Dogs and cats are the most common pets kept by man. They can be said to be man’s closest friends in relation to the animals. This implies that the two share quite a lot. This essay is dedicated to bringing out the similarities and differences between dogs and cats. The essay will first highlight the similarities and then look at the differences.
The first obvious similarity is that the two are mammals. This implies that they have fur on their bodies and they are warm blooded. They also give birth to live young ones and have mammary glands that produce milk to nurture their young ones (Science Informer, 2012). Secondly, both of the animals are domesticated by man as pets. This explains why they are very common sights in a home setting. The two animals also like being given affection and love by the owner (Science Informer, 2012). Both the cats and the dogs have the ability to receive and give back affection. This makes them quite interesting to be with and it is no wonder that man has domesticated them.
There are also some differences that exist between the two (Difference Between, 2012). The first notable difference is that though the animals are domesticated, they are from different species. The dog is a member of the canine family while the cat ascribes to the feline family. Other differences can be seen in their physical features in that the dog is bigger than the cat.
The other difference is that dogs are pack animals while cats are loners. Due to this nature, the dogs like being in the company of humans and can stay that way for a very long time without getting bored. However, the cat likes spending most of its time alone. In terms of their sounds, the dogs, just like with the rest of the canine family, makes a barking sound. The cat on the other hands just meows or purrs.
A difference also exists between the animals in terms of space. Due to the playful nature of the dog, it needs so much space to run about and play. The cat, however, can make do even with the smallest of places just as long as there is enough room for the cat and privacy (Difference Between, 2012). Perhaps this is the characteristic that makes the dogs and cats differ in their affection to human beings. Dogs show their affection and appreciation for humans by wagging their tails and at times wagging their whole body. This affection makes the dog friendlier such that even when woken up, it shows signs of happiness at seeing humans. Cats, on the other hand, are not the same. A cat can only show appreciation by allowing a human being to touch it between the ears and it will never show any emotion when woken up. As a matter of fact, cats can even pretend to continue sleeping once woken up (Difference Between, 2012).
In conclusion, this essay has looked at the similarities and differences between dogs and cats. On similarities, it has been noted that both are mammals and they are domesticated. On the differences, the two came from different species with the dog being a canine and the cat being a feline. Other differences exist in terms of size but the most notable is the ability to show affection to humans where the dog proves to be more affectionate than the cat.
References
Difference Between. (2012). Difference between Dog and Cat. Retrieved on 30th Oct. 2012 from http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-dog-and-cat/
Science Informer. (2012). Similarities and Differences between Dogs and Cats. Retrieved on 30th Oct. 2012 from http://www.scienceinformer.com/Similarities-And-Differences-Between-Dogs-And-Cats.html
