...Dogs versus Cats: Which Makes a Better Pet? Vicki Fournier COM/155 November 13, 2011 Genevieve Fraser Dogs vs. Cats: Which Makes a Better Pet? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Some people say they are dog people, some people say they are cat people, and some people say they are both. Beyond the pros and cons, the decision to what makes a better pet often comes down to a person’s lifestyle, expectations, or in certain circumstances a person’s needs. Remember “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” (Hungerford, 1878) Both dogs and cats are common domesticated pets. Dogs have been domesticated for 14,000 years and cats for 7,000 (Cats vs Dogs, n.d.). It appears in my research that most people that were asked this question “which makes a better pet, a dog or a cat” replied with the answer “dogs,” but if dogs are the better pet then why is it that there are 96.3 million homes that own cats and only 77.5 million homes that own dogs. The scientists at Oxford University released a study that claims dogs are smarter than cats and The London Daily Telegraph has reported dogs have been named as more social animals and therefore have bigger brains than the “alone loving cat” (Gatton Star, 2010, p.11). Here is something to think about: have you ever heard of a cat running full speed into a glass door? Sure a dog is a “man’s best friend” and is always there by your side, he can catch a ball in his mouth, and he knows exactly...
Words: 1542 - Pages: 7
...25, 2013 Mr.R Cats and Dogs Cats and dogs, an argument people have been having for centuries. This tension is so bad, there’s even a stereotype that dogs and cats don’t like each other either. Conversations like, which is better? Which one can see further? Whose nose is more sensitive? Which ones cleaner? Which one is friendlier? Who can hear further? Which one is easier to take care of? These are questions people argue every day. There are two different types of people in this world, dog lovers and cat lovers, and they both think their pets are the best. But how are they so sure? One big controversy between dogs and cats, is that both species lovers believe their pet can hear, see, and smell better than the other. But who’s correct? On the category of smell, dogs can smell human fingerprints that are a week old. Their noses are so sensitive they can even smell electricity. The source of the dogs exceptional smell ability is their wet nose, which of course a cat does not have. However, even though dogs may have the upper paw on smell, cats come on top with hearing. The cat’s outer ear flap can rotate 180 degrees and works like a high tech satellite to locate extremely faint noises. Cats can also hear higher pitches than dogs, a cats range starts at 30 hertz and goes up to 60 kilohertz. However a dog’s hearing only goes up to 40 kilohertz. Cats and dogs are red-green colored blind, meaning they see various shades of yellows, whites, and blues. Dogs have superior night...
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...Cats and Dogs Cats and dogs, an argument people have been having for centuries. This tension is so bad, there’s even a stereotype that dogs and cats don’t like each other either. Conversations like, which is better? Which one can see further? Whose nose is more sensitive? Which ones cleaner? Which one is friendlier? Who can hear further? Which one is easier to take care of? These are questions people argue every day. There are two different types of people in this world, dog lovers and cat lovers, and they both think their pets are the best. But how are they so sure? One big controversy between dogs and cats, is that both species lovers believe their pet can hear, see, and smell better than the other. But who’s correct? On the category of smell, dogs can smell human fingerprints that are a week old. Their noses are so sensitive they can even smell electricity. The source of the dogs exceptional smell ability is their wet nose, which of course a cat does not have. However, even though dogs may have the upper paw on smell, cats come on top with hearing. The cat’s outer ear flap can rotate 180 degrees and works like a high tech satellite to locate extremely faint noises. Cats can also hear higher pitches than dogs, a cats range starts at 30 hertz and goes up to 60 kilohertz. However a dog’s hearing only goes up to 40 kilohertz. Cats and dogs are red-green colored blind, meaning they see various shades of yellows, whites, and blues. Dogs have superior night vision however, they...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...a pet can be a very challenging and difficult process. There are many things to consider before you can really choose the perfect pet. Pet type would be my first consideration. Other things to think about include how frequently the animal will have to visit the vet, whether there is a family member or friends that have pet allergies, and whether you want an animal that is a house pet, or if you want a pet that will stay in a cage or outside. Pet types to be considered are dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, reptiles and small animals like gerbils and hamsters. The most popular pet types are dogs and cats. In any case, choosing a pet should never be taken lightly. When considering a pet type, safety should be a major factor in that decision making process. A dog or a cat would be a perfect pet for my family. Either could easily fit my family’s life-style. Dogs have always been considered man’s best friend. Cats on the other hand are very playful; they are not demanding, they are affectionate and they can be your best friend too. Family interaction with a pet is very important. Dogs have to be walked daily. Many people love to walk their dog. It gives the owner the opportunity to exercise and enjoy it. Cats do not have to be walked. They are self sustaining. That is great for the very busy owner. Dogs come in different sizes. A dog’s size can range from a teacup which is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand to extra large weighing over 200 pounds. Cats only come...
Words: 618 - Pages: 3
...Bond: How animals enrich our lives The year 2003 started out the same as any other year. It was my second year in the Army and I was just beginning to get used to the demands of military life, when, all of a sudden, my unit got orders to go to Iraq. I felt as if my world had been turned upside down, and I had no idea how I was going to get through the deployment and still keep my sanity. About three months into the deployment, I was taking the trash out after dinner when it happened. As I was about to launch the bag into the trash trailer, I could have sworn I heard a cat meow. I thought, “I must be crazy!” I hadn’t seen a cat since I left the United States, but sure enough when I bent down to look under the trailer, there he was. Staring back at me was a cat that could have passed for my childhood cat. I doubted that he would come to me if I called him, but I decided to give it a try anyway, and to my surprise he came! This was the beginning of a three month relationship. I started calling him Marvin since he reminded me so much of the cat I had when I was young. For the three months I spent about 30 minutes a day with Marvin. He would usually show up right around dinner time. He always knew where he could find me, and when he did, he would come over and jump into my lap and lay down. He would sit with me for a while and I would pet him and talk to him about my day. Some of the people I worked with would come by and tell me that I was crazy for touching a stray cat in the...
Words: 3162 - Pages: 13
...Main Title: Adopting a Cat In persuade of looking into having a pet for companionship. I started looking into adopting a cat which it could be a hard and challenging task, but it can also be a good decision a person takes. Cats are playful, lovable and very charming. Also, cats can offer entertainment and endless playing fun. Cats are nice soft pets and very loyal, they can bring happiness and companionship with lots of joy. But it’s important to familiarize yourself with the different types of cats to help pick the right cat so it will be an enjoyable relationship for both the owner and the cat. People searching for pets as companionship can definitely find what they looking for when owning a cat as a pet. Cats have proven to contribute in a quality relationship with its owner. Studies indicate that cat owners have less stress than non pet owners and are less depressed, much healthier and have more chances of faster recovery from accidents and serious illness. There are times that we go through some uncertainty and we might experience times of stress in our life. Studies have shown that cat owners can suffer much less anxiety or depression. Other studies have shown that cats can have a calming effect on patients who suffer from bad diseases like Alzheimer’s and can also have the same effect on their caretakers. Some people thinking of adopting a cat might not see, or they even might question these benefits but the answer could be in the calming feeling and soothing effect...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...Others use ethos or the authority argument. Still, others use pathos or the emotional triggers in us. Successful advertisements grip our memories with a combination of all three. I have taken three of my most memorable commercials to illustrate this. One is from Sears entitled “Shop Your Way-Squirrel Revolt,” (Shop Your Way-Squirrel Revolt, 2013) the other is from Friskies called “Dear Kitten, Regarding the Dog.” (BuzzFeed, 2014) The final one is by the ASPCA called “Sarah Mclachlan SPCA Commercial.” (Sarah McLachlan SPCA Commercial, 2008) Why These Commercials The reason that I picked the squirrel commercial is how they stepped out of the box, so to speak. Who can resist an adorable little woodland creature like a squirrel? The way that the advertisement shows that they can be trained to cut coupons is fantastic. They seem to be working away in a little squirrel office/coffee table. I chose the second commercial because it has to be my favorite of all time. It touches you. It shows an older cat educating a kitten on how to behave, specifically in regards to the dog. This commercial exemplifies so many things that speak to me personally. Once again, the animal theme is instantly grabbing my attention. Finally, the ASPCA commercials make me cry every time. Yes, there are tears on the keyboard. There has to be a special place for you to go if this does not touch you. The ASPCA are the world’s authority on animals. Target Audience Every commercial chosen has...
Words: 784 - Pages: 4
...Why goats are better than dogs and cats Dogs are regarded as man’s best friend. In the USA alone, there are around 78 million dog owners. There are also over 220 million cats in the world. Whenever you think of a common household pet, you will most likely think of cats or dogs straight away. If you go out for a walk, it is almost guaranteed that you will see a cat or a dog. How many of you own a dog or a cat? Well I am going to convince you why goats are better pets than dogs or cats. Goats are amazing creatures. In many parts of the world they are thought of as livestock or work animals. They are used in third world countries for their meat, fur, milk and to work on the land. The truth is, they are wonderful pets and very loving creatures. There are around 450 million goats in the world and they were the first animal ever to be domesticated by humans. There are many different breeds of goats. All breeds are either dairy or meat goats. Dairy goats are bred for their milk, and meat goats are bred for their meat. Each different breed is extremely different, both in appearance and personality so you have lots to choose from. Dogs and cats are lots of fun but they don’t offer uses in many other ways. Goats can be very useful because they are able to eat the grass on your lawn. This is great for people who are busy because they won’t have to mow their lawn so often. Goats also provide you with fresh milk. Many scientists claim that fresh goat’s milk is great for your health. This...
Words: 818 - Pages: 4
...List your main idea, supporting ideas, and facts. 4) Write down the essay in an elaborate way with the inflexions of ideas. 5) Write the conclusion. d. First step – organizing Remember the first step in essay writing is organizing the ideas. While organizing you should evolve an outline of the essay by listing the ideas, leaving four or five lines in between each point. e. Steps to organizing 1. How do you wish to introduce the topic given? 2. What are the main points you want to cover in the essay? 3. Take only the salient features, not the universe. 4. What are the points you wish to add to support your main idea to build it into an essay? 5. What are the facts and examples you can add to support the ideas? 6. Once you have chosen the facts and ideas, ask yourself in which order to put them in the essay. 7. When you have finished, you have the basic structure for your essay and are ready to continue. f. How to write the essay? While writing you should only elaborate the points listed for: Introduction Body Conclusion WAT/PI PREPARATION MATERIAL g. How to write an introduction? Elaboration of the main idea will give you the introduction Introduction is the first...
Words: 1770 - Pages: 8
...Cats and dogs are viewed as to separate and different creatures. A popular question one might ask another is “Are you a cat or dog person?” The answer will give the asker an idea of the type of person he or she is. However, as many differences the two have, they also have a lot in common. Their physical make is obviously different, but upon taking a closer look they have certain attributes such as; whiskers and tails that help them each in the same ways. While they have well known different personalities they express themselves similarly. There are many differences in behavior when it comes to dogs and cats. The biggest difference between the two is their social patterns and interactions with humans and others in their species. Dogs are pack animals. They usually will seek out one of them in a pack to take the role as leader. They view their pack as family and are loyal to keeping each other safe and thriving. If there is not a leader in the pack, they tend to experience behavioral problems. This leadership role can also be taken on by the dog’s owner. As a dog owner, you may want to instill this into your puppy early on ensuring that as he grows into a dog he will view you as the leader. Cats on the other hand are not pack animals. They also will not look to a human as their master. It is said that dogs are social and cats are solitary. While it is true that dogs prefer the company of other dogs or humans, cats will become attached to an owner and in some situations...
Words: 1549 - Pages: 7
...comes in different ways from animal abuse, fighting the animals, and even mistreating them. Cruelty to animals is growing all over the United States even out of the US, especially dog fighting and cock fighting has grown dramatically. Animals used for other purposes are being abused more. The poor animals feel pain and suffer every time they are killed or mistreated. Even though my own father commits animal cruelty, still does not change the way I feel towards animal cruelty. My father thinks it is not bad to fight roosters, but I always tell him that fighting them is very cruel to the rooster. Two main animals used for fighting are roosters and dogs. They are trained and forced to fight each other to death, which cock fighters find interesting and gamble their money. Animal Rights and Human Obligations Second Edition, Ed. by Tom Regan and Peter singer, specifies the rights of animals, treatment of animals, killing and value of life of animals, etc. It has various authors on each specific topic that makes it more interesting. I argue that animals should be given their rights and not be tortured by humans for no apparent reason, and those committing the crime should face the maximum fine and fine them with a huge amount of money and even be imprisoned for more time. With time and research, a solution will can be found to...
Words: 2878 - Pages: 12
...truly dangerous dogs? In today's society, many people are frightened of certain dog breeds. Typically, people are frightened by the larger breeds or the breeds known for being aggressive which is understandable. Nevertheless, people can't judge a breed of dog based on aggression when aggression stems from how they are treated by their owners. Researchers have discovered that aggression in a dog really does come from how they are treated by their owners. Ordinarily, some people don't think it, but dogs are the most loyal and loving creatures on the planet; accordingly, people can't judge them based on stories, when truly it's the owner's fault when their good little puppy turns into a big bad dog. So many people jump to conclusions...
Words: 1129 - Pages: 5
...Michael Jordan " I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Those encouraging words were spoken by Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. His parents, James and Delores Jordan, moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was still a toddler. Jordan has two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger sister. I am going to tell you why Jordan is in fact so famous. To get there he had to overcome tough obstacles but it the end has many great achievements. His love for basketball began when his older brother, Larry, continuously beat him in one-on-one pickup games. As with any challenge Jordan faces, this determined Michael to become a better player. Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. Instead of giving up after failing to make the team, Jordan used it to spur himself to greater achievements, practicing hour after hour on the court. "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it," Jordan said, "and that usually got me going again." He eventually made the team and led it to the state championship. Jordan then accepted a basketball scholarship...
Words: 1979 - Pages: 8
...eVersion 1.0 - click for scan notes DON'T SHOOT THE DOG Karen Pryor To my mother, Sally Ondeck; my stepmother, Ricky Wylie; and Winifred Sturley, my teacher and friend. Contents Foreword 1—Reinforcement: Better than Rewards In which we learn of the ferocity of Wall Street lawyers; of how to—and how not to—buy presents and give compliments; of a grumpy gorilla, a grudging panda, and a truculent teenager (the author); of gambling, pencil chewing, falling in love with heels, and other bad habits; of how to reform a scolding teacher or a crabby boss without their knowing what you've done; and more. 2—Shaping: Developing Super Performance Without Strain or Pain How to conduct an opera; how to putt; how to handle a bad report card. Parlor games for trainers. Notes on killer whales, Nim Chimpsky Zen, Gregory Bateson, the Brearley School, why cats get stuck in trees, and how to train a chicken. 3—Stimulus Control: Cooperation Without Coercion Orders, commands, requests, signals, cues, and words to the wise; what works and what doesn't. What discipline isn't. Who gets obeyed and why. How to stop yelling at your kids. Dancing, drill teams, music, martial arts, and other recreational uses of stimulus control. 4—Untraining: Using Reinforcement to Get Rid of Behavior You Don't Want Eight methods of getting rid of behavior you don't want, from messy roommates to barking dogs to bad tennis to harmful addictions, starting with Method 1: Shoot the Animal, which definitely works, and ending with...
Words: 65349 - Pages: 262
...personal choices, including: 1. “People face tradeoffs. Meaning to acquire one thing we like, we usually have to give up another.” (Mankiw, 2008). 2. “The cost of something is what you give up to get it. This principle involves comparing the cost and benefits of alternative courses of action. In many cases, the cost of some action is not as obvious as it might seem.” (Mankiw, 2008). 3. “Rational people think at margin. Rational people systematically and purposefully do the best they can to achieve their objectives, given the opportunities they have. Economists use the word marginal changes to describe small incremental adjustments to an existing plan of action. Margin means edge. Rational people often make decisions by comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs.” (Mankiw, 2008). 4. “People respond to incentives. An incentive is something that induces a person to act. Because rational people make decisions by comparing costs and benefits, they respond to incentives.” (Mankiw, 2008). I recently considered purchasing a cat. I took into consideration the marginal costs and marginal benefits before purchasing this cat. The marginal benefit is the cat would free up about 15 weekly work hours, which equals $330. This time is usually spent entertaining the family however; the cat could entertain them from now on. The marginal costs are: a pet deposit of $150, weekly cat litter $1, weekly food supply $5, a onetime shot fee $150, and toys $20, which equals...
Words: 468 - Pages: 2
