All of my childhood, I grew up with dogs.” A dog is man’s best friend.” That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend companionship people enjoy. For many people including myself a cat is their best friend. It wasn’t until I got my first cat that I realized how much better of a pet they are then dogs. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets as they are good companions, they are more civilized, and they are much easier to care for.
First of all, many people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are really affectionate. They will snuggle up and beg to be petted or scratch under their chin; as a result the cat will instantly start purring. Who can resist a purring cat? If they are not feeling affectionate cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything that dangles from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are involved with game. Not to mention, cats are so much more independent. They can disappear for hours, having their own little adventures, and then pop up again just when you least expect it. It's like running into a long-lost friend on the street, but in your house. Also, it has been said that cats cannot be trained. I have a personally found this false and found that using rewards and punishments just like with a dog; in fact, a cat also can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats can and will even play fetch!
Next, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. I have never once heard of neighbors complaining about my cat’s loud meows; in fact, most cats don't even meow very often. They do not feel a need to share their opinions with everyone around them they keep quit and do not bother with meowing at strangers. If a friend or relative enters your house your cat will keep to himself. They generally tend to lead a quiet existence. The only time cats tend to make noise is when they need to be feed or watered. For example, if a dog is hungry he will not let you know he simply expects the owner to remember and if the owner accidentally forgets the dog will go hungry. Cats, on the other hand, will meow and purr constantly until their owner finally has enough and remembers that they have to feed their cat. Cats also don't often have "accidents" or if any. Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws and have been known to claw furniture; however, this is preventable with a scratch post, a scratch pad, or last resort the declawing of the cat. With these actions of owner the furniture will be left alone.
Finally, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. Cats don't need anyone to get up in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning to walk them. With a cat, owners have no need to leave their warm beds in 12 degree weather or heavy rain storms to take the cat for a walk and they do their business in the litter box. Owners find a great conveyance to cleaning the litter box as it is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats do not require baths due to the fact that cats clean themselves. For example, let’s say an individual has a busy day and when they come home and notice their dog smells horrific however they do not have time to bathe the dog so the individual is stuck with a smelly dog all day running around their house. Cats will simply lick themselves clean and do not do much to get smelly. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than what a lot of people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear of a stinky present on the expensive rug, or leave a puddle pee in the hallway. Unlike some pets (Dogs), most cats will not destroy the furnishings, or rip up the trash when left alone. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.
I could go on all day about how great cats are and anyone with sense can see that they're simply the better pet, hands down. So, in conclusion, cats are clearly low maintenance, very civilized companions and self dependent. 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 house pet.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Purdue University states that “The Human-Animal bond is the dynamic relationship between people and animals in that each influences the psychological or physiological state of the other” (“Center”). The Human-Animal bond is essential to the well-being of society. Animals can affect people in many different ways, specifically by providing companionship. This bond has existed for thousands of years, though people’s relationship with animals is much different today than it was in the past. The main reason that the relationship has changed is the concept of owning pets, which is relatively new (Reinisch). The concept of pet ownership has changed the way people see animals because instead of thinking of animals as…
- 1707 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
“And very little is known about these free-ranging, village dogs.” His team rectified that by collecting blood samples from 549 village dogs in 38 countries across 6 continents. “I did my Ph.D. work with tropical butterflies; by comparison, working with dogs is fantastic,” he adds. “You don’t need to hunt them down with a net. You show up, you have food, there are dogs.” (http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/10/genetic-study-writes-yet-another-origin-story-for-dogs/411196/) Dogs have always been considered “Mans Best Friend.” However that title has barely lived up to it’s name when there are still dogs all around the world that get abused and murdered by their owners. Dogs who get dropped off in the middle of nowhere because their owners just can’t keep up with them anymore. Dogs who are euthanized because they’ve been in the pound so long and there is no hope for them to ever be rescued, may that be because of old age or even a history of biting people. Dogs are not born monsters, humans created the idea. Dogs may hurt you because of their past experiences with lousy…
- 1444 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Dogs are known to be man's best friend. They are loving, caring, and are always protective over their owner. Some people say when you have a newborn in your home a dog will pretend the baby is theirs and will protect the baby forever. That seems nice of a dog to do this, but…
- 494 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Another difference is space. Cats don’t take up nearly as much space as dogs. They also don’t need a yard to run around in, and they are pretty self sufficient. You can find plenty of cat climbing trees at your local pet store to keep your cat amused. Dogs on the other hand make a lot of noise barking, and enjoy running around in an open space playing fetch.…
- 363 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Cats are a bit messy. They like to sleep everywhere, and leave their hair of the couch cushions, curtains, comforter, and your clothes. They walk on your ledges, and if you have picture frames, candles, or any type of décor, they will knock it over. It’s just a given, you’ll come home to your things on the floor. It seems like every time you’re walking, or in the kitchen, they are right there by your feet, weaving too and fro as you are trying to get from one place to the other. It’s almost like they are trying to kill you. They have no respect for your personal space. If you’re sitting on one end of the couch, taking up only one cushion, they will feel obliged to jump up on your lap and stay there till you have to move. If you do move, and come back, good luck getting back on their good side, because they want nothing to do with you. They have a lot of diva in them. One minute they want every little bit of your attention, and the next they want nothing to do with you and will hiss if…
- 750 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Do you know why dogs are better companions than cats? Dogs are very devoted to their owners, whereas cats aren’t. This means that dogs are very attached to their owners. Cats are like outcast, they really don’t want to be part of you or your life. Now…
- 773 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Cats have been known to delight their owners for many years. A recent study indicated cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than people who do not own cats. (McClatchy Newspapers, 2008).…
- 2125 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Dogs are better than cats due to their higher level of involvement. A dog will run, play, and cuddle; however, the majority of cats will go and hide. When a cat is cuddled with, it will often resist and scratch, while my dogs will embrace me and provide comfort. In addition, dogs will engage in activities with their owners. One of my…
- 238 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
To find out someone else’s opinion, I interviewed Stacey Dastis, an author and blogger who is almost as big of a cat fan as I am. I learned a lot from my interview. She has two cats who require more patting than usual, however this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Stacey didn’t know much on why she feels calm and relaxed but she was aware of how she felt around them. She told me about how her cats comfort her and make her feel safe, and that they are good for people with depression. She had a cat growing up which is how she knew a lot of information about this topic and really helped me with my research.…
- 579 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Who would ever in their right mind want a cat as a pet? Cats are the most conniving animals alive and no one should even think to keep them as a pet. There are some people who have a large number of cats in their house at one time and continue adding to the number and that is just ridiculous. Cats can carry around a foul smell or odor and shed their hair which gets everywhere it should not be. There is also a lot of money that can be involved with investing in supplies, health and food for a cat. If anyone has a cat for a pet they should be ready to take full responsibility of the cat and all of the downfalls…
- 510 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Do you love dogs… so do I! Dogs are so loyal and loving for many reasons that can be from licking your face at home or saving a child’s life from a kidnapper. Cats on the other hand have been claimed to be very quiet and not disturbing (basically lazy). Although there have been many cases of scratched furniture and broken glass from cats. As you will see dogs are clearly better than cats!…
- 441 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Moreover, humans loved the little, soft, furry cats, so they took them into their homes. Lusted writes, “Cats probably domesticated themselves: people wanted them, and so they fed them, and cats gradually grew used to people and began living with them” (3). Cats used to be wild and live in the wild, but over the years, they have learned how to get along with humans. They have learned how to live with humans in houses. Cats have evolved over several years into animals that are friendly to humans and domesticated…
- 1148 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Cats take after their ancestors and their domestic behavior is close to that of cats in the wild. So cats are used to being vicious and mean so they are harder to train because they are so used to one way of living. Plus dogs are very motivated by food or attention while cats are not. Dogs are easier to be trained because they are motivated by affection or food so they will do many more things than cats will. But also if you pay attention all cats really do is sleep around and not play with your or do anything but dogs are more energized and you can do more things with…
- 644 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
While cats do enjoy the company of humans, it is not necessary for them to be watched throughout the day. A cat is trained to use a litter box which is always available to them. When owning a cat it is much easier to get someone to care for the cat when going out of town, because they require much less maintenance. However, dogs are born to be pack animals, so they should not be left alone, especially not for long periods of time. A dog is trained to go to the bathroom outside.…
- 575 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
First of all, pets are good companions. This is especially important for people who live alone and for older people who seldom go out. Some pets can help protect the house from thieves while some pets, like dogs and cats are so lively and energetic by nature that they can give happy hours to children and adults. Secondly, taking care of an animal also help children develop responsible attitudes and learn about nature.…
- 278 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays