Chihuahuas and cats are great pets, and you must consider several factors before making a choice of which is better. Picking a pet is not always easy, especially when you have two equally good options. A cat and a chihuahua are two completely different kinds of pets. Although they are different, it might not be easy to choose which to keep, especially if you only have to choose one. If you are at such a crossroads, do not worry, this post will help you make the right decision because you will learn crucial issues about the two pets and why you must choose one over the other.
Loyalty
Chihuahuas are more loyal than cats. Although cats show loyalty, they are more independent than chihuahuas. Loyalty is a major aspect to consider when deciding the type of pet you want. Many people feel that loyalty is important because it shows that a pet has a great appreciation for the owner. On the other side, a pet with no loyalty may make the owner feel that it has no appreciation for the care and love from the owner. If loyalty is one of the factors that you highly esteem in a pet, then you should consider a chihuahua over a cat.
Care
A chihuahua demands more care and attention than a cat. When choosing a pet, it is significant to understand that they need constant care, love, and attention. Such care demands time and money. The most significant area of care includes health, glooming, and exercise.
Health
Chihuahuas have more health challenges compared to cats. Chihuahuas’ common health challenges include reverse sneezing, scleritis, bladder and kidney stones, obesity, spinal injuries, hydrocephalus, tooth and gum disease, tracheal collapse, hypoglycemia, and luxating patella, among others. Additionally, the chihuahua is prone to genetic health problems, so it is crucial to ensure that you obtain the pet from a breeder who performs genetic health screening. Although many of the diseases are treatable, it is important to realize that you will need to regularly take your pet to the vet for checkups or treatment.
On the other side, cats have few health problems, most of which can be addressed at home without having to visit a vet. Common health challenges include eye problems, diarrhea, tapeworms, flea, feline lower urinary tract diseases, and vomiting. Except for the feline lower urinary tract diseases and eye problems, the rest of the health challenges are easy to handle, even in a home setting.
Therefore, considering health, you should choose a cat over a chihuahua.
Cleaning and grooming
A chihuahua will have more grooming needs compared to a cat. Grooming is important for all pets. Although the two pets require some grooming, a chihuahua must bathe more regularly than a cat. Such is because cats are naturally neat and take their time to groom. They use their tongue to straighten their fur and saliva to clean their face. Due to their regular grooming routine, brushing their hair takes a short time. It also takes a short time to bathe them. The greatest challenge in grooming a cat is when trimming their nails. Cats may take long to get used to their nails getting trimmed. Both pets are small, and cleaning their sleeping area and bedding may take the same time.
Therefore, cleaning and grooming a chihuahua is more time-consuming than that of a cat. If you are busy with other activities or work, you might need to choose a cat that will need less time. However, if you have time and enjoy spending time caring for your pet, a chihuahua will be the best option.
Exercise and attention
Chihuahua will require regular exercise and demand more attention than a cat. A chihuahua needs regular exercise because you need to walk it for about 15 to 20 minutes daily. Such exercise ensures that it is in good shape and has reduced health challenges. Chihuahuas experience separation anxiety when left alone for a long time. Being away for more than 10 hours majorly affects the chihuahua.
On the other side, cats do not require regular walking like dogs. Due to their high metabolism, cats burn calories even in their sleep. Additionally, cats climb and walk around the house, which is great exercise. Most cat owners hardly walk them. Additionally, cats are independent and can stay for more than 10 hours without getting affected by your absence.
If you are busy and have little time to spare for your pet, then you need to choose a cat. On the other hand, if you love taking walks and value spending time with your pet, a chihuahua will provide great company and should be your chosen pet.
Alerting you when there are intruders
A chihuahua is a great choice if you need a pet that can alert you when there are intruders. Dogs have been primarily used for security purposes. Most dogs, including chihuahuas, have little tolerance for intruders. Although they may not attack or scare off intruders, they alert you on time. They also help keep off intruders because intruders like to sneak unnoticed. Intruders may include humans or animals such as stray cats and stray dogs.
Cats cannot alert you, and therefore a chihuahua is more useful. If you need a pet that can also alert you when there are intruders, a chihuahua will be better than a cat.
Having Fun
Chihuahuas are more fun than cats. One major reason people keep pets is to have fun, especially by playing with them. They are more playful and are easy to train so that they can perform certain tricks. On the other side, although cats are playful, they cannot match chihuahua. Also, cats are difficult to train and hence cannot perform tricks. Therefore, you should choose a chihuahua over a cat to have more fun.
The table below summarizes the factors to consider when choosing between a chihuahua and a cat
| Item | Choice | |
| Cat | Chihuahua | |
| Loyalty | × |  |
| Health |  |
× |
| Cleaning and glooming |  |
× |
| Exercise and attention |  |
× |
| Security | × |  |
| Fun | × |  |
Conclusion
A cat and a chihuahua are both great pets. However, when choosing between the two, consider that a chihuahua requires more care and attention than a cat. Also, consider that a cat is more independent, less loyal, and less fun. If you have time to care for a pet, choose a chihuahua but if your schedule is busy and you can only spare a little time for a pet, choose a cat.
FAQ
Which pet is more expensive to maintain?
A chihuahua may be slightly expensive to maintain due to the care and attention it needs.
Between a cat and a chihuahua, which is more expensive to buy?
A chihuahua costs about $500 to $2,420, while a cat costs about $400 to $1000. The cost depends on breed, breeder, and age, among other factors
Maria Giovanni
Maria Giovanni is a pet lover and does have a variety of pets at home, from the lapdogs to parrots and cats. The latter however seems to be her favorite because she operates a shelter that caters specifically to injured and stray cats. You can also leave your cat with her if you have to travel out of town for a longer period and don’t want to lock your cat inside. Over the years Maria has championed for the rights of animals, because of the many vices that are done to the defenseless animals around the world. Compiling information for the Simple Catguide was quite fulfilling because it allowed her to share knowledge on how best people can care for their pet cats.
