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SAMPLE
ESSAY
In a well developed essay, discuss the reasons a cat makes a
good pet--or not.
Cats are the ultimate narcissists. You can tell this
because of all the time they spend on personal grooming.
Dogs aren't like this. A dog's idea of personal grooming is
to roll on a dead fish. ~James Gorman
Your cat will never threaten your popularity by barking at
three in the morning. He won't attack the mailman or eat
the drapes, although he may climb the drapes to see how the
room looks from the ceiling. ~Helen Powers
"A dog is 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--not the dog--is their best friend.
Helen Powers argued that "your cat will never threaten your
popularity by barking at three in the morning. He
won't attack the mailman or eat the drapes, although he may
climb the drapes to see how the room looks from the
ceiling."
Despite this one
problem noted by Powers, cats do make excellent house pets.
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. Who can resist a
purring cat? If
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!
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 quiet
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. Even stray cats
usually understand the concept when shown the box and will
use it regularly.
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.
Lastly, one of
the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their
ease of care.
Cats do not have
to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the
house as they play, and they do their business in the litter
box. Cleaning a litter box 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 are more particular about
personal cleanliness than people are.
In addition, cats
can be left home alone for a few hours without fear.
Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings
when left alone. 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 instead of a dog because they love the cat personality.
In many ways, cats are the ideal house pet. |
