Compare and Contrast Essay

Animals play a great roll in society today. From dogs that are used in therapy to bring happiness to people in hospitals, nursing homes & schools, to cats that are used in studies with autistic children. Pets are a huge part of most people's daily lives, but how do you pick cat or dog? Some people just naturally gravitate to being a "dog " or "cat" person. But when deciding which is best for you, dog or cat? How do you pick?

Cats and dogs appeal to completely different people but yet the have many similarities. Both are used for companionship. Dogs can have short, long, fluffy or coarse hair and so can cats. They both are warm-blooded animals that thrive in loving environments. Both animals were also domesticated from wild animals as a way to make human's lives easier and in most cases better.

There are some huge advantages to having a cat over a dog. Cats unlike most dogs are very small and easy to transport. They can be left alone for a day or two as long as they have food and don't need to be walked because they use a litter box. Where as a dog can only be left for a maximum of 8 hours because they need to be walked and need more food & water than cats. Cats don't need regular bathing, which cuts down on responsibility for their owner but dogs need regular grooming. Cats also tend to be much more independent than dogs, which some people might find very appealing. According to a study from the University of Bristol in England, people with cats are more likely to have a university degree than those with dogs. (spotlight.com)

Dogs on the other hand are great pets for more active people who enjoy being outside. Dogs need to go on frequent walks, which forces you to go outside and be active. Cats just use the litter box and prefer to roam your home freely. There are also a wide variety of breeds of dogs, which allows you to pick size, color, and some character traits that might be better for you as a pet owner. Dogs are extremely loyal while cats are loyal but can be very distant depending on the cat. Most dogs can also be used as guard dogs and will alert you in the case of an intruder or emergency creating a sense of security in your life. Dogs are also accepted in more public places because they can be trained to sit and stay..

As you can see both animals can be great pets and both would be better served in different situations. With saying like " Man's Best Friend " How can you go wrong with a dog? "The most widespread form of interspecies bonding occurs between humans and dogs" (Tacon, Paul; Pardoe, Colin (2002). "Dogs make us human". Nature Australia 27 (4): 52-61.) ) Research even shows that dogs are wonderful pet, most people who have dogs as pets consider them part of their family. The domestic dog has a predisposition to exhibit a social intelligence that is uncommon in the animal world. (Coren, Stanley (2004).