I cheat a bit, I have a siberian forest cat. This is the same lineage as a maine coon and norwegian forest cat. These cats are way friendlier, bigger, and affectionate than other cats.

My experience with the rewards has been mixed. Yeah dogs can be trained but anything and everything is TONS of work. I bought a $600 litterbox to avoid doing the ONE actual work thing you need to do for a cat, so for anyone who is lazy like me, cat all the way.

The important thing though the smell. They are unclean mangy animals and they stink.

This is all perspective though, I have certain values, and others have certain values. I also <3 dogs that are not mine for this reason.