Dr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat, Order vs. Chaos
Order and Chaos
If you wanted to understand order vs. chaos better, one might look into the world-renowned books of Dr. Seuss. His literature is not only clever and fun to read, but it also holds a lot of messages if you look deep enough. Reading one of his famous books, The Cat in the Hat, you can depict the Order vs. Chaos by looking at the Cat (Chaos) and the Goldfish (Order). The Cat at one point balances a teacup, some milk, a cake, three books, the Fish, a rake, a toy boat, and even his umbrella while he’s on top of a ball just to upset the Goldfish.
The cat can be referred to as overwhelming Chaos who is despised by Order. The fish, though, is too paranoid and uptight while not paying attention to the fun in life. The fish is referred to as overwhelming Order. Now, what’s the balance? Well, the kids are the balance. While overwhelming Chaos is trying to entertain them and persuade them to take part in his activities and overwhelming Order is trying to straighten them up as strict as possible, the kids do neither.
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The kids listen to both ideas, though, but do not take part in either. I feel Dr. Seuss showed his true creativity by symbolizing how too much Chaos or too much Order can become overwhelming and dominate someone’s life in a bad way and showing that a balance between both can be a healthy way to live. Works Cited The Cat in the Hat. Dir. Bo Welch, 8 November 2003. Perf. Michael Myers, Dakota Fanning, Spencer Breslin, and Alec Baldwin. DVD.
Behaviors of Domestic Cats
Cats have been kept as domestic pets since ancient times. They are known as loyal, finicky and independent creatures. Their behaviors can tell us whether they have a physical ailment, are upset or worried or are happy and contented. (Catsinfo. com) When a cat rubs up against someone, they are showing ownership of that person and marking them as such. Cats can be quite finicky as to who they like and can even choose to ignore someone if they decide they do not like them. (Budiansky, 2002) A cat is naturally inclined to claw things such as furniture, drapes or rugs.
Many people have their cats declawed to prevent damage to these objects. While this was commonplace for many years, it is now becoming something of a controversy. Animal rights activists and many cat owners are comparing the procedure to amputation and vehemently oppose the practice. With time and effort, cats can be trained to use a scratching post. One problem for cat owners is the hazard that most house plants present to the cats. In the wild, cats eat grass to help with fur in their stomach. Many common house plants can be poisonous to cats if ingested.
Hanging plants are not always safe since cats will climb furniture to reach them. Some owners have found that growning a small patch of grass in a container will keep the cats happy enough to leave the other plants alone. Many indoor cats use a litter box instead of the outdoors. In the wild, cats bury their feces to keep predators from scenting them. This behavior continues indoors as well. Cats are naturally clean animals and like the litter box to be clean as well. One of the main issues for cat owners is urination in an area other than the litter box.
There can be many causes for this behavior and it is trial and error until the problem is resolved. Finding the right litter box and type of litter can also be trial and error as some cats prefer one thing, some another. One reason for a cat to refuse to use the litter box is that it is not clean. If the litter box is clean, it may be a physical ailment such as a bladder infection or urinary tract infection. Any ailments should be treated by a veterinarian. A cat may show it is upset by urination outside the litter box as well.
Cats can be upset by any number of things such as changes in habitat, additions of new pets to the family or other changes. Watching a cat’s tail can be a good indication of the cat’s mood. A tail that is erect and held high indicates a friendly mood. A tail that is laying down and twitching usually indicates the cat is pensive or irritable. A tail held high and fluffed out is a good indicator that the cat will attack if provoked. (xmission, 2007) Cats show affection in several ways. Purring is the most commonly recognized behavior of a friendly, content cat.
A cat will purr when happy, many times while being petted. Cats will also rub against a person to show friendliness and also to mark the person as their. Cats have scent glands all over their bodies that enable them to mark their territory. property This is another behavior taken from the wild where they mark their territory against other animals invading it. Butting their heads against a person is another way of showing affection. Urinary spray is also a way for them to mark their territory but having them spayed or neutered at around six months of age will stop this behavior.
Cats are natural hunters and will stalk birds, small animals and toys. It is their instinct to hunt that causes them to pounce on toys and bat them around. Cats are good hunters and quite fast at times. Many farms keep cats as mousers in the barn and home. Cats will chase small toys or laser lights. This is the hunting instinct in them causing this behavior as cats are attracted by movement. Cats have a tendency to show attention to people who do not care for cats when they visit. This is due to a behavior in the wild that indicates submissivness.
Cats will look directly at another cat and show aggression if protecting territory or young. A cat who refuses to look directly at another cat or seems to ignore it is showing submission to the other cat. It is the same behavior in people who do not care for cats, they tend to look away or try to ignore the cat. This is an invitation to the cat to show dominance. A cat that is injured or in pain will tend to hide itself in a dark area. This is a behavior that often saves their lives in the wild. Injured or weak animals often become food for predators so hiding is a natural instinct.
Cats will often do the same thing indoors when hurt. It is important to remember that any injured or pained animal will strike out if frightened and extra care should be taken when attempting to extricate the cat from its hiding place. (xmission, 2007) Cats make wonderful pets and are relatively low maintantence due to their independent nature. They do not require constant attention or reassurance. They can be trained to overcome inappropriate behavior and are extremely affectionate when it suits them. Whether the cat is an indoor cat or an outdoor cat, the behaviors tend to be the same.
Instinct plays a large part in cat behavior and knowing these behaviors can lead to a satisfactory cat and owner relationship. Works Cited Budiansky, Stephen. "The Character of Cats: The Mystery Is Not Why They're So Antisocial but Why They're Social at All. " The Atlantic Monthly June 2002: 75+. Questia. 26 Sept. 2007 <http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=o&d=5002470654>. http://www. catsinfo. com Moore, Glenda. “Catstuff” Retrieved September 24, 2007 from http://www. xmission. com/emailbox/whycat. htm
Himalayans Cat
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RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
Himalayans Cat Felis Catus Abstract When you think of a warm, loving, and sensationally beautiful cat with crystal blue eyes to die for the first cat that should come to mind is the prestigious Himalayan Cat. The Himalayan Cat is a lovable cat breed and is a favorite choice amongst cat lovers. This domestic breed of felines are a popular pick in Hollywood and are famous for playing cat characters in movies such as “Meet the Parents,” “Meet the Flockers,” “Date Movie,” “Homeward Bound,” and on the “Martha Stewart show”. The Himalayan cat is unlike any other for it has a unique history. The Himalayan cat is derived from the Genus/Species Felis catus and is a result of the breeding of two very prestigious breeds of cats: the Persian and the Siamese cat. As a result of this unique breeding, the Himalayan cat was created and has since been a symbol of elegance due to there “very unique body characteristic that distinguishes them from any other member of the feline family”.
The Himalayan Cat is a domestic cat or Felis catus, which is “a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal” It is more commonly referred to as the “house cat”. Its taxonomic classification group is “Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Felis catus”. According to Ramel archaeological evidence suggests that modern cats lineage, recognizably similar to our present-day species, began to emerge about 25 MYA and during the last 12 million years the eight separate lineages of modern cats have emerged. The domestic cats are apart of that lineage known as the Felis genius, which makes them in direct relation to the cougar, lion, and tigers with the exception of the obvious differences of size and domestication. The Felis catus are strong, active, round-headed, small-bodied, social natured, intelligent animals. “Felis, typically weigh between eight and eleven pounds, but some breeds can exceed twenty-five pounds”.
Domestic cats still have many of their wild instincts for instance; they are constantly climbing, jumping, running, and/or extending their claws in hunting or self-defense. Their sharp retractable claws and strong sharp teeth are their defense mechanism against predators. Domestic cats have a great sense of smell, excellent night vision, and a variety of “vocalization methods of communication (purring, hissing, meowing, and growling), and exceptional hearing”. According to Wikipedia, they can hear higher-pitched sounds than either dogs or humans, detecting frequencies from 55Hz up to 79 kHz. The life expectancy for a domestic cat is between 12-16 years but some may live longer. Domestic cats “reach sexual maturity anywhere between the ages of 7 to 9 months” and usually have an average of 3-5 kitten per liter”. Domestic cats have a “mutualistic relationship” with human beings and are great companions for people of all ages. One of the most devoted people loving breeds of domestic cats is the Himalayan Cat breed. Himalayan Cats are extremely affectionate.
Schaumann states according to Animal Planet’s rating of Himalayan cat characteristics, Himalayans rank high in affection toward their owners, need for attention, and compatibility with children and other pets. This breed of domestic cats is very calm natured but playful. “The males are more outgoing than their female counter partners, who are shyer and reserved”. Himalayans Cats are a result of a crossbreeding of the Persian cat with the Siamese cat. “The Himalayan cat was the creation of scientist, Dr. Clyde Keeler and cat breeder, Virginia Cobb.
The two teamed up to blend a Persian cat and a Siamese cat” McDonald states that although, for decades, breeders attempted to breed these two cats but were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until Marguerita Goforth successfully created this breed in the 1950s and by the 1960s, it was accepted as a breed by cat authorities. The Himalayan Cat has a remarkable appearance, which makes them so popular. They are short with long thick white hair, which is a featured they adopted from the Persian Cat and have strong colorpoint markings, which is a featured they adopted from the Siamese Cat. The colorpoint markings are on their ears, legs, tail, and facemask and vary in color. “There is a definite contrast between point and body color”. Most Himalayan Cats range from either white to beige and their colorpoint markings can be “chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, red, cream tortie, blue-cream, chocolate-torte, lilac cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream lynx, torte lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx, chocolate-torte lynx, and lilac-cream lynx”. Aside from their distinctive color patterns, the Himalayans are also recognized for their piercing blue eyes and strong flat faces.
There are two facial types: the Extreme/Peke (Ultra face) and the Traditional known as the “Dollface”. The major difference between these two is that Extreme faced Himalayan has an extremely flattened face. “The nose is as nearly as high as the eyes”. This flattened face feature causes this breed to experience problems with their eyes tearing, teeth crowding, and difficulties breathing. According to Chancellor Himalayans are subjected to the same types of diseases as Persian Cats due to their linage.
These health issues include: “Tear Duct Overflow, Skinfold dermatitis, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Urinary tract stones”. Despite the possible health issues, Himalayan Cats have a lifep of 14-15 years and have no problems with breeding. The female Himalayan Cats may be ready for breeding as early as five months and will begin calling for her male counter partner to assist in the reproduction process.
According to Helgren Himalayan cats normally birth 3-4 kittens however; they can produce liters of eight kittens. Himalayan Cats have a very lovable, docile, and playful personality. “The amazing pet behaviors observed in this cat are commendable the high level of affection intelligence and tolerance are not qualities that are seen in ordinary domestic cats”. According to Chapman, this breed of domestic cats has a strong need for attention and companionship from its human owner. This may range anywhere from daily grooming to reassurance and security from its owner. “They are very dependent on their owners but also have an air of independence, calmness, and self-assuredness”. The Himalayan Cat breed is a very unique breed aside from all its unique physical and behavioral characteristics. The American Cat Fanciers Association recognizes this uniqueness and is the only association that recognizes this breed as a separate breed from all other varieties of Persian and Siamese cats. Despite their ancestral linage to the Persian and Siamese Cat, the Himalayan Cat breed is in a league of its own.
Reference
- American Cat Fanciers Association. (2012) Himalayans.
- http://www.acfacat.com/breed_standard.htm Anderson, C. (2012).
- http://www.ehow.com/info_8087211_personality-male-female-himalayan-cats.html Chancellor, T. L. (2012).
- http://www.ehow.com/about_5436085_himalayan-cat-diseases. html#ixzz2C8PXRtDf. Helgren, J. A. 2011).
- Himalayan cats. Telmark Productions. McDonald, C. (1999).
- Guide to owning a Himalayan cat. Facts On File, Incorporated. Petinsurance. (2012).
- http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-breeds/himalayan-cats.aspx (2012).
- http://www.earthlife.net/mammals/cats.html Schapman, S. (2012).
- http://suite101.com/article/the-himalayan-cat-personality-a70239 Wikipedia. (2012).
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat.
The Black Cat
Irony begins within the narrator’s introduction to his confession by telling the reader that he will tell his story but “without comment” (Poe 705). Within this same ironic tone, the narrator continues to humanize his actions and plea for justification but predicts that what he has already done has destroyed him. Poe describes how "these events have terrified--have tortured--have destroyed" him (Poe 705). Poe adds an ironic tone to the story by telling it through the narrator’s perspective.
The narrator is a demented individual and the average reader cannot relate to the evil that has erupted inside him. As he begins to rationalize, there is a vast difference between the narrator and the reader leading to the irony that the man feels that this was all a normal series of misfortune. Literary critic, Richard Badenhausen, explains Poe’s decision for telling the story from the narrator’s point-of-view, “Despite pledging to tell his tale "without comment," the narrator is constantly qualifying, correcting, and explaining, in the hope that the audience will see events from his perspective.
Although he ironically announces in the opening sentence that he "neither expect[s] nor solicit[s] belief" the narrator is obsessively concerned with both activities: he hopes for understanding from his listeners and energetically pursues approval by employing the various manipulative tools of the storyteller” (Badenhausen 487). Finally, Poe also thickens the suspense of the story with the early foreshadowing that the main character feels that he may harm his wife writing, “At length, I even offered her personal violence" (Poe 706 ). The greatest metaphor throughout this tale is the black cat.
While the narrator’s wife has been known to refer to the dark-haired feline as a “witch in disguise”, the metaphor for Poe is that the cat is not only a superstitious monster but it is also a metaphor for being the narrator’s own personal demon (Poe 706). The recurring events with the black cats in the story portray that they are metaphors for the narrator’s own problems that haunt him. As the series of events continue throughout the story, the cat becomes a visual element in the scene for the narrator’s recurring violence and finally brings him to the point of his insanity.
Moreover, it has been argued that the cat is a metaphor for the narrator’s wife. Critics claim that the following passage raises suspicion that the killing of the first cat was actually the murder of his own wife. Poe writes: Norton Anthology American Literature. 7th. 1. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. , 2008. 705-711. Print. Critics who support this notion feel that the “reversal is substitution in wife for cat and cat for wife” and that the narrator had clearly projected his feelings for his wife onto the cat (Amper 475).
Literary critic, Susan Amper, commented on this metaphor-theory, “It is not merely that the wife was always the intended victim; she was the original, in fact the only victim. Moreover, this inference provides a much more compelling reason for the narrator's substitution of cat for wife or rather twin reasons, for his pretense that he has only killed his cat serves both to ease his own sense of guilt, and to shield him from prosecution for murder (Amper 475). This theory also supports the irony that the wife’s body was decomposed after merely three-days and leaves the reader with one of Poe’s signature suspenseful, disturbing endings.
The final writing element that Poe uses throughout this short story is symbolism. Readers are introduced to one of the story’s main characters, Pluto, the black cat, who supposedly provokes the narrator into committing his heinous acts of violence but is merely symbolic for the narrator’s imbedded hatred and evil. Not only is this feline symbolic for evil because of superstitions regarding black cats, the cat’s name has a deeper symbolic meaning. According to Roman Mythology, Pluto is name of the god of the dead and ruler of the underworld.
This symbolic name not only represents the narrator’s cruel intentions but also provides a sense of foreshadowing. After the first black cat is slain, a second black cat appears and is unwelcomed by the narrator. According to Professor Ann Bliss from the University of California, “looks remarkably like the original except in one respect: it is marked with a patch of white that, for the narrator, increasingly comes to resemble a gallows—reminding the narrator of his violence toward the first cat and foreshadowing acts of violence to come” (Bliss 97).
The white color of the patch with the offsetting black fur is also symbolic to the good and evil confliction within the narrator. Finally, the second black cat leads to the narrator allegedly murdering his wife accidently. In conclusion, Poe’s literary masterpiece, “The Black Cat” is a suspenseful story filled with irony and hidden messages and themes. Although this is a short-story, Poe skillfully provides the reader with enough evidence to make conclusions about the motive, sequence of events, and the narrator’s denial of apparent mental disorder and alcoholism that plagues him.
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Dr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat, Order vs. Chaos. (2018, Jul 29). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat-order-vs-chaos/
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