It’s Raining Cats and Cats! tells the story about what could happen if a cat is permitted to have litters upon litters of kittens. The story begins with a boy, Jim, concerned about his cat after returning home from getting spayed. Jim asks his mother why Molly got spayed, and to help answer the question his mother encourages him to ponder what would happen if Molly didn’t have the operation.
Why use this book?
- Students will discover the importance of spaying or neutering pets and how it is a component of being a responsible pet owner.
- Learning about and recognizing the value of responsibility can empower students to make good choices for themselves and consider how their actions affect others, animals, and the environment.
Ask your students:
- Why do you think Molly was sleepy after returning from the animal hospital?
- Why did Jim think Molly was hurt after he noticed the stitches on her belly? What indication does Molly give that she isn’t hurt?
- What problems can result from having too many cats? The more cats you have means the more responsibility it is to take care of them.
Activities:
- Share the Message – Divide the class into pairs or small groups to design a poster that encourages people to consider having their pets spayed or neutered. Have students use facts and other information they learned from the book, class discussions, and previous activities to support their message. You may choose to ask students to include techniques such as repetition, humour, alliteration, or onomatopoeia to emphasize their message. Hang these posters in the classroom and/or school!
It’s Raining Cats and Cats! is part of the AnimalTales program. Above, is a small selection of the discussion questions and activities that can be found in the Grade Three and Grade Four Teacher’s Guide. For additional discussion questions and activities request the FREE book-lending program for your class.
Additional Resources Related to Book:
- Cats in Canada 2017 – information, including the study of a five year review of the cat overpopulation crisis from Humane Canada
- Caring For Pets – additional information on the importance of spay or neutering your pets from the Alberta SPCA
