Cullen Conner Logic and Critical Thinking

Logic and Critical Thinking

Dr. Boling

3^rd, May 2013

Critical Essay
This is a critical essay in response to the article by Sean Curtis, Why Cats Make Better Pets Than Dogs. The author claims that cats are more preferable than a dog because they require less maintenance and are not as needy as their canine counterpart. Mr. Curtis presents his case with the following points, you only have to feed once a day, you don’t have to walk them in cold temperatures, they poop in one place, cats do not bark, and they do not jump on house guests. My belief is that the author provides contradictory premises and makes a hasty generalization without enough supporting evidence.

The author begins his article by stating his love for canines. He gives several reasons why they make a better pet. However, the author quickly turns his attention to the negatives of ownership of a dog. He compares owning a dog to having children and how quickly they both change one’s lifestyle and restricts your level of freedom. The author offers five premises for his case of preferring felines to canines.

The first reason why the author prefers cats to dogs is that cats only require to be fed once a day or every few days and that dogs need to eat as often as humans. The author explains that you can fill the cat’s bowl full of food and it will last throughout the day and possibly into the next. However, the author argues that if you were to treat the dog in the same light, most often the dog would over indulge and the owner would be “treated” to a mess.

The second premise he offers is that cats do not require an early morning walk especially in freezing temperatures. He also claims that your dog is liken to an alarm clock and will wake you well before the morning sun has risen. The owner of the canine would not be able to enjoy sleeping in on the weekend. One must adjust their walking schedule around the pet’s.

The third premise is that cats are trained to use a litter box and dogs need to use the outdoors. The author states the benefit of a litter box is that if you live in a city you just scoop out the excretion from the litter box and you are done. If you live in the city with a dog, you have to scoop up and dispose of the dung each time your pet relieves himself. Most metropolitan areas impose rather large fines for neglecting to clean up after your pet.

The fourth reason why the author prefers cats to dogs is that cats do not bark. Both animals make their own distinguishing vocal sound. The meow of a feline in no way compares to the loud howl of a very large canine. The author states that this is very beneficial to people who live in an apartment complex and that the barks often disturb their neighbor.

The final premise claims that you do not have to worry about your cats and houseguests. Mr. Curtis explains that dogs will run and jump on visitors, making them smell like the owner’s dog for the rest of the night. This results in guests not wanting to return to the host’s home. Meanwhile the cat prefers to stay at a distance.

He concludes his article by explaining that he really isn’t anti-dog. He has strong feelings that are best to settle down with a family before one should acquire ownership of a dog. Ownership of a cat can be obtained at any stage of life because of the level of freedom that it provides the owner. While Mr. Curtis presents his case well, it is unfortunately filled with flawed reasoning.

The first fallacy is committed by comparing ownership of a dog to parenting a child. This is an example of a weak analogy. A weak analogy is committed when an arguer compares two or more things that cannot be compared in relevant respects. While some of the basic needs are the same such as food and water, dogs do not require the twenty-four hour a day care that a child does. The other assertion is that dogs need their owner present constantly like a child would need a parent. This is simply not true; dogs can be crated and be left for extended periods of time.

The second mistake in Mr. Curtis’ argument is that cat’s food bowl only needs to be filled once a day or less. He further states dogs usually eat as often as humans. This premise is filled with probabilities and does not provide sound evidence that this is the case. He states that dogs if left with a bowl filled with food and water that the owner will likely come home to a regurgitated mess. Dogs vary in size and breed and are able to regulate their food intake to meet their activity needs.

In the author’s second premise that if you own a cat there would be no early morning walk on a cold day. This is one of the arguer’s claims that your dog “will” wake you in the morning. The use of the word “will” is the use of definite language. This is an inaccurate claim by the author. Once dogs have reached adult hood they often are able to sleep just as long as their owners. Mr. Curtis’ point about the morning walks in the cold is a valid point.

The fourth is one of the weakest premises proposed by the author of why cats make a better pet. The claim that a feline’s waste is localized to one area and therefore makes it easier for the owner to dispose of the waste. He also points out how convenient it is that cats use this litter box and it is at the owner’s discretion to when the box should be emptied. On the other hand, according to the author the excretion of a canine must be dealt with immediately. A dog can be trained to a specific area and time frame. With both the feline and canine, in regards to the disposal of waste the same action is required the only difference is the time frame of removal of the waste.