Dogs and CatQuoted from http://www.freeessays.cc/db/13/ckh31.shtml

I am going to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between dogs and cats. The similarities are innumerable, yet this holds true with the differences as well. First, we shall discuss the similarities that these two creatures share. One of the most obvious similarities between these two animals is that they both have hair. They are also domesticated animals kept as pets. They require love and affection from their owner, and can show love and affection if you show it towards them. Another thing is that when you pet them, not only does it relieve stress; it gets dog or cat hair everywhere. They both give birth to multiple offspring at one time, which must be very hard on the mother. Now that I am finished with my explanation of the similarities between dogs and cats, I will now discuss with you the differences between these two majestic animals. One of the main differences is that of their species. The cats belong to the family of felines. Dogs, on the other hand, are canines. Another difference is that dogs are pack animals, which means you should spend lots of time with your dog so that it doesn’t get lonely. Cats are loners, meaning they can spend a lot of time alone without getting lonely. Another big difference is the sounds that they make. A dog barks, growls, or howls. A cat, on the other hand, goes meows and purrs. The canine group also has a particular social status, and methods for determining their ranks within that group. Cats don’t have any. The determining factor in dogs is the tail. When a cat holds its tail up, it means it is happy, but in dogs, how high they hold their tail is how they determine ranks. If one dog meets another dog, and one holds its tail up, it is the one of the higher social class. Another difference is that cats are nocturnal, meaning they go out at night. Dogs, however, are day animals. Another very obvious difference between dogs and cats is that dogs are usually bigger than cats. Cats are usually scared of dogs, and dogs usually chase cats. Dogs are also somewhat smarter than cats in the area of verbal command. For example, you can call your dog by name and usually it will come to you, unlike a cat. Also, you can train dogs to do tricks when commanded. Some of the most commonly seen tricks of dogs are ‘roll over’, ‘fetch’, ‘shake hands’, ‘sit down’, ‘lie down’, and ‘play dead’. I have never seen a cat do any of these things, and I doubt that I ever will get an opportunity to see a cat perform even one of these tricks. Another difference is between the claws; cats’ claws are retractable, while dogs’ aren’t. For example, when my dog Busta was a little puppy, its claws were sharp, but since they are not retractable, they were ground down so they aren’t sharp any more. A cat, on the other hand, is born with sharp claws, but they are kept inside until they are needed, thereby making it so they don’t get dull by just walking, like dogs claws do. And finally, they both have tongues, a cat’s tongue has little barbs, or hooks, that are used to get every last bit of meat off of a bone. So a cat can just lick a bone, and the meat will come off. A dog doesn’t have barbs on its tongue, and uses its tongue to cool itself. Have you ever wondered why, on a hot summer day, a dog usually has its tongue hanging out? Well the reason is that it is sweating. Those are the differences and similarities in dogs and cats.