I could, indeed do a big post about pets in my life, but suffice to say until a few years ago, we have had brilliant dogs in our life, Jasper had to be PTS at aged 17, still acting like a puppy. Our family, well, my dad, hated cats because he had an allotment where they used to scratch up the seeds and poo there, and we were brought up that way. We all hated cats. I have since had a semi feral cat (He used to live down the road and the owners turfed him out, sadly died), two albino rats, and now my babies, Brian (black tom) and Cally (female Tortie). And my brother, who hated cats, has a cat 'for his kids LOL' called Smokie.
I would still love a dog though.

don't cat owners let them run wild resulting in millions of birds being killed by them every year.

Cats generally don't run up to and jump on people. I don't have a problem with dogs doing that to me because I love dogs and am not scared of them - but I can understand why some people may not like it.

I agree that it's a shame that domesticated cats prey on wild birds. They are of course only doing the job we expected of them historically, although my cat's never caught anything (as far as I'm aware): a competent hunter he is not.

And you know ... I respect all creatures, but the bird population around here (there's lots and lots of trees) is immense, so much so I call it guano-ville. Roofs are almost white at certain times. I'd hate to imagine how populous the wild bird population would be without any predators.

I love them both!

I love and adore both. Prior to the house I am in now I have always lived along small country lanes surrounded by fields so owning a cat was never a problem. Now I live on a main road and am not prepared to take the risk with a cat and I miss them terribly. So after years of owning both Its just dogs now.

We love dogs and cats but both work full time so have 3 cats.

My cat is 8 and has never caught a bird.

I imagine my 3 are catching your cat's share then

Our cat came from the cat protection place and had been abused. When she first came to us she hid in the bed for the first month.

Now she follows me about like a wee lamb. She is more scared of the birds than they are of her.

I was attacked by a dog when I was a year old, thankfully the owner got it off me and no major damage was done. This made me scared of dogs for many years (even though I don't remember the actual attack). But I don't hate dogs, it's not the dog's fault it attacked me, apparently it turned out to have a brain tumour. It had to be PTS soon after.

I was scared of all animals as a young child, until my parents got us 2 kittens when I was 11. I was terrified of the kittens to start with, then realised they weren't going to do me any serious harm - maybe a little playful bite or scratch. Because they were the first pets I ever had, I think that is what made me a cat woman. I have always had cats ever since, and can't imagine not having a cat (or 3)

But I am no longer scared of dogs, and I think my cats helped me overcome my fear. I would actually like to have a dog, but not while I work full time. When I retire I will get a dog.

Cats have won!

love dogs, but can't stand cats. they really a wretched animals

I have always been a dog person. Always. I own lots of books about dog breeds and such. But I do actually like cats as well. I never actually considered myself a cat owner until I ended up with my cat Yoshi through circumstance. But I've come to apprecaite cats more through him but will always be a dog lover first and foremost.

I prefer dogs but would never say I hate cats although I would never have one. I have friends who have some adorable cats, and some with unfriendly ones - the same could be said for dogs I suppose and in fairness, I've never heard of a cat who has seriously mauled or killed someone. All types of pet bring pleasure to their owners, so it is pretty narrow minded to say that you 'hate' dogs. The op might not particularly want to own one, but unless he/she has a phobia or has had a particularly bad experience with a dog then perhaps they might want to look at his/herself and consider why this 'hatred' persists. Because they 'smell, slaver and bark'? Mmmm.

My cats dont they smile at me

I don't understand how anyone can 'hate' either. I love dogs. I don't have a cat but I still like them...

Someone I know has an un-neutured dog which has bitten a stranger, and has also tried to attack her partner, father, sister and me.

It has also frightened her young nieces and younger brother so they won't go near her house.

It got out her front door and bit a dog going past with its owner which bit it back. Her response was 'well I am glad my dog got a bite out of it as well'

We had her round for a meal and without asking she took this dog - cheek I have a cat. It spent the whole time scratching at the door, howling and making smells.

I think it is the dog owners who can be the problem, she is totally blind to any faults her dog has, which proper training would hopefully have eliminated.

I'm the OP. I have thought about it - why I really hate dogs. The things that jump to mind are - the smell, the open, toothy mouths, slavering tongues, yukky horrible brown eyes (most of 'em), many are terribly ugly, they are noisy, they 'can' be dangerous.....and I've never been keen on the 'popular' choice.

I started the thread, simply to see whether anyone else shared a very strong dislike of dogs and a love of cats....that's all. I would seem to be in the minority, however (as I suspected).

the smell
My cat has the nastiest urine smells.

the open, toothy mouths
All the better to kiss you with. My cat has mouse breath.

slavering tongues,
Only when she pants.My cat uses his tongue to lick his bits.

yukky horrible brown eyes (most of 'em)
My dog has beautiful black shadowed hazel eyes.
My cat has nice eyes too but he can give you a mean stare at times.

many are terribly ugly,
My dog won a prettiest Bitch Competition.
My cats father is a mangled mess who roams the streets.

they are noisy
My cat doesn't shut up for food.

they 'can' be dangerous
I have never met a truly mean dog and my cat has badly bitten me once. I have also been scratched by many a foul tempered cat in the past.

and I've never been keen on the 'popular' choice.
Most seem to love cats in here.


(For the record I love both my animals and they both have good and bad faults. That is so with cats and dogs in general)

deleted, misread a post

I love most cats, but I only like big chunky dogs like labs, Alsatians, collies etc. that aren't totally hyperactive and jumping around slobbering all the time.

Two of my friends have got dogs like big spaniels, they could be Irish setters I think, but they're so annoying, leaping all over you and slobbering and generally misbehaving. It's the same with small yappy dogs that don't do anything but sleep or scamper around and yap - what's the point of them?

I had a sneaky feeling that there had to be a bit of the old 'wind-up' in your post - it certainly worked

Still not convinced, I'm afraid. Still can't abide dogs.


See what I mean? All that slobbering and jumping about. Yeuch.


Genuinely no wind up at all. I really, really can't abide anything about dogs.

Report from CNN - research on Personality differences between cat and dog people.

I think this makes sense.

Dog people more extraverted, agreeable and concientious than cat people who are more neurotic and open (meaning creative, philosophical, non-traditional in this context).

I am deffo in there but am more extraverted than the study suggests. I am a complete neurotic, am not agreeable in many cases and I rebel against much convention and traditional notions.

Opionions?