My Papers Part 4: Fix your cat, please

 Introduction

This is the last paper that I did in English Composition. I am very passionate about cats. I've wanted one ever since we moved. Because of cat overpopulation, we haven't been able to own one. One more cat added to the mix wouldn't be that good. I hope this paper puts light on the situation of cat overpopulation. It disappoints me that it seems that most don't know the importance of fixing their cat. I hope you learn and enjoy reading this paper. 

Neesa, one of the neighbor's cats

Fix Your Cat, Please

Charis Johnson

July 20, 2020

English Composition I

 

Fix your cat, please

 

So you drive by a house with a yard and front porch littered with cats. You think, what in the world happened here? You think about calling animal protection services to try and save the sickly cats, but decide against it. That is the situation of overpopulation that some have been through. I believe that cat owners should fix their cats to reduce problems that they cause. From the reduced population of wildlife from hunting cats to sickly, inbred, and unwanted cat populations, unaltered cats are the source of many problems. Though cats are mostly well off on their own, sometimes, in order to reap the full benefits of their companionship, some important decisions have to be made to protect your cat and the wildlife affected by it.

The effects of cat overpopulation are many. Cats reproduce quickly, so the struggle that animal shelters have to go through is difficult. Some animal shelters use the process of trap, neuter, and release (TNR), to reduce the effects of cat overpopulation. But when one cat is fixed, 5 more take its place. Some animal shelters find stray cats, neuter them, and find good homes for the cats. However, if there aren’t enough homes for them, the shelters are forced to euthanize them. According to PetMeds, around “3-4 million companion animals are euthanized every year” because of overpopulation [1]. When you let your cat mate disregarding the possibility of kittens, it puts a lot of stress on animal shelters that are trying to do the right thing. A fixed or altered cat is a cat that is spayed or castrated. Because their reproductive organs are removed, a fixed cat cannot reproduce, which reduces the possibility of unwanted kittens and behavioral problems. Because their reproductive organs also control their hormones, their desire to roam and fight for a mate is gone. According to Nature.com, cats kill over 1.3 billion birds and 6.3 billion mammals annually [3]. Birds’ impact on nature is very important. By keeping your cats fixed, the effects of over-population won’t be as hard as it is on wildlife.

Because contact with other cats in wildlife can increase your cat’s exposure to sicknesses, fixing your cat can reduce their chance of contracting and spreading diseases [2]. Abscesses, FIV and FeLV are common medical problems in cats that fight a lot. Because cats are violent and territorial when they are intact and “under the influence of their hormones” [2], fixing your cat can reduce the effects of their hormones controlling them. “Frequent and expensive vet bills” are likely guaranteed when your unfixed male or female cat gets into fights. [2] When there is no need to fight for a mate, less contact is achieved and sicknesses are less likely to be spread between cats. Cats who are unaltered also have a greater risk of cancer of their reproductive organs [1]. Another danger cats face is being inbred. When two cats have kittens in a remote area, it is very common that their kittens will either mate with their parents or their siblings, which weakens the gene pool and introduces possible mutations and recessive genes [4].

Some people are concerned that their cat’s personality and behavior will change once you neuter them, so they choose not to do the procedure. While it is true, the change in behavior is oftentimes positive. Intact cats have undesirable traits such as spraying or roaming that are easily eliminated by fixing your cat. Also, because altered cats have no need to look for a mate or fight, those desires will diminish. Because the aggressive attitude cats take on when they are unfixed is gone, they often have “sweet and affectionate temperaments” [2]. Some worry about the price of neutering or spaying their cat. But once your intact cat has kittens, the price of 3 or more cats is more expensive than fixing only one cat.

The visions of seeing 20 cats sitting in a driveway will frighten or make people concerned. It might be the work of a stray cat or an uneducated owner, but either way, cat overpopulation is a problem. Unfixed cats negatively affect the environment because of their predatory instincts. Unfixed cats contribute to the high population of cats that wreak havoc on the bird and small mammal population. Because cats are healthier and cause fewer problems when they are altered, cat owners should fix their cats.

 

 E. (2012, June 10). Reasons People Don't Spay or Neuter Their Pets. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from https://www.petmeds.org/petmeds-spotlight/reasons-people-dont-spay-or-neuter-their-pets/

Becker, D., DVM. (2015, July 13). Life With a Cat That Isn't Fixed. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/what-life-is-like-with-a-cat-who-isnt-fixed

Loss, S., Will, T., & Marra, P. (2013, January 29). The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380

Lewis, Betty. “Problems With Inbreeding Cats.” Animals.mom.com, 14 Aug. 2019, animals.mom.com/problems-with-inbreeding-cats-5105419.html.

 

"Think About Your Writing" questions

What have you learned about how to present a strong argument? How could/will you apply this knowledge in your professional or everyday life (3-4 sentences)? I feel like the greatest habit or knowledge to have is to have facts to present your argument. Whether you are arguing with a sibling or persuading somebody to respect your opinion or try something, it is very important to have facts and examples. If there are no facts, then there is no effect on the counterargument.

Consider the English Composition I course as a whole. What have you learned about yourself as a writer (5-6 sentences)? I finally realized that I’m a better writer than I thought I was. Honestly, at times I thought I was going to fail, but since this experience, I’m more confident about my writing skills than I used to. I’m still a little uncomfortable about deadlines and due dates, but I know I’ll understand it in time. I’m enjoying this opportunity to learn and grow in my writing skills. I’m glad I now know that I can think more and push myself to do more, especially with word counts.