Whereas I'm not too sure if there's any truth to be found there, I am pretty certain that the choice between cats and dogs IS largely dependent on someone's personality and orientation towards the world.

I have had the privilege of knowing a long parade of cats and dogs, and I have loved all of them (even "Bitch Kitty From Hell!"), albeit for different reasons.

In the broadest of senses, I'd say that dogs work best for people who enjoy more of a "child/parent" style relationship with their pet, while cats work better for people who'd rather have an "adult friend" relationship with their pet. And yes, that's a gross generality. But let's scratch beneath the surface.

Dogs are far more like "dependents" than cats. A dog definitely sees you as the "master/owner," and a dog requires far more direct interaction and attention than a cat. In many ways, a dog is like a playmate, and often can bring out the child-like side in even the most serious of adults. Dogs like playing, dogs can (mostly!) be trained, and dogs like DOING. Dogs are mostly good around children (I almost wrote "OTHER children") because they are both protective and playful, and many breeds maintain a fairly tolerant demeanor in the face of having their tail or leg pulled by a three-year old. When dogs are used as therapy animals in rehab programs and hospitals, their basic nature makes them ideal to lift people's spirits and cheer them up. If you like a lot of playfulness and activity in your life, a dog is probably your best choice.

For a good number of cat lovers, the "high maintenance" aspect of dogs is one of their main drawbacks. Cats are, indeed, far more more independent in nature... and whereas they are certainly very loving in their own way, they are also quite content to be left alone for extended periods of time. Whereas some cats are quite tolerant and patient, many don't suffer the boisterousness of small children well... and end up taking refuge under a bed or on top of a bookcase when pestered too much. One of my personal favorite things about cats is that they do their business in a box- so if I end up suddenly needing to be away for the day, the house won't be a mess when I get home. On the whole, cats tend to be very calming creatures. They are also used as therapy animals; their particular "talent" is to calm people in traumatic situations- time spent with a purring cat has even been shown to reduce blood pressure and overall stress. So if what you'd like is a calming friend with an independent streak, a cat is probably a better choice.