Cats Vs. Dogs As Housepets Essay, Research Paper

A dog is a man s best friend. That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent housepets. If everyone would adopt just one spayed cat from their local animal shelter there would no longer be a problem with overpopulation of cats in the United States.

In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. They will show their desire for affection by winding around and through your legs. Who can resist a purring cat? When they re not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch or go for walks on a leash! Cats at any age can be trained to walk on leashes if the proper steps are taken. It could take a few days to perhaps a week,

to train a cat, depending on the personality of the cat and how often the owners try the

lessons. Don’t expect to take your cat for a walk around the block like you can with

dogs,” says Dr. Beaver. “Generally, cats have an innate curiosity. They go where

they want and usually they walk you” (Beaver).

In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don t even meow very often. They generally lead a quite existence. Cats also don t often have accidents. Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on (Beaver). Even stray cats usually understand the concept when show the box and will use it regularly. Just place them in it a few times and their natural instinct to sniff and dig will usually put them into the correct frame of mind. Once they have used it, they will return to it without fail. The only time there would be an exception to this is if there were a medical problem, or if someone closed a door blocking access to the litter box.

Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed. If this is done however, proper precautions must be maintained afterwards that the cats never go out of doors unsupervised as they have now lost one of their primary sources of self-preservation and

protection.

Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They will get plenty of exercise in the house as

they play. They do their business in the litter box, eliminating the only other reason for needing to be walked. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. There are even completely disposable litter box kits available in stores that require nothing more than throwing away the old and opening the new. This, however, is a little more costly than a reusable box that you just clean out and refill. Either way your cat will be happy as long as it is maintained in a clean and regular manner.

Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. In fact, cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than most people are! In addition, cats can be left alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They certainly do not suffer from separation anxiety like many other pets, including most dogs, do. What some might see as an aloofness is really what should be termed independence. This makes them the perfect pet for someone who is not at home all of the time. They are happy to see you while you are there, but they do not suffer from a little alone time, freeing you from any guilt you might have were you the owner of some neurotic dog. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.

Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However, many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal housepet. Everyone should

consider, after having read this information, adopting a spayed cat at their local animal shelter.

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