I have honestly never liked this question. While some people may have a preference, it may also come down to experiences they have had in their lives or even the place they currently are in their lives as to what they can accommodate fairly. I personally love all animals. In my history, my paternal grandmother always had poodles. My maternal grandparents had a labrador retriever mix that I was raised with when they took care of me, as they were my daycare. In my own house, we always had a bunch of cats. At best recollection, I think we had at most, something like 6 indoor/outdoor cats while I was growing up.
I always wanted a dog, but I always had cats. Honestly, I have always felt that a dog is just too much work. Cats are more independent, and I have never been in a place where I felt I had time for a dog. Cats can use the litter box and can be left alone when I travel, with someone merely coming to check on them and make sure they have food and water and their litter is clean. A dog would need to be boarded or someone to come frequently or to even stay with them to walk them, not just feed them. Dogs need constant attention, while cats only want attention when they want it.
Now, granted, every animal is different, and there are certainly different personalities of cats and dogs, so I am sure there are cats out there that are much more needy than the cats I have always had. But my cats have always been the type to sit with me calmly while I relax, but mostly want to be left alone, except when they were kittens, where I gave them all the playing attention they demanded.
My cat, Holly, is going to be 15 this year. She mostly just wants to sleep and eat, with occasional pettings. She can no longer jump, and she really does not like any attention from my daughters. But she is the reason I actually chose my husband. She is very selective of the people she lets near her, and the first time he was in my apartment, she went straight up to him, climbed up his leg, and wanted him to pet her. Clearly he was someone I should pay attention to. My cat, Shang, turned 12 this year. He has always been afraid of everyone but me. He was very slow in letting my husband near him, and even after all this time, he will still run away from even me. He definitely does not want my energetic toddlers anywhere near him.
It may seem like I am more of a cat person, but honestly, I like all animals. I just have always been in a better place to have cats.
Shang is black and white. Holly is brown and gray striped. See below.
31BellaKei13 
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