How to get subclass method in an inheritance?

Question

Hi guys,
I got the following classes:
public abstract class Animal {
     private Long id;
     private String name;
     public Long getId() {return id;}
     public void setId(Long id) {this.id = id;}
     public String getName() {return name;}
     public void setName(String name) {this.name = name;}
     public abstract void makeSound();
public class Cat extends Animal {
     private String nickName;
     public void makeSound() {
          System.out.println("Miaaau");
     public String getNickName() {return nickName;}
     public void setNickName(String nickName) {this.nickName = nickName;}
try to retrieve from database:
          List animals = sess.find("from " + Cat.class.getName());
          for (Iterator it = animals.iterator(); it.hasNext();) {
                    Animal animal = (Animal) it.next();
                    System.out.println(     "Animal '" + animal.getName() +
                                             "' its class is: " + animal.getClass().getName());
                    System.out.print("Makes sound: ");
                    animal.makeSound();
                    Class cls = animal.getClass();
               try {
               cls = Class.forName("tutorial.inheritance.tableperhierarchy.Cat");
               } catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
               System.out.println("ClassNotFoundException");
I need to access subclass method where the subclass classpath (tutorial.inheritance.tableperhierarchy.Cat) will only be know at runtime. Pls help, Thanks !
regards,
Mark

Answer 1

I just need to know how to cast a class dynamically
at runtime instead of manual casting it like:
Cat cat = new Cat();This is not a cast. Why do you mean?
/Kaj