We disected not only cats, but also rabbits, fetal pigs, and many other smaller animals in my HS anatomy/Phys class. I didn't really give it a lot of thought...I knew going in it was part of the class and I don't regret taking the class, being a science major in college.

In retrospect, I don't know if I would have taken the class so readily if it was a dog. Maybe that isn't fair, becuase one is not a better pet then the other, but it was easier to distance myself form the cat, having never had one as a pet.