To the people who say cats are not high-maintenance, aloof, and can spend time alone, where are those cats? It’s a feline fallacy! This author has three frisky felines who are the epitome of high maintenance. Aloof? Only when they’re plotting their parents’ or siblings ‘ deaths. Alone time? We can’t even use the restroom without a kitten audience. Shut a door? It’s a crime against humanity.
Dogs actually care about how their pet parents feel and want to please them. That must be a nice feeling. Cats are 100% more high-maintenance than their canine counterparts, and here are three indisputable reasons why!
You Can Take a Dog on a Walk
This author has three cats who will spin out of control if they do not get their routine play times. They will yowl at the moon, attack each other, and in the case of one of the cats, Lucy, your leg is up for grabs too.
The idea of being able to take your dog on a half-hour walk or two around the block and then they’re entertained and tired sounds so relieving. Throw in some Kongs and a rope toy, and your dog is set for days.
No such luck with a house-bound cat. This author’s babies are house cats because they have FIV, but there are many good reasons to make that choice.
Oh, and good luck trying to walk a cat on a leash, too. Most cats will either go nuts when you try to put it on or stop moving entirely in strong protest. The outdoors can be scary, too, when you have a tiny kitty with cars, dogs, and people all around.
Dogs Are Not High-Maintenance About Food
Dogs are the opposite of high-maintenance when it comes to food. They’ll eat trash, cat box gifts, and anything edible.
Cats, especially ex-street ones like ours, will turn their noses up at everything. Did they used to love a brand? Great. Now they hate it. Do they love a brand? Only the flaked and grilled. To hell with the pate and gravy varieties. If you’re getting a cat, get ready for the spreadsheet for which flavors and brands each cat will eat. Have you had flashbacks of trying to feed them during pandemic food shortages? Us too.
Cats Do Not Care About You
When feline parents tell you their cats would trade them for a case of Fancy Feast, they are not lying. Felines care about a lot of things because they’re high-maintenance, as we discussed.
Don’t scoop the box often enough? They’ll pee in the shower (not ours). Offer them the wrong food. They’ll go on a hunger strike and then get fatty liver, and you’ll have to force-feed them to keep them going (it happened to a friend). Don’t you play with them enough? They’ll make minced meat out of your legs (definitely ours).
What cats don’t care about is how you feel. They don’t feel the need to please you, and they know their worth. They love you but from a distance. They need you, but they might express that with a hiss and a bite. Being a cat parent is one of the most rewarding things, but the responsibility is immense.
Count your blessings if you’re a dog parent. From a dog perspective, this article explains three reasons why a dog is not high-maintenance. Admit it, cats are more work.
About the Author
The author, Julie Miller, has two degrees that barely have anything to do with sports or entertainment. They do offer insight on the health—body and mind—of people. Keep an eye on Julie, because her interests vary far and wide within the realm of sports, entertainment, and society at large, with an eye for the abstract.
You can find Julie Miller on X and Instagram at @itsmillercrime. She also has two weekly podcast shows, one on True Crime within the world of sports and another on general sports updates, both of which can be found here. You can find all of Julie’s sports content for Total Apex Sports here, and all of her entertainment content for Total Apex Entertainment here.
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.