I have written a lot of columns and often refer to Santa Barbara as “dog friendly.” It is also very “cat friendly.”
An estimated 6.5 million people in the United States have a cat, which is 22.9% of the population. Many people have a dog and a cat. Having a dog and a cat is not mutually exclusive.
In a survey of pet owners, Forbes found that 81% of Gen Z (age 11 to 26 years) have a cat as their pet. Maybe this is because in some ways cats are easier to have as a pet than a dog, especially in Santa Barbara.
I say especially in Santa Barbara because, for college students, housing here is costly and the availability is low. Cats need less space than dogs and can take better advantage of vertical space.
Even in a studio, cats can have more space by taking advantage of different vertical spaces such as cat trees, window sills or the back of couches.
Dogs are not happy with an indoor-only lifestyle. Outdoor exercise is essential for a dog’s health.
You need to have the time to take your dog on walks or even just to let them out into an enclosed area. If you have time constraints such as work and school, or even mobility issues, this may be a major challenge.
There are great dog walkers in Santa Barbara but the cost adds up quickly for college students or senior citizens.
Cats are much safer indoors, protected from cars, cat fights, coyotes and other unforeseen injuries. They enjoy being indoors.
They are not a creature of change. Cats are not happy when you rearrange the furniture. They are content lounging, snoozing and hanging out on a cat tree or window sill while you work all day.
They are independent and are not prone to separation anxiety. Cats typically sleep for about 15 hours a day. They love your company but seldom demand attention.
Our Dalmatian, Jasper, and our Boston terrier, Bosco, try to share our bed. Most of you know how that goes. Your dog does not respect your personal space, whether it is jumping onto your bed and stretching out, going under the covers, lying across the couch, or just giving you the loving body lean as you sit on the couch watching TV.
Cats have a bad reputation for being somewhat indifferent or aloof, but they just really understand and identify with the concept of personal space.
Cats do not bark. We all love our dogs but how many times have you said to your dog “stop that barking”? They bark at so many things, including the UPS driver, the U.S. Postal Service carrier, sanitation workers, squirrels, other dogs, or even a ball that has rolled under the deck or couch.
Cats meow and purr. Meows may be more frequent and louder when cats are hungry, or just saying a soft hello when you get home, or when it is night time and they are more active. Living in a building with shared walls, your neighbors won’t hear your cat’s meow but they will hear your dog’s bark.
Cats are naturally very clean animals. They groom themselves. Long-haired cats may need to have their coats brushed every so often, and all cats need their nails trimmed every four to eight weeks, but cats are essentially self-cleaning machines.
Dogs, on the other hand, are less concerned with grooming. They like to roll in anything stinky. Dogs need your help to get bathed and groomed.
You walk your dog and carry poop bags to clean up after them. Cats just use their litter boxes and always cover their poop and pee. This is an instinctive action to hide their scent from potential predators. This instinctive burying of their waste makes your life easier to empty or scoop out a litter box.
According to the ASPCA, the overall cost of caring for cats is lower than the cost for caring for medium- or large-sized dogs.
Cats instinctively pursue, hunt and pounce on their prey. This helps protect your home from unwanted pests such as mice and rats.
The scent of your cat may even help keep rodents out of your home, as their scent can act as a repellent.
Their stalking and leaping at prey also makes cats have fun interacting with various cat toys, such as chasing an LED beam, jumping and swatting at fishing pole toys, or playing with other self-interactive cats toys.
Dogs often chew their toys and destroy them. Replacing them can get expensive. Cats do not typically chew and destroy their toys, and their toys are relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to make.
Cats and dogs are fun, loving and bring us endless joy. Studies have shown that dogs and cats have a calming effect on their owners. They help owners fall asleep, make them laugh, lower their blood pressure and give them comfort.
So both dogs and cats are wonderful pals. You know who best fits your lifestyle. Maybe enjoy one — or more — of each.