I am a huge fan of animals. Back home, I have two cats whom I absolutely adore. Up until a few weeks ago, I had a dog who lived to be 17 years old. I’m 18, so that dog was a part of my whole entire life. Losing him was the most heartbreaking day of my life. But, it got me thinking about how much dogs really mean to people. Especially the people in this world that generally spend the most time alone- the elderly. So, I began to ask the question, which is a better pet for the elderly- a dog or a cat?

In the book Companion Animals and Us: Exploring the Relationships Between People and Pets the authors explain the difference between older people owning a dog or a cat. When mapped out in this text, it shows that both cats and dogs can help the elderly, and even give them a reason to live. Although both animals have been proven to help the elderly, dogs seem to be the better companion.

Since dogs are usually with their owners from a very young age, humans are able to morph their dogs into a more subordinate relationship, which humans often take to mean friendship. In this “friendship,” the elderly gain both social and emotional benefits from being around their pups. Dogs are found to give the elderly life help through things like companionship, an emotional bond, and loyalty. In fact, 75% of the elderly surveyed in a 1990 study claimed that their dog was their only friend.

When it comes to cats, however, a study done in 1994 proves that although cats do help with preventing loneliness and increasing companionship, they do not replace human contact the way that dogs do. In other words, although a cat is nice to have around, they do not replace the natural craving for human interaction in the way that dogs do.

To further explain why dogs trump cats in the elderly companion department, an article done by Social Indicators Research studied certain mechanisms in which animals would make the elderly more active. In this study, it was found that owning a dog led to a more healthy and active lifestyle, while owning a cat led to the opposite. In my own personal opinion, based on what we learned in class, the correlation between dogs and a healthier lifestyle could be because dogs require walks and outdoor exercise, whereas cats do not need to go outside. Since cats do not need to venture outside, their owners would feel less obligated to do so.

Another study elaborates on why cats are not as therapeutic as dogs. This study actually states that cats do not even come in second on the list. In fact, cats come in third, behind horses. The study explains that cats are not regarded as the best animal to use for the elderly because people tend to have very polarized opinions of them- they either love kitties, or they strongly dislike them. This hit or miss statistic could result in quite a gamble when choosing a pet for the elderly.

So why would society be concerned with whether or not the elderly have dog? A 2008 study showed that elderly people who interacted with dogs tended to have greater mental and physical health. In fact, these older people can become so involved with their dogs that they do not depend on the services the way they did before having a canine companion. Because there is an increase in the health of a person after they interact on a regular basis with a dog, it can be assumed that they would live longer. Therefore, the health of our elderly population, whether it be grandparents, neighbors, or any of the like, would improve. Therefore, the lives of people we personally care about could be extended due to the ownership of a dog.

Obviously, the increase in an elderly person’s health can be caused by the ownership of a dog. Therefore in this experiment, correlation does in fact equal causation. So, although dog or cat ownership is a treat for people of all ages, it is especially good for the elderly. Perhaps the next time you see your grandmother, let her know that owning a pet, especially a dog, could increase her health and happiness.