After an exhausting day of school, which would you prefer to see as you walk through the door? A peaceful kitty sleeping softly upon your comfortable, cozy, bed; or a sweet puppy waiting right at your feet?
Popularity Among Dogs and Cats at Harrison
A poll was sent out to Harrison students asking various questions regarding dogs and cats. The main question asked of students was the classic, “Which do you prefer, dogs or cats?” According to the answers I received from the poll, 62.1 percent of Harrison Wildcats prefer dogs. This information isn’t surprising knowing that 72.4 percent of students who answered the poll have at least one dog. On the other hand, only 48.3 percent of students who answered had at least one cat.
Another question that was asked was “Do you believe dogs or cats are more loyal?” The answer is very clear in this case; 96.6 percent of Harrison Wildcats believe that dogs are significantly more loyal than cats. Although dogs are very popular among the students at Harrison thus far, cats have not lost the battle yet. A question asked to students seemed to favor the felines; “Are dogs or cats easier to take care of?” Based on the data gathered from the poll, 69 percent of students claim that cats are easier to take care of than dogs, which may be true in some cases.
Popularity Among Dogs and Cats Worldwide
Dogs are certainly popular among Harrison students, but do they continue to take on the lead globally?
Given the statistics from Stat Box, the popularity of cats and dogs have come to a pretty close tie, but dogs take the win by 0.05 percent; with 69.62 percent of people worldwide owning at least one dog. It is well known that cats and dogs are our most commonly owned companions, but many people wonder if there are more cats or dogs that walk the globe. An estimate from Hepper was made to calculate how many dogs and cats we believe exist as of right now. The majority of researchers agree that there are more dogs than cats in the world with estimates showing that there are around 700 million to 1 billion dogs, and only 400 million to 700 million house cats in the world. This data shows that dogs, for the most part, are more popular than cats.
Benefits of Cats
Cats are one of our two most common companions; loved by many people globally. Although there are some downsides to cats, there are also quite a few benefits; cat people are very well aware of this. According to Welia Health, owning a cat can significantly improve your mental health. If you are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, or autism, you may want to consider getting a new feline friend.
We’ve all been stressed at least once in our lifetime; but what if I told you that owning a cat can reduce that stress by a good amount? When you are stressed, petting a cat can calm you down, but why? As you pet your cat, oxytocin (the love hormone) is released. This chemical response results in reducing stress and anxiety crucially. A study by Welia Health shows that cat owners often have a lower level of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress). So, if you have ever considered getting a cute kitty, this is your sign.
Downside of cats
Owning any kind of animal has its upsides and downsides, but what may be the consequences of owning a cat?
While there are many benefits of owning a cat, there’s still a couple downsides, depending on your perspective. Just like any animal, cats frequently need to go to the vet. Medical bills can be quite pricey, considering regular checkups, vaccinations, and if your feline friend gets hurt in any type of way, they may need to get checked out.
Something to consider before getting a cat is their claws. Cats have claws, and they know how to use them. Cats tend to scratch furniture to sharpen these claws, which will absolutely result in a busted-up couch. To prevent this from happening, you might want to think about getting a scratching post.
Like any animal, cats don’t clean up after themselves; especially after using the bathroom. A litter box is a necessity when owning a cat. Unless you own a litter robot, the litter box also doesn’t clean itself, which may be time consuming for some cat owners. Not only do you have to clean the litter box, but you have to buy more litter when you run out which can get pretty expensive. Although having a cat seems nice, you have to consider the consequences of owning one as well.
Benefits of Dogs
Just like cats, dogs have plenty of benefits, if not more. Many people dream of owning a dog as it is the most commonly owned pet. Similar to cats, owning a dog can potentially be linked to improved mental health. Mayo Clinic Health System states that dogs can be a valuable part of cardiac rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and physical therapy programs; they provide social support, and oftentimes trained dogs can even participate in your rehabilitation or therapy sessions.
Not only are dogs good for your mental health, but they also can help you improve your weight and get you moving. If you own any type of dog, it is essential that they go on regular walks every day or every other day. Dogs can’t walk themselves; you need to walk them. If you are someone who is struggling with their weight, maybe consider getting a dog; you may lose a few pounds.
According to Mayo Clinic Health System, a research study found that dog owners are more likely to report regular physical activity than people who don’t own any dogs. Owning a dog can improve your social connections with other people. Dog owners often tend to interact more with others, preventing isolation. Being isolated increases the risk of heart attacks and cognitive issues and owning a dog can lower that risk.
Downside of Dogs
Alongside cats, dogs have benefits as well as downsides.
Dogs are loud. Owning a dog means dealing with their constant barking every time you let them roam in the backyard or when walking them. If you can’t handle animal waste, a dog might not be the right fit for you. Having a dog means cleaning up after them, which may get a little smelly and disgusting sometimes.
Just like cats, dogs can be quite expensive. Having a dog means frequent visits to the vet, which can be pretty pricey considering vaccinations, check-ups, and if your dog gets injured in any kind of way. Dogs are a great pet, and even though owning them can be a lot at times, they still make great companions.