What makes a better pet for children a cat or dog?

Angel E: What makes a better pet for children a cat or dog?
My children (11-6)would like a pet. They prefer a puppy, I have been told that cats are easier upkeep and pretty easy to train. For children who have never had an pet, will a cat be just as satisfying to them as the dog(they say they want)? What are the pros and cons of both.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Bianca
Maybe a dog would be better even though I’m a cat person. They’re more playful. Cats are fine also.

Answer by Minister L
Kids will love either animal….What type of animal are you ready to care for is the question. Children want pets but rarely take care of them. So you need to ask yourself…which do I want to take care of.
After the initial ooohs and ahhhs children lose interest.

Answer by spooty1
you should go to your local shelter and let the kids see the animals let them have some time to decide what they think they will like

Answer by Zohan T
a dog like a golden retriever or a lab. if you get a cat they are boring

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Answer by K… P
Hello,
It is very true that cats are very easy to care for rather than a puppy.
Cats are usally trained in a couple days on how to use a litter box. Also, cats do not know any commands: sit, stay. They also hardely get sick. The only thing cats need is vaccanations and a declaw treatment.

Dog are trained in about 10 weeks after purchase. Dogs have to be potty trained which takes about 10 weeks. Also, they will have a lot of accidents along the way. Then they have to go to obedience school.

But in the long run dogs are better than cats. Dogs are very loyal and love to spend time with there owners. While cats like to adventure. Also cats don’t like to be rubbed by there stomach and will bite hard.

Many people have opinions but this is from my 20 years of experience.

Go with a dog from www.petfinder.com

Thanks!

Answer by Hyper H
As a child I had a dog.
Cats in my opinion are easy to take care of. All you really need to do is change his or her litter and feed him or her(water too). Of course cats need attention too, but all they do most of the day is sleep under beds, couches ect. A dog would be more work to take care of, like walking him or her, bathing it and quite a bit of attention. Yes dogs are more work, but definitely more exiting for your children.
When I was little my dog was my best friend.

Answer by foxgirl1268
Both would make great pets!Cats can be easier to keep considering they are pretty independent.Puppies and dogs on the other hand , is what every child wants.I know from experience with both types of pets , that i would prefer a dog.Take in account , puppies will need a lot of training , time and possibly money.The pros to owning a puppy , is that it will teach your childeren responsibility.The cons to owning a puppy can include : money , time and the responsibility of raising.A dog might be a better choice because they have already been house trained , had all their puppy shots and manners.The decision is up to you: but remember , any pet is a good pet.

Answer by AnimalLover
Well, both cats and dogs are very good pets to children of all ages, as both will be relativley easy to train, cost about the same, and will love them, but if your children have never had a pet before, I would suggest buying a cat because they do not need to be walked, trained as much, can be left home alone all day because they don’t need to be let out for the bathroom, as they have a litterbox, and they have the advantage of killing mice and other pests, while a dog is more likely to kill a chicken or a bird. But cats will still love them as much as a dog does. I’m not saying that cats are better, but merely stating my opinion that they would be an easier first pet for young children. Hope this helps!

Answer by kyliehatesregret
a puppyd going to bond with them better and want more attention. so no i think they wouldent as happy with a cat as they would be with a puppy ause duh..puppys have PUPPY LOVE♥

Answer by Candy B
i love both but a cat is eayser to train etc.. most cats usally come litter trained already.
cat’s are very friendly and love to play!
but can give you quite a nasty scratch
but same goe’s with a dog they may get mad and bite.

dogs are harder to toilet train,
but its realy good your getting your kids a pet!
its all upto you in the end either a cat or dog or maby both depends on which one your more comfitable having.
anyway good-luck and hope whatever you choose will be a blessing to your home

Answer by catcat
Kids know what they like, OK? I have never been a mother, but I was one of three kids. All three of us preferred cats, while our mother preferred dogs. So, of course, we kids brought home cats; Mama brought home dogs. All three of us are animal lovers as adults. We have (and prefer) cats and I have a dog, too. At any rate, take the kids out to the animal shelter and let them look at all the pets up for adoption. They may get over the notion altogether once they see all the maintenance and responsibility involved. Chances are better, though, that the pet will pick them. Better yet, Mom: Let’s get one of each!

Answer by kwild08
DOG they are more playfull and social cats are quite and dont like to play were dogs do. good luck

Answer by Cassidy M
dogs, cats are not the most tolerant animals considering you have a 6 year old a cat may bite and scratch from rough handling a sweet natured dog such as a lab would either just sit their and enjoy the attention or walk away.also though dogs take more work it is worth it though it is a good piont that the kids may just give up on a dog or cat so maybe try something smaller? if i had to choose between the to it would be dogs all the way. 🙂

Answer by horsejumper
Well puppies are diffucult. But since your kids seem to want a puppy more then a cat. I would get a dog. Maybe from 1 to 3. They are ussally house broken at that age. And will be much easer to care for. I dont think a cat will satisfy them as much. Depends on the cat. Femals dont ussally play has much as males. They are more independent. While males are loving, and very playful. But that depends on the breed. I havent delt with to many breeds of cats. But my mom has a himalian (SP) that plays, but isnt very friendly. I have found that male tabbys are very playful, and loving. So if you want to get a cat instead of a dog then you could get a small male tabby. They come into different types, short hair and long hair. We have short hair, he doesnt need to be groomed at all. My brother has long hair, sheds alot! but both are playful and very cute!

Cons of a cat.
YOu cant really ruf house with a cat to much. You can have string on the floor for them and toys like that. Cats i think are mainly for very young children, and adults. Plus teens.
Pros of a cat.
Like you said cats are easier to handle. They come house broken. And you dont have to take them for walks.

Cons of a dog.
Puppies need to be taught house broken. Need lots of attitition and excerise.
Pros of a dog.
You can teach them new tricks. (shake, sit, laydown, rollover, dance, speak, and to get something for you). Very playful, and teach kids responsibility.

If you do get a dog, some that i dont suggest are collies, pitbulls, extremely big dogs, and very little dogs. They all need lots of attition. Little dogs need to be watched carefully, big dogs can hurt a little kid (not on purpose just from bieng so big, plus they are strong and your kids most likely wont be able to walk them) Collies need LOTS of excerise, and i mean LOTS! I walked my border collie two miles, and she was still full of energy. She needed to be put on the dog food that those sled dogs eat, she ran to much! lol. ANd pitbulls need to be soliliezed, need proper training, and are not meant for first time owners. I have a pitbull right now, he is just a puppy, and he is doing suver training. and is just a little love bug! lol.
Poodles make great dogs. They need to be excerised, but will tire themselves out. Are extremely easy to train. They are the smartest breeds, loving, and only bark when playing and when someone is at the door. But if you dont even like that you can train them out of it. So if your kids really want a puppy. i would get a minature poodle. they are the perfact size for kids and are just amazing dogs. Plus they (if in good health) can live to be 20.
I have a poodle (poodle with my dad, and pit with my mom and her bf.)
and she is just the best dog!

Answer by Vanessa M
Yes, cats are a lot easier to take care of than dogs. And since you’re probably going to be the one taking care of this animal it might be the better choice.

However, I would definitely recommend a dog. They’re a little bit more difficult to take care of, but with children, sometimes that’s better. The fact that they have to play with a dog (whereas a cat just lays around and sleeps) will keep your children interested in the pet longer. Your kids can teach a dog tricks, and take it for walks, and play fetch with it. If you get a cat, they’re not going to pay much attention to it, because cats are boring and don’t play fetch and go for walks.
The fact that dogs require more care than a cat will be better for you children because they will know that their puppy depends on them, he needs them. And that will give them that sense of responsibility and caring and compassion that parents always want their children to learn. It will make them bond with the dog, and they’ll be companions with the dog, because they know that the dog loves spending time with them, and lives to play with them and make them happy.
Cat’s don’t do that, and especially with children, the cat will probably just be annoyed by them, rather than bond with them and become a companion.

So even though a dog is more work, your children will benefit so much more.
And you don’t have to end up taking care of the pet, as long as you teach your children that it’s their pet and it relies on their care. Most kids like that feeling of responsibility, and will love feeding it everyday, and giving it what it needs.