CATS IN THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION & THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Cats have been important in the lives of people since the dawn of civilization. At first, the relationship was one of need, as cats filled a role in agriculture and rodent control. Later, a deep relationship developed between cats and their people, and cats even became objects of worship and subjects of art.
Cats are the most common pet and have lived all around the world. It is believed cats were brought to Europe by Phoenician traders, smuggled in from Egypt. But according to the World History Encyclopedia, the very first cats were wild and lived with humans in Mesopotamia over 100,000 years ago! They were domesticated around 12,000 BCE. The origin of cats in Mesopotamia has been shown in DNA studies, revealing the tie between wild and domestic cats.
Middle Eastern cats lived with people more than 10,000 years ago in Turkey and on the island of Cyprus. Cats were imported by settlers to Cyprus, where there were no native cats. It is in the Middle East where it’s believed they were first domesticated. As far back as 4,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians began domesticating the African wildcat. They thought cats were magical and worshiped them. The cat goddess “Bastet” was half female, half cat. Egypt memorialized cats. They buried them with honor and kept them as mummies. Feline images are prominent in the art of the region and can be seen around the pyramids. In Persia, a story claims cats were created magically. Muhammed was fond of cats; the status of cats was enhanced by their connection to the idea of divinity.
In India, cats have been written about in ancient epic tales, such as the Mahabharata (4th-5th century) in which the cat Lomasa & mouse Palita deal with death & power. The God Indra disguises himself as a cat. Cats were honored in homes, farms and palaces for their help in pest control, but were also revered and loved. The Indian cat goddess was Shashthi, and the tale of “Puss and Boots” was based on a very old Indian folk tale.
Cats were domesticated in China 3,000 years ago during the Sung Dynasty, between 960-1,279. They were beloved family pets and are shown in the art of the country.
In Europe, cats were feared during the Middle Ages, as they were associated with witchcraft. By the 17th-18th century, they became popular pets. They are cherished there today, where they roam freely in the streets and gardens of the country.
In North and South America, cats were brought in by the European settlers and became rodent hunters and popular pets. Every immigrant and naval ship had cats aboard to control mice, and during war time, they provided companionship for the troops. Cats are now the favorite pet in the U.S., with 74 million living in homes.
Sources: World History Encyclopedia, “Cats in the Ancient World” by Joshua J. Mark, 11/17/2012; Nat’l Geographic, Boehringer Institute, Science Mag