History Of Cats
The Fascinating History Of Cats
The known history of cats dates back to somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago. The Ancient Egyptians domesticated descendants of the African Wild Cat, Felis sylvestri. The cats were encouraged to live near grain storage areas, as they killed the rats which fed on the grain. The cats eventually became so popular that the Pharaohs elevated them to a god-like status. This was in fact a political move, as because of the popularity of the animal, the Pharaohs could not simply confiscate them. People could keep their pet cats but were not allowed to kill them.
At about the same time, cats were being domesticated in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq), in the Middle East, and in Asia. Cats held in high regard included two long-haired varieties, the Angora in Turkey, and the Persian in present day Iran. The Siamese cat was a sacred cat in Buddhist temples, and the Bobtail enjoyed a similar status in Japan.
Because they hunted rats and mice, cats eventually found favor among seafarers, and this lead to their introduction into many new regions. Cats were introduced in Ancient Rome around the first century BC. There they were eventually elevated to near god-like status, as the Egyptians had done previously. This nearly proved to be their undoing, as when Christianity took root, the cat was declared by church authorities to be a false god, and many cats, and sometimes their owners, were put to death.
The persecution of cats had a significant impact on history, as with their decline, the number of rodents multiplied, resulting in the Black Death, spread by rats carrying fleas infected with bubonic plague. Eventually it was discovered that areas where cats were still in abundance had significantly fewer cases of the plague, and the history of cats began to turn again in the cats' favor. In the meanwhile, cats were looked upon with great favor in the Islamic countries. The prophet Mohammad was apparently a renowned cat lover.
It is not certain when the modern house cat was first introduced to North America. One school of thought is that it was introduced by the Pilgrims. Others believe that the popular Maine Coon cat is a mixed breed, derived from the cats introduced by the English, crossed with cats introduced much earlier by the Vikings. The present day popularity of the house cat very likely dates to Victorian times, the queen of England being a lover of cats.
Throughout its history the cat has certainly witnessed some ups and downs. It has been both worshiped and vilified, served as the guardian of sacred places, and put to death as an agent of Satan. It has been an object of superstition, the black cat in particular. Yet, of the mixed breeds, the black cat ranks second only to the black and white, and just above the Tabby.