As humans, having cats as pets they are expected to adapt to human lifestyle and living conditions, forgetting the fact that houses are not their natural environment. Cats, as do all animals, behave the way they do since it is in their nature, despite the opinion of some behaviors being inappropriate. A cat has no concept of what is deemed right or wrong. A cat has to be able to understand what is desired for them to do or not to do in order to live a contented life in human surroundings. Part of the way a cat learns to understand a human is by humans understanding them and why they do what they do. Communication and understanding is the key to living in harmony with a house cat.
When we think of a house cat, we think of a sweet, cuddly ball of fur curled up sleeping in someone’s lap, when in actuality these sweet creatures are not genetically far off from wild voracious hunters. According to Bradshaw (2013), over 10,000 years ago, humans began farming and building granaries to store grain, which triggered the self-domestication of the house mouse (granaries provided excellent shelter and food source). Feral cats naturally adapted to living close by human communities attracted to the increasing mouse population in the granaries. The cat’s wild behavior of hunting became useful as a natural pest controller. Since cats are basically carnivores and have no interest in grain or vegetation, this symbiotic relationship became beneficial to both cats and humans. Eventually, tamed wild cats proved to be excellent companions as well. “Although we treasured cats until recently for their prowess as hunters, few owners’ today express delight when their cat deposits a dead mouse on the kitchen floor” (Bradshaw, 2013, p. xxiv).
Throughout th...
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...d cats to have certain characteristics and physical features that that they desired, such as long hair, no hair, and different length noses and other physicalities. Some of these breeding traits have altered the natural capabilities of the cat to be able to hunt and survive in the wild. Breeding cats that have short noses has affected their ability to hunt but not the instinct. Cats that are bred to be hairless, if exposed to the elements would not be able to survive long at all outdoors.
References
Bradshaw, J. (2013). Cat Sense: How The New Feline Science Can Make You A Better Friend To Your Pet. New York, NY. Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group
Budiansky, S. (2002). The Character of Cats: The Origins, Intelligence, Behavior, and Stratagems of Felis silvestris catus. New York, NY. Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc.
LeMann, Nicholas. “A Call for Help: What the Kitty Genevose Story Really Means.” The New Yorker (2014): Pages. 05/06/2014
Mivart’s argument should not be taken at face-value with out considering the objections he addressed. The first objection raised is how there are different forms to acquire “high-reaching traits”. To give one example, an elephant can use its extended trunk in order to gather food. The author counters this objection by mentioning how the Ungulata has none of the available “high-reaching traits” (i.e. no long nose, no climbing abilities). Another objection to consider is how there are different modes of self-preservation for certain animals. For instance, mussels and porcupines possess vivid colors, yet they have other active defense mechanisms (i.e. hard shells and spikes, respectively) to ensure their survival. The author addresses this statemen...
For many cat owners, their cat’s impulse to scratch can become a disastrous problem. Cat owners believe that the only logical solution is to have the cat declawed. It’s natural for cats to scratch and use their our claws to live their daily lives. Cats use their claws to play, climb, and in many situations as a form of self-defense. So the question that presents itself, is it really necessary for cat owners to have cats declawed. The only problem with declawing cats is that it is unnecessary and inhumane mutilation. Many cat owners should be more aware take advantage of the other safer and more humane alternatives for their cats.
“Men are dogs.” “Don’t be a chicken.” “She is sneaky like a snake.” These are common idioms that are spoken today among our society, but one question is comes to mind. Are humans and animals more similar than we think? Some would declare the only difference between human and animals is that animals lack verbal communication. According to Jill McCorkle’s book, Creatures of Habit, she explains the variations of similar characteristics between both, humans and animals. McCorkle uses sociobiology to develop her story titles in connection with the animal counterparts. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Science, “sociobiology” is defined as “the study of the evolution of social behavior in all organisms, including human beings.” By using sociobiology, this gives the reader a better insight on the connection between humans and animals. Throughout my essay, I will select several short stories and illustrate the similar characteristic between humans and animals.
“Do animals have emotions?” When animal lovers and pet owners are asked this question, the answer is a quick and definite, “Yes!” For others, the answer isn 't so simple. Many of the researchers that had reservations, spent their time wondering what dogs (and other animals) were capable of feeling, or if they were capable of feeling anything at all. Since these researchers were unable to put feelings under a microscope, their research lead no where, and they remained skeptics. To the contrary,Marc Bekoff, author of several books including The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy and Why They Matter, begins his research three decades ago with the question, “What does it feel like to be a
...from Chase’s book in trying to right these horrific wrongs against nature. In a simple statement from Chase a profound message rings true, “Foolish people (such as we were) must never again be allowed to buy [exotic cats]. These beautiful animals were born free and deserve to stay that way.”
The cat is a household pet his life is good. He never has to do any
Although cats and dogs are both animals they are different in many ways from, showing love, grooming, vaccinations, food, and vet care. To me dogs are more loveable than cats. However, cats are cheaper when it comes to grooming, vaccinations, and food. Owners treat and take care of their dogs better than their cats. I have always been more of a dog person even though they are expensive.
Dogs are extremely lovable and the only thing in life that they want is to be loved by their owners. With dogs, everything in life revolves around love and affection. The only thing that is on a cats mind is food and what they
After a while, it was such that if I was home, the cats would follow me where ever I went. Just like Stickeen who “was sure to be at his heels, provided I had not gone out.”(par. 7). Every time I drove into the driveway, regardless of where they would be, they would come running out to greet me. The minute I stepped out of the car, they would circle me brushing against my feet and look at me with excitement in their eyes. Then they would stand up on their hind limbs and ask for a petting on their
1996 "What Is a Species, and What Is Not?" Philosophy of Science, Vol. 63, No. 2: 262-277.
When you talk to pet owners about owning a cat versus a dog, it stirs up much controver-sy in many ways. By looking at both cats and dogs, the cat outweighs the dog in many ways, which makes the cat the superior selection when making a final decision on which one to get. Cats have very desirable qualities that make them an award winning choice to many owners. The qualities that appeal to most are the ability of the cat to live in small spaces, they do not eat large amounts of food for their meals, and they are very sedentary and independent in nature making them a low maintenance pet. One additional desired feature is cats are well suited for owners that have a very busy lifestyle and minimal time to give to their pet. This added feature
However bathing a dog requires, having to give it a bath or taking it to the groomers. A dog’s nail must be cut to keep them trimmed for proper care. Unlike cats who are self-sufficient at licking them self-clean. Cats also trim their own nails by using a scratching post.
Thus, the three key features of the Kitty Genovese story that appear in social psychology
Felines have soft fur and each cat, individually has a different personality, a great addition to