While I don't think that someone in an entry level bio class should be dissecting a cat, I agree kind of agree with stacwase. Keep in mind that I am saying it is NOT ok for an entry level bio class. But in college when you are studying any medical field dissection is a big part of learning. If my cat needed surgery I want to be comfortable in the fact that my vet has had a good education, and that includes him working on dead animals before he got to work with the live ones. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with a vet if the first time he saw the inside of a cat was my when he was operating on my cat.

But we don't breed people for the purpose of cutting them up and playing with their insides
As far as I know these cats aren't bred for dissection, usually the companies go to the humaine societies and collect animals that have already passed on.

We do the exact same thing with humans. Doctors to practice on human cadavers when they are in school.

But like I said earlier I really see no point in doing this for an entry level bio class.