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12

CATS AND MORE CATS

“The way to keep a cat is to try and chase it away.”

—Ed Howe (1853-1937), American humorist

Chatting

Pet owners often enjoy talking about their animals. Interview your conversation partner about their pet or the type of pet they might like to have.

1. Do you like cats? Are you a cat person? Why or why not?

2. Which do you like better, cats or dogs? Why?

3. Have you ever owned a cat? What was its name?

4. Do you prefer indoor cats or outdoor cats? Why?

5. How can cats be helpful to people?

6. Why do farmers often have cats in their barns?

7. What are some of the things that kittens like to play with?

8. How do cats keep clean? Have you ever tried to wash a cat?

9. Can you name a purebred long-haired cat?

10. Can you name a purebred short-haired cat?

11. Have you ever read the popular children’s book, The Cat in the Hat? Have you ever read any other books by Dr. Seuss?

12. Can you describe how a cat moves?

13. What are some colors that cats come in?

14. Can you make the purr sound a happy cat might make?

15. Can you make the hissing sound an angry cat might make?

16. Do you consider cats a blessing or a burden?

17. What is a feral cat? Are there many stray cats in your area?

18. Why do you think cats were considered sacred in ancient Egypt?

19. Can you name some of the big cats in the cat family?

20. Have you ever seen a lion or a tiger? Where?

Vocabulary

Choose the words you know. Ask your conversation partner or a friend about the other words.

kitten | sanctuary | purr | circus | feral | hiss

predator | roar | endangered | stray

Sentences and Idioms

What do these expressions mean? Discuss with your group.

Shh! Shh! Don’t let the cat out of the bag.

Has the cat got your tongue?

She made a very catty remark about you.

He has the heart of a lion.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Proverbs and Sayings

Choose the proverbs that you have heard before. Add another.

A cat has nine lives.

While the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Even a cat is a lion in her own lair. —Indian

When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby. —Nigerian

Even the lion has to defend himself against flies. —German

The Conversation Continues

1. Do large cats like lions or jaguars roam wild in your native country?

2. Can you make the sound of a roar of a lion?

3. Why do you think a lion is called the “king of the jungle”? Which animal would you consider the peasant?

4. Have you ever hunted for a large cat? Would you like to? Why? Have you seen large cats in zoos? Which zoos? Which cats?

5. Have you seen large cats in a circus? Which cats? What did they do?

6. Why do you think someone might become a lion tamer?

7. What is a predator? What animals are natural predators? Is man?

8. What are some ways that cats, big or small, are used as symbols?

9. What does “endangered” mean? What are some endangered animals?

10. Is it okay to kill endangered animals? Why or why not?

11. Can you think of anyone who had a lion, tiger, or other exotic animal as a pet?

12. Do you think a lion or tiger can really be a trustworthy pet?

13. What are animal sanctuaries? Why are they expanding?

14. What are some ways that people can help protect lions, panthers, and tigers?

15. What books, movies, paintings, etc. have been inspired by cats?

16. Why do both wild cats and domesticated pets fascinate humans?

Discussing Quotations

With your conversation partner(s) or on your own, read the following quotations out loud. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Why? Explain your reasons.

1. “An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.”

—Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.), China’s most influential philosopher

2. “I was not a lion, but it fell to me to give the lion’s roar.”

—Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British orator and prime minister

3. “I’m like a lion – I roar. If someone betrays me, I won’t be a victim. I don’t sulk. I get angry.”

—Lisa Marie Presley (196, daughter of Elvis Presley

4. “When a man wants to murder a tiger, he calls it sport; when a tiger wants to murder him, he calls it ferocity.”

—George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), playwright

5. “Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

—Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988), science fiction writer

6. “Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier ‘n puttin’ it back in.”

—Will Rogers (1879-1935), American entertainer

7. “’I know a good game we could play,’ said the cat. ‘I know some new tricks,’ said the Cat in a Hat.”

—Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), author of children’s books

8. “The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.”

—William Blake (1757-1827), English poet and artist

9. “One of the striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.”

—Mark Twain (1835-1910), American writer and humorist

10. “With cats, some say, one rule is true: Don’t speak till you are spoken to.”

—T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), British poet