Why are dogs better than cats? Have 16 reasons

Cat lovers, don’t get your hackles up, and you can retract those claws right away - as today, we’re diving (loud, proud and sandy snout-first) into why dogs are better than cats. It’s one side or the other as the cats vs. dogs debate rages on while some continue to claim that cats are better than dogs (they don’t call them crazy cat people for nothing). Have no fear though, fellow dog lover - you’re safe here in this Fido-loving filter bubble as we (very easily) put the question - why are dogs better than cats? to bed.

Why are dogs better than cats?

Well that’s easy - dogs are friendlier and more loving than cats - they actually want their humans around for more than the food they provide. Cats will have you lazing around all day, whereas dogs will keep you active and social, getting you out and about for walkies and chats with other pet parents. We could go on all day, so we will, below, with our 16 reasons why dogs are better than cats.

1. Dogs help with making friends (and even dating)
2. Dogs can learn tricks
3. Zoomies
4. Dogs will (mainly) love you no matter what
5. Dogs keep us active
6. Dogs have served humans for centuries
7. Dogs can detect seizures
8. Dogs can support our mental wellbeing
9. Dogs combat loneliness
10. A dog will actually greet you
11. Dogs are protective of their pack
12. Dogs will play games with you
13. Not a litter box in sight
14. Dogs are more accepting of strangers
15. There’s more variety in dogs
16. Dogs, not gods

1. Dogs help with making friends (and even dating)

Why are dogs better than cats if you’ve just moved to a new city, you’re house sitting or single? The answer is simple! Pet parents and sitters walking with a pooch in toe will know just how much easier it is to spark up a conversation with strangers than a walk without a dog. Chats about the weather (if you’re in England), breed types, pup names, training, walkies routes and more are simple, pooch-related conversation starters that can help you connect with the locals - you don’t see a kitten helping pet parents network now, do you?

2. Dogs can learn tricks

If there’s one thing that us dog lovers simply can’t get our heads around when it comes to cats is their independence and lack of desire to please their humans! If you need to prove why dogs are better than cats, consider this - dogs can be trained because they actually care about making their humans happy. The benefit? Dogs are willing to learn not only your house rules, but a whole host of cool tricks that some even enter competitions for!

3. Zoomies

Despite our extensive list of reasons (that we had heaps of fun writing, by the way), the question why are dogs better than cats can be answered with one simple word: zoomies. People with dogs or those who’ve had the pleasure of pet sitting a pooch pal before will know the joy of zoomies - it really is a feast for the eyes. You don’t see cats become charged with a sudden burst of energy that causes them to profusely dart the circumference of your home 17 times, only to sit down afterwards like nothing’s happened, do you?

4. Dogs will (mainly) love you no matter what

Why are dogs better than cats? Well something dog parents won’t have any trouble with sharing is that pals of the canine persuasion have no issues when it comes to love. In fact, most dogs will love you (even if you’re a stranger), mainly no matter what. Love isn’t earnt with a dog - dogs know where their bread is buttered - unlike cats, who seem to think it their right to act aloof until they decide otherwise.

5. Dogs keep us active

Dogs are better than cats for making sure their humans stay active. One of the benefits of dogs is that they need (at least) a daily walk to stay happy and healthy, peeling their humans off the sofa with their doe eyes and eager, wagging tails. And while dogs need walks, cats tend to walk themselves (or don’t leave the house at all), and where is the fun in that?

6. Dogs have served humans for centuries

Why are dogs better than cats? Well they’ve played a bigger role than cats in the lives of us humans for centuries. In fact, there’s evidence that suggests dogs were domesticated over 30,000 years ago - that’s a whole lot of bonding time. From herders, drovers and sledge-haulers to farm workers and not to mention service dogs, it’s safe to say that dogs have and will continue to play a central role in human society for years to come. Today we can find dogs like Golden Retrievers assisting people with disabilities, German Shepherds working with the police, and many other loyal breeds playing their noble role alongside their humans.

7. Dogs can detect seizures

Are cats or dogs better for keeping us humans safe? Well if service dogs are anything to go by, the answer is pretty obvious: dogs. Otherwise known as seizure-alert dogs, some dogs have the ability to be trained to sense a seizure, and let their humans know when it’s going to happen. So, while your pooch is letting you know of a life-threatening medical situation, what’s your cat doing? Probably lounging in the sun and passing judgy looks at all the barking - at least that’s our guess.

8. Dogs can support our mental wellbeing

It’s no secret that pets are great for our wellbeing, but one of the reasons why dogs are the best pets is that they’re actually employed for it. Not only boosting our mood through their excitable charm, cool tricks and ever-loyal presence, dogs are so good at offering emotional support that there’s now such a thing as a therapy dog! Found in schools and other community spaces, dogs are employed for their calming presence that helps to center and comfort those around them.

9. Dogs combat loneliness

Why are dogs better than cats for people welcoming pets to combat loneliness? Well the answer is obvious - cats pick and choose when they’re home, which can sometimes be rather sparing! Not only are dogs at home unless taken out by their humans, canine companions help to give their humans a purpose to leave the house, and complete other dopamine-boosting tasks like grooming, feeding and of course, cuddling.

10. A dog will actually greet you

Ever walked into a home with a cat and been quite literally ignored? Fellow dog lover, we feel your pain. Dogs love nothing more than putting a smile on their humans’ faces as they walk in the door - hence all the tail wagging, licking and well-meaning accidents on the floor. So, while cats will (without effort) pretend you don’t exist, dogs will shower you with (genuine) love and excitement which often ends with them rolling over for a belly rub - just another reason why dogs are better than cats.

11. Dogs are protective of their pack

Another reason why dogs are good pets (and better pets than cats, naturally) is because they actually care if your house is getting burgled. Yup, a cat will happily sit back and watch your TV get escorted out of the room by strangers, content so long as their food, scratching posts and snooze spots remain intact. On the flip side, dogs are such great guard dogs that they’ve been employed in the field for centuries - their sharp sense of smell, incredible hearing, need to please and natural guarding instincts make them perfect for the job.

12. Dogs will play games with you

If there was ever a games contest with dogs vs. cats, it’s pretty clear which would win. While cats are admittedly skilled athletes, they lack the drive that dogs innately possess to play with their humans. Think fetch, tug-of-war, and hunt-the-treat - none of those would be nearly as fun (or frankly possible) with a cat.

13. Not a litter box in sight

Another glaringly obvious reason why dogs are better than cats is that their business is done outside and it stays outside! Sadly, cats come with litter boxes - love or hate the animals themselves. With a canine companion at home, pet parents can rest assured that litter isn’t being scattered around the house with their perfect pooch trained to hop outside when nature calls.

14. Dogs are more accepting of strangers

If you’re choosing between a cat or dog and wondering why dogs are better pets than cats, well cats don’t exactly warm to new people, new environments, or much change at all. In fact, if you’re thinking about welcoming a new partner, friends or even a new baby, you can count on your cat giving them the cold shoulder for quite a while, and maybe even forever. A well-trained pooch on the other hand will happily warm to new people and make a new space home as long as you’re in it.

15. There’s more variety in dogs

There are a number of cat breeds out there, but let’s face it, they don’t vary a whole lot - at least in the domestic world. Dogs, on the other hand, can suit almost any home and human, varying in shape, size, energy levels and personality. After a loving lap dog? Welcome a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Or maybe it’s a trainable, pocket-sized pooch bursting with energy you’re after - have a Jack Russell. Or if aesthetics are important to you, welcome a pup with floppy ears - the canine world has it all.

16. Dogs, not gods

And last but not least on our reasons why dogs are better than cats - dogs don’t need to be revered as deities to know they’re welcome in our households. While dogs have been a man’s best friend (and by man, we mean humankind - naturally!) for over 30,000 years, cats have been worshiped as godlike creatures in that time. The result? We’ll let you figure that one out…

From one echo chamber to another…

Still not convinced? Well as much as we hate to share this, you might feel happier on this blog, where we reluctantly explore why some people believe cats are better than dogs.