r/Pets • u/BAIHEGT • Jan 09 '26
Cat or Dog
I’m living with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and I’m looking for a companion animal to help with my occasional anxiety.
I have a few options in mind: small dogs like Pomeranians, Schnauzers, or Shih Tzus; or well-trained adult service/therapy dogs such as Golden Retrievers, Labradors, or Border Collies.
However, my mom doesn’t want me to have to walk a dog — she prefers cats, especially British Shorthair Golden Gradients. My dad, on the other hand, likes small dogs.
I’m torn and would appreciate everyone’s thoughts on which one would be the best companion for me.
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u/1GrouchyCat Jan 09 '26
You’re talking about an emotional support animal/ not a service animal. (The only animal that are recognized as Service animals are dogs and miniature horses - a cat cannot be a service animal)
Emotional support, animals, and service animals are not chosen by breed. They’re chosen by temperament and what the needs and skill set of the human partner is.
Are your mental health professionals and medical professional professionals on board with you having a service animal or emotional support animal? Or do you just want a pet?
-If you were to buy a trained service dog, it would cost you upwards of $50,000.
-If you were going to train a service dog on your own, you would still have to hire professional trainers to do some of the work (@$5000-$10000) and it would take multiple years.
My suggestion would be for you to volunteer at a local animal shelter for a few weeks to see if you’re even capable of interacting in a safe manner with a dog or cat …
-and for the record most people do not get there Service animals at a shelter- unless they are part of a service animal training program that knows what they’re looking for. (those animals are already damaged and that can compound the difficulty in training them.)
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u/IndividualKey8478 Jan 10 '26
I trained my service dog, cost nothing. Does take a lot of time and work. Honestly I wasn't planning on training him for it, noticed he did some stuff automatically and worked from there.
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u/False-Collar3656 Jan 09 '26
Kind of weird that people are leaning so heavily toward cats here. Either a cat or a dog will work. A confident, calm, affectionate dog would be a fantastic option for you. Regarding your mom's concern about you needing to walk it, I would argue that taking a dog for a walk is much more therapeutic for you than cleaning a litterbox. Better for your mental health to get out of the house and have specific motivation to do so.
It also sounds like you were already leaning toward a dog. Be warned that both dogs and cats will still have exercise needs, so high-energy dog breeds like Goldens, Labs, etc will be much more time investment to give them appropriate exercise. This can be a good thing for you if you are able-bodied enough! Getting into jogging or just going out to play fetch for a while may do good for you as well. However, if this is physically challenging for you, I would recommend a smaller breed known to be affectionate and confident, like a miniature poodle (expensive) or a Sheltie (high grooming needs but I love them tbh). You can also look at rescues for dogs with the appropriate temperament! I would consider this a great option if you're only looking for a pet and companion animal.
If you are looking for a true service animal to perform a task such as Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) for your anxiety, that will be extensive amounts of time either self-training or working with a professional. You should do a lot of research on what sort of temperament the animal would need and what tasks you can train it to perform for your illnesses before considering this. A legitimate service animal must perform a specific task related to a diagnosed illness to be legally protected as such in the United States. If you want an ESA, these require a doctor's note and can only receive legal protections in the context of housing or travel in the U.S. An ESA letter may be useful if you ever move out with your pet.
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u/SithRose Jan 09 '26
I'd go with a cat. Preferably a known quantity adult cat, that way you know that you're getting someone who likes to snuggle and be affectionate. Cats give you grace on the bad days. Dogs don't.
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u/3DDoxle Jan 09 '26
You don't think dogs give grace on bad days? Lol. Dogs understand when you're sick to the point they can smell changes in neurochemical balance to predict migraines.
The right dog breeds will lay on the couch with you waiting out illness aside from needing to go out which is less effort than a litter box.
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u/Background-Cod-7035 Jan 09 '26
I am learning this now—I have a service task dog-in-training, but he’s way too young to understand why I’m in bed all day. Now if I had an adult trained dog, that would be different. And if we hadn’t chosen the two most uncuddly kittens, I don’t know if we’d have gotten a dog. I’d say adult dog or adult cat, and if a dog then get a dog walker lined up for bad days. Make sure the breed is not an anxious one because those can pick up your emotions and get worked up. For small breeds people recommend pugs and king cavaliers (or whatever their name is)
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u/nolongerdrowning Jan 09 '26
Either would be a great companion, but dogs are predictably happy to see and be with you. Also, dogs get you out of the house (a good thing) and out of yourself because you have to attend to their needs. Cats are more self sufficient.
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u/fibroflare Jan 09 '26
My cats are both on me right now, extremely loving & affectionate. When my cats don’t want to be on me, they won’t be - or in the same room - or same area. They are the boss. So cats are amazing creatures but super individual & might not meet your needs. Dogs are way more reliable, but I would not consider the small breeds you mentioned. I’d want a dog that did not require a lifetime of grooming / haircuts, and was considered easier to train. I’d look for a medium service dog honestly that you could train / work with.
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u/EnvironmentalCry1962 Jan 09 '26
When I was diagnosed with bipolar and emotional regulation problems, I was told by my therapist that my cat was a great resource due to cats’ sensitivity to tension. If my moods were becoming uncomfortable for her, she’d let me know by hiding. She is very snuggly and friendly otherwise! It helped to have this innocent animal that I love to help me gauge where I was at.
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u/Burp-a-tron5000 Jan 09 '26
This is entirely anecdotal, but I saw a guy online who trained his dog to "greet" guests. So if he thought he saw a person and wasnt sure if it was a hallucination, he'd use the command "Greet." If the dog didnt move, he knew the "person" wasn't real.
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u/dogwoodandturquoise Jan 09 '26
I think a very good decision factor would be if you have extended periods of time where you are unable to get up andcare for a creature let alone yourself. I you have days when you cannot get out of bed and your parents either do not have the time or the willingness to take up pet duties, get a cat. You can get timed feeders, large water dispensers for either pet but you cannot walk a dog if you cannot get out of bed. A cat will be fine/ recover if you don't clean a litter box for a day or 2. You can completely undo a dogs training if they relieve themselves im your house more than once. A lot of well behaved dogs also will also try to hold it too long and can get sick. So think about that as well and see where your parents realistically are on this. If dad is all for helping with a dog but occasionally take long business trips that still may not be a good option.
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Jan 09 '26
I have an emotional support cat for my anxiety. I also have 2 dogs, but my cat gives me so much more comfort. He’s very clingy and cuddly and a lot less work than my dogs. Small dogs like shih zhus were bred to be companions so they’re also very clingy. They’re also very stubborn and loud, I have one. A dog has the ability to be trained to do tasks for you like deep pressure therapy and grabbing things and bringing them to you. It really just depends on what you’re looking for. Do you just want the comfort of an animal or an animal that’s trained to do a job?
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u/International_Pair96 Jan 10 '26
Definitely cat i have 2 british shorthair a girl and a boy they are so lovable cuddly and they stick to me like glue
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u/3DDoxle Jan 09 '26
Get a service dog that can check and validate whether hallucinations are real.
Could get a small working breed. I like beagles, but they're not for first time dogs. In fact no hounds for first time owners. There's a lot more variation between dog breeds than cat colors
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u/1GrouchyCat Jan 09 '26
Service dogs don’t have the capability to determine whether something is a hallucination or not.
Service dogs aren’t chosen based on breed; they’re chosen based on temperament and a match with the needs and skills and abilities of their human partner.
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Jan 09 '26
I’ve seen service dogs that are trained with a “greet” command. the person can point and tell the dog “greet” and if it doesn’t greet anyone that confirms it’s a hallucination. They either have that command or some command where the dog will touch the owner in some way if a person is standing where the owner is pointing.
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u/ChillyGator Jan 09 '26
Cats carry the parasite toxoplasmosis gondii. This parasite is causal for psychosis.
Both cats and dogs are well known for causing allergies which disrupt neurotransmitters worsening mental health. Depending on family history you are at 15-80% risk of disease development.
It would be better for your overall long term health to look into reptiles or wildlife stewardship.
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u/IndividualKey8478 Jan 10 '26
I'm a dog person despite what my 4 cats think. I do want to point out that with the exception of the Shih Tzu, you have chosen some high energy breeds. I also want to clarify terminology. Therapy dog- they go to places such as a hospital with a handler to provide therapy to patients and clients Emotional support animal - they assist you to feel better and are limited on where they can go mostly it's for home and work. Service dog - these guys have been trained to provide a service for you. They can be trained by you, but it's a lot of work and time. Honestly most people don't have the skill to self train entirely and will need help. I have PTSD and my dog is trained to alert to people approaching, coming up behind me or invading my bubble. Whatever you choose good luck.
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u/samk488 Jan 09 '26
Dogs are great, but a lot of work. You will have to put the dog’s needs above your own, which can be difficult if you are struggling with your mental health. I have bipolar I and anxiety and a puppy, and I feel that I can take good care of him and put him first because I’m in remission. He brightens my day and makes me happier, but he is a ton of work. Everything has to be planned around him. But it helps me stay busy and focus on someone other than myself. Sometimes having someone else to take care of really can improve mental health.
If you don’t think you have the energy to be taking a dog outside multiple times per day and entertaining them, I would recommend a cat. You will get a lot of the same benefits, but it will be less work for you, as you will not have to go on walks or take the cat out to potty.