disadvantages to both. I love having both dogs and cats. 

With years of dogs being part of my life and cats being part of my life the last 27 years, I’ve learned it’s not just about which one’s cuter (although those puppy dog eyes and kitten whiskers make it tough!). It really boils down to your lifestyle and personality... these are the two biggest factors that shaped my own pet picks.

I’ve had friends swear by their cats while I’m out walking my dog, and it’s clear: neither is “better,” but one is usually right for you. Many have a hard time choosing between dog and cat. I get it.

So let’s chat about when a dog makes the most sense, when a cat steals the show, and a few other things to chew on before you decide. By the end, you’ll have a hunch about which furry friend’s calling your name, a dog or cat.

Dog vs Cat Lifestyle: Lifestyle Analysis...

Let’s start with lifestyle, because how you live day-to-day is a huge clue to choosing between dog and cat.

If you’re someone who’s always on the move—hiking, jogging, or just loving the outdoors—a dog’s your wingman.

I’ve had dogs who’d leap at the chance to hit a trail with me, their tails wagging anxiously wanting to go with me. They thrive on that action, needing walks or playtime to keep them happy—think 30 minutes to an hour a day, sometimes more if they’re a bundle of energy like a Husky or a Lab. 

But if your days are more about curling up with a book or binge-watching shows, a cat might be your vibe.

My friend’s cat just flops on the couch with her, purring through entire seasons of TV—no leash required. Marley sits on my armrest with her head on my arm for hours when I'm busy working away on my laptop.

Cats are cool with less hustle, often content with a quick toy chase or a windowsill perch.

How About Your Personality? We're Back To Dog vs Cat Lifestyle!

Your personality’s the other half of this puzzle. Does it say, "Should I get a dog or cat?"

Are you the outgoing type, craving a buddy who’s all in on your social scene?

Dogs are champs at that—I’ve had mine greet neighbors like long-lost pals, always up for a romp or a hello. They’re pack animals, wired to stick close and join the fun. Here, when choosing between dog and cat, a dog is the better choice.

But if you’re more introspective, maybe a bit independent yourself, a cat’s quiet presence fits like a glove. I’ve seen cats slink around, doing their own thing, then pop by for a head scratch when they’re ready—not when you demand it. It’s like they get the need for space, which dogs sometimes miss in their enthusiasm. Here, when choosing between dog and cat, a cat is the better choice.

Dog vs Cat Lifestyle: Time Availability

Time’s a sneaky factor too. Dogs ask for a chunk of it—walks, training, play—and I’ve had days where my pup’s schedule ran mine.

If you’re home a lot or can swing that commitment, it’s a joy; a Labrador or Golden Retriever will reward every minute.

But if you’re out the door from dawn to dusk, a cat’s lower maintenance shines. They’re fine solo for hours, napping or stalking a sunbeam—my friend’s Siamese barely notices her 9-to-5 grind. Sure, they need love, but they won’t guilt-trip you over a missed walk.

Dog vs Cat Lifestyle: Being Gone For More Than A Day

Being gone for extended periods of time, like business trips out of town or vacations when you can't take them with you, also plays a role. In fact, this is where dogs and cats really split. 

Dogs

When it comes to being gone for longer than a day, you'll need someone to take care of your dog. I’ve had dogs that turned my travel plans into a puzzle—leaving them means kennels ($$$), a pet sitter, or begging a friend to come over and taking care of your dog. 

Thankfully, we have one of our kids who lived with us for a while and only lives 5 minutes away who will come over twice a day to take care of our furry family members.

On most vacations we take Bella with us, but there's one vacation on a military base we really like doing where we can't bring Bella with us. Laura and I are both vets.

If we're only gone for a night, we leave Bella home alone. She has a dog door she can go in and out of, and pretty consistently she doesn't eat when we're gone so food isn't an issue. Longer than a day and we'll ask our son to come over a few times a day to check on Bella. She gets depressed when we're away, and just lays at the top of the stairs most of the time we're gone.

Not everyone is this lucky to have someone who can pop in a few times a day to check on your dog while you're away.

On this topic of being gone for a day or more, dogs are bluntly the bigger challenge.

I've heard stories of people leaving their dog at home for an extended period of time, not coming home when the dog expected them home, and the dog going bonkers in the house... chewing shoes in protest, going after the planters and making a terrible mess, and other destructive things.

Remember, dogs like a routine they can count on.

Cats

Cats, on the other hand, are the chill champs. We can leave our cats to run free for two weeks without us here. 

We have a gravity feeder and water bowl on the counter in the bathroom so they can eat & drink whenever they want.

We also have a huge gravity water container on the kitchen floor for Bella but the cats use it too. This is in the kitchen because it takes a deeper sink to put the water container in to get it filled up since it holds 2.5 gls.

For our kitchen sink we got an amazing faucet we absolutely love that works like a champ at filling the water container up. I absolutely love this faucet!

Just remember to wash out the water bowls & water container periodically.

Now, I'm aware some people prefer the automatic feeders they can program to feed their pets a certain amount of food on a programmed schedule. Many swear by this. It's just not what we choose to do.

As for the cats litter boxes, we chose to get self-cleaning litter boxes (link to first one). We have two, but it's no longer available.

However, the 2nd one I'm going to share here is the top rated self-cleaning litter box. Here's the link for the 2nd one: 2nd, Open-Top Self Cleaning Cat Litter Box.

As you can see, a cat is easier for longer stretches of your being away because they don’t sulk like dogs do, and don't need to go outside to go potty. When our son or his wife come over to check on Bella they of course check on our cats who are right there hoping to get some lovin.

If you’re a frequent flyer, a cat’s low-key independence and being able to take care of their bathroom needs automatically might just save your sanity. Cats are by far the better choice if you have to travel for work or are frequently away from your home for longer than a day.

Pet Camera

I've read on numerous pet forums about pet owners having a pet camera to keep an eye on their furry family member and to be able to talk to them. They speak highly of this.

This isn't a need for Laura and me since we're home almost all of the time. When we go on vacation or leave for any extended period of time, we generally take Bella with us. But since so many people love their pet camera, it makes sense to at least address it.

Here's the one most often recommended that most people seem to have:

With a 4.4 rating and 39,542 reviews, it's obvious people really like these pet camera's.

Check them out. They're not that much so if you feel the need to see and talk to your furry family member throughout the day while you're at work, pick yourself up one.

We also have a camera in our living room but it's not a pet specific one and I don't think the speaker on it is that good. We have it for security reasons to notify us of any activity in our house when we're not there. It uses AI to ignore our cats and Bella.

When we added security camera's to our property I did some extensive research on them, but I'm not sure this is the right place to discuss them. For here, let me just share that a key feature I require with a security camera is being immediately notified when it detects a motion. Believe it or not, many don't notify you until after they've uploaded the video. Since a lot can happen in those 20-30 seconds, this didn't work for me. I wanted to be immediately notified when the motion was detected, especially in the front of the house and at our front porch!

From the research I did, not wanting to spend a bundle of money, here's what I got and really like:

For outside where it's under a cover with no sunlight and inside I got: ieGeek Security Cameras Wireless Outdoor

• It's been running for 3 weeks and is at 65% battery, so not bad. But it takes a good 6-8 hours to charge.
• Great videos, very clear.
• I use both the cloud service & put a 128gb sdram chip in it for longer videos.

From my research I found ieGeek to be one of the best choices for someone on a budget. Laura and I are both frugal, but aren't afraid to spend the money to get the quality needed. For our needs, ieGeek works great. I also like that we're immediately notified once it detects movement!

Okay, I have one cool story to share with you about the security camera's. My neighbor called me to let me know he thought he saw Bella out front. I looked out back and Bella was on the back porch. I told him it couldn't be, Bella was on the back porch.

I had some notifications on my backporch camera so I watched them. Sure enough, that sneaky dog sneaked out and I saw exactly how she did it! I immediately went out and fixed the hole she sneaked out of, and I let my neighbor know she had gotten out.

I wouldn't have had any idea she got out, or how she got out, had it not been for the security camera.

Dog vs Cat Lifestyle: Space Available Plays A Role Between A Dog Or Cat

Space plays a role you can’t ignore. I’ve squeezed dogs into apartments before, and it’s doable with effort—small breeds like a French Bulldog or Pug adapt okay if you keep them moving.

But a big house or yard? That’s dog heaven—a German Shepherd or Newfoundland stretches out and owns it.

Cats, though? They’re space wizards. A tiny studio suits a Persian or British Shorthair just fine—they’ll claim a shelf or corner and call it home. Bigger spaces work too—Maine Coons love to roam—but they don’t need it like dogs often do.

The Money Side

The money side is worth a quick look.

Dogs can hit your wallet harder—food for a Great Dane runs $80-$150 a month, plus vet bills, toys, and maybe a chewed-up couch or two (guilty!). 

Cats keep it simpler—$20-$50 a month for food, a litter box, a scratching post and maybe a toy. My cat-owning buddies spend less upfront too—adoption’s $50-$150 vs. a breeder’s $500-$2,000 for a purebred pup. It’s not the decider, but it’s real.

Who's In the House

Who’s around you matters—kids, roommates, other pets. Dogs like Boxers or Beagles roll with kid chaos, but a skittish Chihuahua or aloof Akita? Not so much.

Cats vary too—a Ragdoll cuddles a toddler, while a Bengal might dodge the noise.

I’ve seen dogs and cats clash or clique up—You've heard already about how well Bella our German Shepherd and Garfield our Maine Coon get along. But Bella and Marley, also a Maine Coon, just look at each other and leave the other alone. If you’ve got a crew, think about who plays nice.

Your Level Of Experience

Your experience level’s a quiet nudge. Dogs can be a crash course—my first stubborn pup taught me patience fast. If you’re new, a chill Bulldog eases you in; seasoned folks might tame a Husky.

Cats feel simpler—a Domestic Shorthair’s forgiving—but a vocal Siamese or wild Savannah tests your chops. I jumped into dogs headfirst, but cats might’ve been gentler starting out.

Health Issues

Health quirks sneak in. Allergies? Cats like a Sphynx or Devon Rex shed less—lifesavers for sniffly folks.

Dogs offer hypoallergenic picks like Poodles, but fur’s often a battle. And some breeds—Bulldogs, Persians—come with vet baggage. I’ve dodged that, but it’s worth a thought.

Whether A Dog Or Cat, Your Why

What’s your “why”?

Want a buddy for runs or guarding? Dogs win—think Vizsla or Doberman.

A lap pal or mouse-chaser? Cats like Birmans or Abyssinians deliver.

I’ve loved dogs for their loyalty, but cats have that chill allure.

Dog vs Cat Lifestyle: Which One Makes Sense, A Dog Or A Cat?

Choosing between dog and cat can be a tough decision, especially if you've only been around dogs growing up or only around cats growing up. The idea of considering the other one can be quite daunting.

I admit it, I fought the idea of having a cat until Laura's cat Coon broke me in. She was a lover and the sweetest thing. In fact, they had a rule in their house, "If the cat's in your lap you don't have to get up, and others have to bring you your food or drinks or whatever."

Everyone wanted Coon in their lap. Hahaha, we had a lot of fun with this.

The point is, I didn't realize how awesome cats are until I lived with one. Don't make the same mistake I made. Instead, get the one that makes the most sense for your personality, how you live (your lifestyle), where you live and the other factors discussed.

So, in summary, when choosing between dog and cat, does a dog make sense? 

When you’ve got time, space, and a craving for a social, active sidekick—think busy days with a dog by your side. 

A cat? When you want low-key, independent vibes that fit a tight schedule or small spot—like a Russian Blue purring through your quiet nights. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Dog Wins If: You’re active, social, home often, with room to spare.
• Cat Wins If: You’re laid-back, busy, in a cozy space, seeking solo chill, travel being away from home for more than a day at a time.

Me? I’m primarily a dog guy—love the chaos and cuddles. But I also get the cat appeal—less fuss, more freedom. There is no choosing between dog and cat with us, we have both.

What’s your life whispering to you? Dog barks or cat purrs?

Tell me—I’m all ears!