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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 is their best friend. Despite
what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets as they
are good companions, they are civilized members of the household, and
they are easy to care for.
In
the first place, people enjoy being with cats. Many
cats are very gentle. They
will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. If
they are not feeling affectionate, cats are very playful. They
love to chase balls of yarn. They especially enjoy playing with their
owners. Many
people say cats cannot be trained, but in fact, they can.
If they are rewarded and punished, a cat can be trained to avoid
unwanted behavior or perform tricks.
In
the second place, cats are humane members of the animal race. Unlike
dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most
cats do not even meow very often. They generally are a quiet
specimen. Cats
also do not have accidents very often. Mother
cats teach their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will
use it. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the
box and will use it normally. Cats
do have claws, and owners must prepare for this. A
tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often
keep the cat happy to leave the furniture alone.Also 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
only need a low amount of care, and civilized companions. People who
have small living space or less time for pet care should praise these
characteristics of cats. However, many people who have plenty of
space and time still choose to have a cat because they love the cat
and its personality. In many ways, cats are the perfect house pet.
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