Cats or dogs? Katzen oder Hunde? Gatos o perros? Or something else entirely? Are you sure you’re even a person?

    • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      All pets?

      I think owning a tarantula, for example, is perfectly ethical, because of the way tarantus live.

        • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
          2·
          2 years ago

          Certain animals don’t really roam as part of their lifestyle, most tarantulas are ambush predators, if you put a tarantula into a hole and regularly give it food, it doesn’t dream of the outside world where it can roam freely, roaming freely is its worst nightmare because that’s how it gets exposed to predators… tarantulas find a hole where they constantly get food and you can presume based on how they live in the wild that they’ve found the best hole ever.

          They also show clear signs of stress when they are stressed, and they show less of those in captivity than in the wild.

          That’s my argument for tarantulas anyway.

            • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
              1·
              2 years ago

              Yeah, I think it’s really case by case in the animal kingdom, we have to avoid anthropomorphizing everything.

              • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.mlEnglish
                1·
                2 years ago

                It can be case by case for animals of the same type even. One of my cats is legit scared of outside and has no interest in leaving the house for any reason. The other cat is hesitantly curious so sometimes we bring him out on a lead. He never wants to wander further than a few feet though even if we prompt him to explore. They live good lives and feel safe neither really feels the need to roam far as I can tell.

    • Link@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      I’d say it’s unethical to breed them, but not to adopt them if that’s in their best interest.

      • KindnessInfinity@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        Yeah, breading is really messed up. If the cats have access to outside, i’d say it’s ethical to adopt.

        • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1·
          2 years ago

          I think this is more of a problem with capitalism, than a problem with breeding being fundamentally wrong, we’re incentivized to breed as poorly as possible, it’s a race to the bottom.

          That being said, I think some animals are bred pretty carefully, definitely not dogs and cats, but certain insect breeding operations are pretty ethical just because being ethical with them is insanely easy.

  • brandon@lemmy.mlEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    I feel like nature decided this for me when I turned out to be allergic to cats.

      • nachtigall@feddit.deEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        Yep, gotta clean up the mess we left as humanity. We can not abandon them while they need us. Yet breeders should be absolutely illegal.

        • Link@lemmy.mlEnglish
          2·
          2 years ago

          Yet breeders should be absolutely illegal.

          I agree. Even individual pet owners (or guardians) breeding with their pet is problematic imo. Certainly when they choose the breeding partners.

          But even if the dogs are free to choose themselves you could argue that you shouldn’t let them breed because it would be better to adopt animals in need rather than create new animals.

          • nachtigall@feddit.deEnglish
            2·
            2 years ago

            it would be better to adopt animals in need rather than create new animals.

            ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆ 100% ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆

            The other day I had a conversation with someone who also rejects breeding but said that (female) dogs should give birth at least once in their life (because they read, it would lower uterus cancer risk). Almost as if people (even after a pandemic) still did not understand exponential growth.

  • fratermus@lemmy.mlEnglish
    5·
    2 years ago

    Dog person. I’ve met a few cats I liked, but in general if I wanted to live with a creature that consumed resources and ignored me I’d still be married. :-P

  • CptNoobCanoe@feddit.dk
    5·
    2 years ago

    I like both, but I wouldn’t own a dog. It’s just way to high maintenance and complicates going on vacation too much. Our cat has a feeder in the shed, and he can stay at home alone while we’re on vacation with no problem.

  • Kyle@lemmy.mlBEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    Totally a dog person but now that people are starting train and socialise their cats, they have proved that cats can be much friendlier and more interactive if you respect them and create an engaging environment for them!

  • Akasazh@lemmy.mlEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    Neither, really. I can see the appeal of both, but would not have one of either myself. I married a lady that came with a cat, though, so technically more of a cat person.

  • narp@feddit.deEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    Porqué no los dos? I like them both, especially when they get along in the same household!

  • WhoRoger@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    I can’t take care of myself, how would I care of an animal?

    But I have babysit… Sitted? Babysat? Babyshat? A kitten, and dang he grew on me. So I kinda want one, but… It’s just not for me.

    As for dogs, family had two dogs and while Iiked them, neither liked me back as much as everyone says dogs do. I’ve been lied to. And I’m not one for walking. So if anything, more of a cat person then.

  • bruhSoulz@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    dogs>cats>none. somehow found out foxes are the cutest thing ever tho and i like them more than both

  • XPost3000@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    Definitely a cat person

    I’ve had numerous tabbies throughout my life and I took care of a Husky, Blue Staffy, and Cockerpoodle in the past (not at the same time), I loved them all, but ultimately cats are just more self sufficient than dogs, and significantly quieter than the small dogs I’ve had to take care of

    • nightofgrim@lemmy.mlEnglish
      3·
      2 years ago

      I wish I had the same quiet experience. My cat is louder than any dog I’ve ever seen. He just walks around screaming. He has since he was a kitten. 16 years later and it’s just as loud just but a bit deeper lol.