The ultimate companion, the dog is happy, affectionate and attentive. He protects the house and defends his humans. And, perhaps most importantly, he’s always up for a snuggle. Research shows dogs are better for your health: dog owners are less lonely, have fewer mental health issues, and get more exercise. When searching for a pet companion, dog enthusiasts claim, canines beat out cats in every category that counts.

Arguing for the motion is Aaron Hancox. He’s a filmmaker who has produced three documentaries about cats including the award-winning film Catwalk: Tales From the Cat Show Circuit

Arguing against the motion is Alexandra Horowitz. She’s a professor of canine cognition at Barnard College and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

Getting a dog to love you is easy, but if a cat owner is willing to put in the work to understand its animal, “the cat will reciprocate, making this union way more profound and potentially more human-like”

-AARON HANCOX

“Dogs can read and respond to our emotions. They’re social animals and we want to be among social animals. And most important, they’re probably less likely to eat you if you die.”

-ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ