Cats vs dogs—it’s a classic debate that’ll last for as long as people have patience to argue. It’s right up there with hamburgers vs hotdogs, LeBron vs Jordan, and toilet paper vs a strong gust of wind. Although we’ll never get a definitive answer (because that’s just like, uh, your opinion, man), it’s still fun to debate just to see where everyone stands.
Of course, there are many pros and cons to living with man’s best friend or the most purrrfect kitty-cat. Dogs are loyal and always happy to see you, but they’ll also let a burglar ransack your house for a pocket full of Slim Jims. Cats are quiet and low-maintenance, but they’ll also eat your dead body at the soonest opportunity (SO WE HEAR). Knowing what you know, which household pet would you choose if you could only pick just one?
This matchup will never have a clear-cut victor, but we at Threadless have arrived at our own consensus. Here’s how the cats vs dogs debate played out within our team, along with artist-made t-shirt designs to help (or maybe hurt) each case.
SCORE: Cats 0, Dogs 1
“Spicy Dog Treats” by Hillary White Rabbit
“Don’t get me wrong, I love cats, but I am Team Dog. You know how there’s Horse Girls? I’m a Dog Girl. As a kid, I went to dog shows a lot and had the American Kennel Club breeds poster in my room. I currently have an asshole Chihuahua, Mona, who is my ride or die. I picked Hillary White Rabbit’s Spicy Dog Treats because it reminded me of my first dog, Bailey, who would try eating bees or rocks or bubbles. He was very dumb and I loved him so much.”
– Anna Lisa
SCORE: Cats 1, Dogs 1
“kit-tee” by Dega Studios
“This is a cat’s world! Look no further than the internet and you’ll see that planet Earth worships these creatures. Cats and dogs can offer their human companions a lot, but personally, I enjoy the company of a chilled-out furry little feline.”
– Pablo Marin a.k.a. Dega Studios
SCORE: Cats 1, Dogs 2
“Dog Years” by Maggiexjean
“Dogs are just always happy to see you and simultaneously so smart and so dumb in the most hilarious ways. This design makes me chuckle, ugly cry, and want to protect doggos at all costs. We are blessed with their goodness for such a short time. Good pups should get all the belly rubs, peanut butter, walks, and adventures they deserve.”
– Brianne H.
SCORE: Cats 1, Dogs 3
“Man’s Best Friend” by BobMotown
“I love dogs so much because they offer up such companionship and like to go on adventures with me.”
– Jake Nickell
SCORE: Cats 2, Dogs 3
“Just Stop” by rodrigobhz
“Years ago, we brought in a stray cat we thought was a kitten because she was so small. The vet revealed to us that she was actually an adult cat, just tiny. She also has half a tail. Oliver is so friendly and everyone who’s ever met her is convinced she’s the best cat in the world. Since she’s an all-time great, I have to pick cats! This design not only expresses how I feel about my bestie, but also raises money for Greenpeace.”
– Randy Catfish Valdez
SCORE: Cats 2, Dogs 4
“Ankle Biter” by Anna Lisa Illustration
“The style and colors are great, and I have an affinity for angry ankle-biting mongrels lol.”
– Ash
SCORE: Cats 2, Dogs 5 (Technically)
“Every Time a Cat Cleans Itself It Is Worshiping the Dark Lord” by iheartjlp
“I actually prefer dogs as pets (allergies), but I like cat-related designs better.”
– wearecareful
SCORE: Cats 2, Dogs 6
“I Can’t Read!” by timecowboy
“I’m gonna roll with the dogs cause they’re always there when I need ’em. Like right there. Standing on my feet. I love this design because it captures the enthusiasm of a dog, even when they have no idea what’s going on.”
– Petey
SCORE: Cats 2, Dogs 7
“Dreaming of Destruction” by obinsun
“I prefer dogs, and this cat design is precisely why.”
– Dhendy
SCORE: Cats 2, Dogs 8
SCORE: Cats 3 (Pity Point), Dogs 8
“Loaf” by obinsun
“I’m a dog person but cat designs are consistently better! There’s some solid dog designs—don’t get me wrong—but cat stuff is by far more interesting, funny, strange, and bountiful. Being a dog person is a ruff life sometimes.”
– @shawnimals
Woof. Dogs really ran away with this one. But in the end, does the cats vs dogs debate even really matter? They’re both wonderful pets that bring immeasurable joy to our lives. That’s all that counts, right? (This is what all the cat people are saying to themselves right now.)
Regardless of which four-legged friends you enjoy the company of, come to Threadless to find all sorts of awesome, artist-made tees inspired by your favorite animals. There’s enough love to go around!
If you’d like to help protect the welfare of ALL animals, shop our Threadless Causes Animals collection raising money for great nonprofit organizations.
The designs featured at the beginning of this post are “Cats are Nice” by obinsun and “Caring for Your Demon Cat” by Steven Rhodes.
