The ruthless, ongoing debate about being a dog person versus a cat person is something most everybody is familiar with. If you declare yourself as anything less than a wholehearted, loving, loyal dog person, people tend to question who you are as a person. Despite the stigma, I still declare myself as 100% a cat person.

Now, before you protest, I have nothing against dogs. I still smile at cute pictures of puppies I see on my social media and I still pet the dogs in the library when they visit my school during dead week and finals week. Dogs are great pets…just not for me.

When it comes to the pet I’d rather have, I’ll always pick a cat over a dog. Cats are calmer, quieter, and not to mention that I’ve never come home to my chewed up clothes on the floor because my dog got bored without me. Cats keep to themselves, and they’re perfect for keeping your lap warm when you’re up late binging Netflix.

Cats are low maintenance and they often times fend for themselves. They don’t need to be let out to use the bathroom, they don’t need to be bathed, and they don’t constantly require attention. For someone who enjoys going out and staying out late, a cat is a much better fit for me rather than a new puppy who may require lots of attention and have needs that wouldn’t be met living with me. As a cat person, I can vouch and say that a dog would be better off without me.

As a cat person, I can say that I get along better with fellow cat people as well. Cat people have a sarcastic, dry, and witty sense of humor that cannot be matched, not to mention we are normally low maintenance people with a love and appreciation for the little things in life.

So, the next time you meet a cat person, try to understand that we aren't all dog hating introverts who hate people. We're fun loving and we love people, and we appreciate the dog lovers of the world, too!