That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent housepets. If everyone would adopt just one spayed cat from their local animal shelter there would no longer be a problem with overpopulation of cats in the United States.
In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. They will show their desire for affection by winding around and through your legs. Who can resist a purring cat? When they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch or go for walks on a leash! 'Cats ' at any age ' can be trained to walk on leashes if the proper steps are taken. It could take a few days to perhaps a week,
to train a cat, depending on the personality of the cat and how often the owners try the
lessons. Don't expect to take your cat for a walk around the block like you can with
dogs," says Dr. Beaver. "Generally, cats have an innate curiosity. They go where
they want and usually they walk you" (Beaver).

In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They generally lead a quite existence. Cats also don't often have 'accidents.' Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on (Beaver). Even stray cats usually understand the concept when show the box and will use it regularly. Just place them in it a few times and their natural instinct to sniff and dig will usually put them into the correct frame of mind. Once they have used it, they will return to it without fail. The only time there would be an exception to this is if there were a medical problem, or if someone closed a door blocking access to the litter box.
Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area ...