Modeling Opinion Writing for My Students (Rough Draft)

Cats Rule, Dogs Drool

          Should you get a cute little puppy or a cuddly kitten? Many people have pets in their homes. Two of the most popular pets are cats and dogs. Some people say that a dog is man's best friend, but I just might be able to convince you otherwise. Cats make better pets for several reasons. 

          Cats are far more easier to take care of than dogs, especially when it comes to grooming. Dogs require regular baths, clipping their nails, cleaning their ears, and frequent brushing. Cats do all of this on their own. They bathe themselves and most cats do not even need to be brushed.  As you can see cats are very low maintenance. 

          A great thing about cats is that they help take care of themselves is the way they get exercise. Cats and dogs both need exercise to stay healthy. Dogs need to be walked at least two times a day, no matter what the weather is like outside. It would be no fun to walk a dog in bad weather or when it is really hot or cold out. Cats require much less exercise. They would be perfectly happy to play inside. You can have them chase a ball of yarn or even a small laser light from the comfort of your own living room. 

          One of the best things about having a cat is how easy it is to train them. You can teach a cat to use it's litter box by just putting it in the box once. After that the cat uses it's instinct and will always do it's business in the little box. It can take several months to train a dog. Dogs have to be let outside every time they need to go to the bathroom. Cats will just go to the little box. The only thing you have to do is clean out the litter box every few days. You can do this whenever you want and on your own schedule. 

          Dogs also require much more training for their behavior. You have to teach them not to jump on people, how to walk on a leash, not to dig, not to bark, how to sit and stay, and the list goes on and on. Cats do not need any other training, besides how to use their littler box.  Cats are much easier to have around than dogs.

          Another wonderful thing about cats is how quiet they are. Dogs can be very noisy when they bark. Cats spend a lot of time sleeping and are much quieter than dogs. They are much less likely to disturb neighbors with their noise. Not only are dogs likely to be noisy outside, they can also can ruin your lawn and landscaping by digging and chewing. Cats are more interested in napping in the sun or chasing birds. 

          Some people might argue that dogs make better companions. This is not true. Most cats love to be with their owners. They enjoy cuddling up next to you and getting a good scratch behind their ears. Cats can be very loving and affectionate. One way they express their affection is by purring and curving their tails. 

          One of the hardest things about having a dog as a pet is what to do when you go out of town. Dogs cannot be left alone for very long. You would either need to hire someone to come to your house and take care of them or pay to put them in a kennel. Cats can be left alone for several days as long as they have a clean litter box and plenty of food and water. It saves money to have a cat. 

          As you can see, cats are very easy to take care of and they also make great pets. They can provide companionship and do not require much effort. If you are considering getting a pet, I hope you will choose a cat.