ANSC 2700

Management and Biology of Cats and Dog

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

This course introduces students to core principles of animal biology through cat and dog evolution, domestication, genetics, and physiology. We’ll discuss how dogs and cats evolved in divergent ways, shaping adaptation to human environments. We’ll explore the quirky world of feline and canine genetics and uncover why dogs display incredible diversity in size and shape, including maladaptive morphology or deleterious mutations associated with breeding. Species specific adaptations influencing reproductive and physical traits, such as dogs’ exceptional scent perception and feline reproduction, the most efficient among placental carnivorans, will be discussed.

Distribution Requirements (BIO-AG, BSC-AG)

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Apply fundamental principles of inheritance to evaluate how selective breeding impacts the health and genetic diversity of cats and dogs.
• Compare and contrast key physiological systems in cats and dogs.
• Compare and contrast developmental milestones and life stages in cats and dogs.
• Explain the biological and evolutionary factors contributing to differences in reproductive strategies and success between cats and dogs.
• Describe and explain common health conditions in cats and dogs.
• Construct evidence-based arguments addressing controversial topics related to cat and dog evolution, genetics, and welfare (e.g., selective breeding practices, vegan diets, neutering, declawing, debarking, tail docking, and feral population management).

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