Though there have been many different Pokemon based on cats and dogs alike, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet seem to have confirmed which side of the age-old debate the series leans toward once and for all. Between the sheer volume of animals to use as inspiration for Pokemon designs and the easy popularity that any kind of domesticated pet has, it's no surprise that Game Freak has introduced plenty of cat-like and dog-like Pokemon. However, the playful competition of cats versus dogs has subsequently worked its way into the Pokemon series and begged the same question over which is better.
For years, Pokemon never gave a clear answer on the matter and instead focused more on ensuring that each generation had new Pokemon that appealed to every kind of player, but Pokemon Scarlet and Violet appear to have ditched this strategy. After already creating not one but two wolf-inspired mascot legendaries for Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet seems to have doubled down on its canine influences with even more new Pokemon lines based on dogs and an entire subplot to boot. Were it not for the likes of cat-based legendary and starter Pokemon, it would have been a clean sweep for Pokemon's dog versus cats debate.
Dog Pokemon Took The Spotlight in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Ever since Pokemon first began, each generation of games has introduced its fair share of dog-inspired Pokemon, something which Scarlet and Violet were expected to follow through with. But while the odd dog Pokemon line wouldn't have raised eyebrows, Scarlet and Violet introduced a near-complete dog trifecta that did, ultimately adding not just one or two but six new dog Pokemon to the Pokedex. It wasn't helped when one of these new Pokemon, Mabosstiff, stole the show as Arven's partner and was the focus of one of the games' three main storylines.
As a result, Scarlet and Violet's dog Pokemon break tradition as they go beyond the cat-dog neutrality that the Pokemon series seems to have aspired to. After all, each generation is shown to have tried to fairly balance cats and dogs, such as Gen 1's Meowth and Growlithe lines both receiving regional variants to Gen 2's legendary trio taking influences from both cats and dogs. But with so few common cat-based Pokemon added to Scarlet and Violet and none that were integral to their story, it seems Gen 9 is revealing that ultimately dogs are a trainer's best friend.
Pokemon's Recent History of Cats vs Dogs Complicates Things
Pokemon's lean towards dogs wasn't sudden, however, as its most recent games and generations indicate a steady shift. Ever since Gen 7, the series has disrupted its cat-dog balance and broken this neutrality. Sun and Moon set things in motion with the Fire-type starter Litten and its popular final evolution Incineroar, Meowth and Persian receiving regional variants, and a lion-based mascot legendary with Solgaleo - it was even followed by the mythical Zeraora in Ultra Sun and Moon.
While Gen 7's Rockruff and its multiple evolutions could have been an attempt to compensate for this imbalance, by Gen 8 the series had rebounded towards dogs. Not only was Solgaleo outnumbered by Sword and Shield's legendaries Zacian and Zamazenta and their respective two forms, Gen 8 went further to add the likes of Yamper and Boltund and even Hisuian Growlithe and Arcanine. However, when Meowth received another regional variant and a new evolution and its own Gigantamax form, it seems Pokemon could no longer keep the balance and was fluctuating between extremes.
Therefore, it should have been expected that the cat-dog balance would still be disrupted in Gen 9's Scarlet and Violet, ultimately forcing Pokemon at large to appear to pick a side. Right from the start with Scarlet and Violet's initial reveal the balance was gone, as a new Grass-type starter Pokemon line was revealed to be cat-based with Sprigatito and perhaps even prompted overcorrection with its marketing favoring Fidough and Greavard. So even the snow leopard-inspired Chien-Pao legendary Pokemon would never have been enough to counteract Scarlet and Violet's emerging favoritism to dog Pokemon from its new trio to Arven's Mabosstiff.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
