People tend to divide themselves into a dog person or a cat person, due to the radically different lifestyles these pets offer. It's easy to see how cats are best suited to a calm, easy-going lifestyle while dogs are for those who are willing to handle an abundance of energy. Although the lifestyles offered by these pets are markedly different, the aesthetics of each animal are not as opposite as they first appear to the eye of an observer. Dogs and cats are constantly the emblem of opposites, when in reality they are very similar with small differences, such as the shape of the eyes. Cats and dogs share their multitude of coats, colors, breeds, and many other qualities with only slight variations regarding their personalities, which are often breed specific. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay When comparing animals, you need to remember that all comparisons are based on relativity. For example, one can think of the famous example of the comparison between apples and oranges, of which it is difficult to find examples from the past in which they are both fruits. However, dogs and cats are not just animals and maintain closer relationships than most other animals would than a dog or cat; especially when it comes to physical characteristics. In addition to belonging to the same kingdom, Animalia, they also share class (Mammalia), order (Carnivora) and phylum (Chordata). Something remarkable about both cats and dogs is their fur and how similar the two are in this regard. Now, of course, dogs and cats have fur that comes in many different styles, lengths, and colors; however both follow similar patterns within all these categories. In terms of each animal's coat length, the general rule of "hairless, short-haired, medium-haired and long-haired" applies to both species. Also, in general, whatever solid color a dog is, a cat can also be: red, cream, brown, fawn, blue, black, white, gray and yellow. The patterns their fur comes in are also remarkably similar, as both can be spotted, striped (brindle for dogs and mackerel for cats), marbled, tuxedo, brindle, saddleback, and so on. These similarities are notable when considering any other animal than the dog or cat. Most wild animals do not have such a variety of patterns and colors, which also have a variety of fur lengths. For example, there are no blue pigs, brindle bears, or even naturally hairless tigers. But it goes further, as both dogs and cats have a generally similar body structure. Both have pointed, sometimes floppy ears, long and short tails, a horizontally structured body, and both are four-legged with paws. Cats always have dew claws, a nail on the inside of their paw, while dogs generally have one on at least one paw. It is not only the physical similarities that these two animals share, but their social characteristics when domesticated are also very similar. An undeniably similar personality trait is that both dogs and cats are instinctively hunters. Not only in the wild, but even when both creatures are domesticated, dogs and cats have a huge predatory instinct. This is why dogs are known to chase squirrels, deer, and anything that runs away from them; while cats naturally attack birds and mice. Cats also attack toys that are shaped like birds or mice or that make sounds, because just like dogs it is natural for them to hunt..