By
Christene Kidd
10/29/25
•
5 min
If you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of the eternal cats vs. dogs debate (probably during some wincing small talk at a friend’s house-warming party); you already know just how seriously people take their opinions.
However, recent research has indicated surprising truths that may come in handy. So next time Bill tries to bark his way out of the increasingly obvious: you can explain six points why cats actually do have the upper paw.
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From rent to retirement funding to “how did my holiday spending go $2k over budget?” moments, cats are superior when it comes to cost.
Over a lifetime, cats typically cost thousands less than dogs without sacrificing love, companionship or quality of care.
And this is why:
Current studies suggest the lifetime cost of owning a cat falls in the range of ~15,000-$45,000, comparing to $20,000-60,000 for dogs.
And cats don’t just cost less per year: they also tend to live longer, meaning more companionship across one lifetime. While many dogs live roughly 10-13 years, cats frequently live beyond 15-20 years.
Check out our partner Entirely Pets Pharmacy for your next kitty haul.
This means cats are the perfect pet if you want more companionship throughout your own life with fewer escalating geriatric care costs.
So if you’re the type who plans wisely, cats are the better long-term investment for both heart and wallet.
Speaking of space efficiency, cats are built for city life.
In a high-cost, compact housing market, dogs (bless them) can struggle: limited yard options, stairs, neighbor noise complaints, and long walks in unpredictable neighborhoods.
Cats fare better with small spaces, making them the better option if you live in a large city. And they’re especially for you if your schedule is busy, your commute long, and you look at your home as a calm sanctuary.
Life has been a lot. News cycles, layoffs, rising costs. Sometimes all you want is a quiet Sunday to center yourself.
A recent study found that relationships with cats were better than those with dogs, primarily because the perceived cost of the relationship is lower.
No barking at neighbors, no 6 a.m. walk demands, no budget-blowing vet bills because Billy swallowed another turkey bone. Just peaceful harmony that lowers stress instead of adding to it.
Cats = lower bills = more serenity = wellness.
Take that, Bill.
Cats are made for people who value independence. Mainly because cats value theirs too.
They:
While they do require at least 30 minutes to an hour of play daily (depending on their breed), unlike dogs who need constant attention and activity, cats rely on short bursts of affection and play with longer periods of alone time.
Cats also can add a degree of stress with their litter box situation (read our previous article on the topic here). But that's an easy fix with lots of plants and self-cleaning litter boxes.
Also, cats sleep up to two hours a day more than dogs. Meaning fourteen more hours a week that you can relax or work your way through the latest K-drama.
Cats have a smaller carbon footprint than dogs, making them gentler on your schedule, wallet and the planet… potentially.
This claim is primarily backed by their smaller size and lower food consumption.
However, cat ownership also affects wildlife more directly, as stray cats are the leading human-caused threat to birds and small mammals. They’ve contributed to the extinction of 63 species of birds, mammals and reptiles.
In fact, stray cats are such a danger that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists domestic cats as one of the world’s worst non-native invasive species.
So while cats overall have a larger ecological impact than dogs, owning a cat can still be seen as a better environmental choice relative to a dog.
When a cat chooses you, it’s intentional, often exclusive and research suggests this is tied to your gender.
Studies report that interactions between cats and women show higher reciprocity, indicating stronger relationships between women and cats.
Further, cats also appear to improve women’s moods more than men’s.
Read the review to learn more.
While dogs may be man's best friend, cats are proving to be the smarter choice for minimizing financial, emotional, and environmental costs.
So whether you're a cat person or a dog person: if you're living in a city, balancing a career, community, and your hard-earned downtime, a cat is the better companion.
When Bill the Barker argues otherwise, you can just smile, nod, and tell him the science speaks for itself.
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