I used to be a cat whisperer and they definitely have personalities and even IQ, but like then I got allergic. I did have outside cats show up for a while after that, but then the boy wanted dogs so the cats kind of faded out of the picture.
My favorite first cat had gratitude he was the best. He got hit by a car and didn't die (unfortunately) so he was at the vet for while, waiting to see if he'd regain function in his back legs. He would only eat when I came to visit him, and he'd lick cat food off my fingers because I wanted him to. My parents declined the 1500 dollar "experimental" surgery to "see" if his spinal cord would take it.
My parents couldn't pay for it, and even as a middle schooler I kind of got it. I wasn't mad or anything. Best cat ever and I don't regret him being an outdoor cat, unless you live in NYC or something, I think that is best.
Dogs are smarter and more interactive if you ask me. I've never really "owned" one in the
sense of "my dog" although my family has had several. The boy adopts a stray any time he can.
I have loved a few although I still steadily maintain, "Why would you want to own something that wants to please you THAT much. That's my main beef with dogs, really. They love you too much. It's like a responsibility I don't NEED. Since I work with kids, I do NOT need a dog.
Anna