The Dogs Vs Cats Debate in City Apartments

By Laura Rosewall

A city apartment might not appear to be a good place to have a pet, as they are oftentimes extremely small without much space. Having one more living thing in our places of residence could just add to all the clutter.

Then again, bringing a pet into our lives will enrich it with companionship, joy and, surely, entertainment. This is the main reason that a lot of people who reside in city apartments do, indeed, have a pet living with them.

You will see that one animal is going to be called more suitable to be in a city apartment than others are; it all depends on exactly which pets people tend to like more. Let me be objective about the situation and talk about both the pros and cons of each animal in that setting.

Let's discuss dogs first. They will be very loyal to you and are a lot more active than a cat would be. Dogs are, in all likelihood, going to follow you around quite a bit, as opposed to cats that will surely do the exact opposite of that.

A dog might not be the best choice if you are a busy person without much time to give them attention. On the contrary, someone is going to appreciate this about dogs if they really like having the companionship of a friend who is always there for them.

With a cat, they do not require as much attention as dogs and generally keep to themselves. Yes, they will come to you for the occasional cuddle, but they can pretty much maintain themselves.

When it comes to being active, a dog is going to have to go outside many times each day. You will like walking a dog if you enjoy being outdoors and getting fresh air.

Contrary to that, most cats that are kept indoors do not have to go outside. All you need to do is make sure to keep the litter box clean. You do not even need to leave your home.

Well, it might seem like having a cat in the city is easier than having a dog. Nevertheless, so many folks just can't get around the love they have for dogs.

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Happiness is Pets - Adopt a Pet For Your Happy Life

By Susan McMillin

Just ask any pet owner about their pet and you are likely to see them perk up all over their body. They will smile, get excited and probably tell you at least one funny story about their pets. Even the popular on-line game, World of War Craft, recognizes the power of a happy pet.

Health, Happiness, and Pets
Advocates of alternative medicine have long recognized that happiness is pets. Animals are taken into nursing homes, hospitals and other centers to work their magic on people who are ill. A January 2008 New York Times article, quotes a Japanese study showing that pet owners have fewer doctor visits and an Australian study that shows pet owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Dogs perform search and rescue, act as guides for those who cannot see or hear, and can even sometimes predict seizures in their human companions.

There are many theories behind this. In a 2003 article from the Clemson University Undergraduate Journal, Alicia Stribling notes that a review of research indicates that the quality of the relationship matters. People with a positive relationship get more benefits from pet ownership than others. Some research indicates that happiness is pets because the pets have primarily positive interactions with us. They do not criticize, condemn, or complain, but provide steady affection.

Happiness is Pets for Animals Too
Whatever the reason, even animals find comfort in relationships with other animals. For example, the famous gorilla, Koko, loves kitties. Koko is learning to communicate with humans through sign language and if the photos were not compelling enough, Koko has confirmed her love of humans, other gorillas, and kittens through her language.

Another famous example of animals connecting with other animals to confirm that happiness is pets in the animal kingdom too, is the turtle who adopted the baby hippo in the African animal rescue camp after the big Tsunami.

Happiness is pets that are adopted
A large body of research on positive psychology shows that people are happier when they are helping others. You can increase your pet happiness further when you adopt an animal from your local animal shelter or humane society. If you are looking for just the right pet to rescue, you might also look on petfinders.com. In addition to dogs and cats, they have a wide variety of unusual animals like horses, birds and others. I know someone who adopts farm animals who would otherwise be slaughtered like chickens and sheep.

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