Compare and Contrast Essay Example: Cats vs. Dogs

Depending on the region, there are a vast amount of animals commonly found in households. In the United States, however, the most popular animals to keep are the ever-loved cats and dogs. As their owners become familiar with them, they also find  a vast amount of differences and similarities, down to the smallest details. 

As for similarities, cats and dogs share many qualities. For instance, both animals require basic needs such as food, water, and attention. When adopted into the right family, they will be loved by their owners and the animal will love them back. In physical attributes, both dogs and cats have fur. Even hairless breeds have a small amount of fur on them, be it whiskers, eyelashes, or thin, peach-like fur. In addition, both species have a noise assigned to them: cats meow and dogs bark. 

While both species can be rather similar, they also have striking differences. When it comes to size, certain dog species are known to grow larger than any cat. And, with size comes maintenance. While it usually depends on the breed, dogs require much more maintenance than any regular household’s cat. They must be walked to maintain health, as well as played with in parks or backyards. Not only that, dogs need to be cleaned if they get dirty. In addition, if they relieve themselves, the results may also need cleaning. As for cats, they need significantly less attention, as they can play by themselves. If they become dirty, a cat can clean themselves as their mother taught them. And while they do require a way to relieve themselves, it is a simpler cleansing method in a box than outside. On a side note, if one were to receive a kitten, the mother will usually have already taught them to use the litter box, while a puppy must be taught from square one. 

While similar in multiple categories, cat and dog species are completely different in many aspects, ranging from care to physical attributes. 

Division and Classification

Within the animal kingdom, there is a range of different diets, what is healthy for which animal and why. Currently, there are three classifications when it comes to the diet of animals: herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.  

Herbivores are characterized by their main food source of plants. These plants can be from a range of leaves, grass, seeds, nectar, and even wood. Animals such as cows, rabbits, deer, and horses are all herbivores. And, although in different climates, they feed themselves on the surrounding material of their habitat. 

Carnivores, however, have diets based on prey and hunting, rather than gleaning off the surrounding land. Usually, the word carnivore will immediately take one’s brain to eating a large amount of meat, but prey ranges from insects, amphibians, and fish. Such animals who follow such diets include tigers, eagles, and dragonflies. 

As for omnivores, they have a mix of what they eat. Neither carnivore or herbivore, these animals consume both plants and prey. Omnivore birds can hunt and capture fish or insects, while simultaneously snaking on plant material commonly found in their natural habitat. Other examples include foxes, bears, and some species of cricket. 

While there is a wide range of dietary needs for each species, there is equal diversity in the resources they can draw from in order to fulfill their needs.