cat picture
 "Dewey" Need a Library Cat
or "Dewey" Not?
After reading “Dewey - There’s a Cat in the Library!”, one of this year’s Show-Me Award nominees, many of us fell in love with Dewey.  Students pointed out that perhaps our school library needs a cat, especially since we already have Cosmo, our school therapy dog.  Mrs. Hunter adores cats, so she is definitely in favor, but others have their doubts.  What do you think?  Should we have a library cat?  What are the pros and cons?


Your Task

Help Mrs. Hunter and the library committee decide whether or not to find a library cat.  Below are four questions that need well-thought out answers to be presented to the committee for discussion.  Use the websites given to research pet care, breeds, and other traits of cats to help you decide whether you support or oppose this idea.  Then, create a brief presentation that could be presented to the committee.

Questions:

1.  How do you take care of a pet cat?  List several (at least 5) things the cat’s caretaker will have to be prepared to do.

2.  What are some problems that might occur with having a cat at school?

3.  Why would having a cat at school be fun for students?

4.  Are there certain breeds of cats that make better pets than others?

Websites to Research

Cat Care

Anatomy of a Cat

Cats for Kids

ASPCA Cat Care

Consider a Cat

Animal Profile:  Cats

Cats

Cat Channel

Presentation

After researching and thinking through the answers to the above listed questions, you should have formed a well-informed opinion about having a library cat.  Prepare a poster, Prezzi, or write a letter to the library committee with your recommendation.