Dog vs. Cat: Who’s Better?
The debate continues: are dogs the better pet or do cats take the title? Well, that all depends on who you ask. For those of us who just can’t take sides, here are some unique factoids that endear us to each one:
Who’s been domesticated longer?
Dogs. Our canine friends have been domesticated for over 14,000 years, while cats have enjoyed domestication for roughly 7,000 years.
Who’s mentioned more often in the bible?
Dogs are. Starting in Genesis, dogs are referenced 40 times throughout the bible, whereas cats are not mentioned at all.
Who has a longer life expectancy?
Cats. The average house cat will live longer than the average canine. Although lifespan varies greatly by size and breed, a dog’s average life expectancy is 11 years, whereas the house cat lives to be 16 years old, on average.
Who has a better sense of hearing?
Cats. They can hear much better than dogs can. At an upper range of 65 kilohertz, mama cats are able to keep an ear out for their kittens at great distances. They can also hear the ultrasonic communications of pesky rodents.
Who has a better sense of smell?
Dogs. Canines are known to be great sniffers. They have 200 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses, compared to a cat’s 19 million. Humans have only 5 million.
Who has more teeth?
Dogs. Dogs are the better chompers, with 42 teeth vs. a cat’s 30 teeth.
What is the most popular household pet in America?
Cats. According to U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, cats outnumber dogs as America’s most common pet. The U.S. is home to 82 million cats compared to only 72 million dogs.
