The History of The Cat
Cats are such and integral part of our lives that it seems strange that for most of our history there were no domestic cats. While dogs have been our constant companions for at least 15, 000 years (and by some estimates more than 50 000 years), the cat didn’t deign to come and live with us until 10, 000 years ago.
The reason for this is easy to understand. Cats are exceptional hunters and simply did not need us.
So why did cats come to live with us at all? Strange as it may seem, it was because of the invention of agriculture. Man learned how to grow large amounts of grain, the grain had to be stored in silos, and these attracted large numbers of rodents. Always the opportunist, the cat moved in to take advantage of this bounty.
The first domestic cats probably descended from the African wild cat (Felis Libyca). Archeological records suggest that they were first domesticated in the Middle East, where organized agriculture started.
Felis Libyca was not however, the only progenitor of modern domestic cats. Two other species, the European wildcat (Felis Silvestris), and the Asian Steppe Cat (Felis Manul) are also believed to have contributed.
One of the earliest bits of evidence regarding domestic cats is a Turkish statue, dating back some 8, 000 years. This shows women playing with cats and indicates that cats were already domesticated by this time.
The first written records regarding cats were found in Egypt, and date back to 4,000 BC. The Egyptians regarded cats as the embodiment of the goddess Bast, and killing a cat, even accidentally, carried the death penalty.
When the Romans conquered Egypt, they took domesticated cats back with them to Italy, and from there the cat spread throughout Europe. They became popular as pets in Britain and were revered by the Vikings, whose goddess Freyja, had a chariot drawn by winged cats.
By the Middle Ages, however, the cat had fallen from favor in Europe. After the church had declared them 'servants of Satan', cats were routinely killed and tortured. As the number of cats declined so rodent numbers spiraled out of control. Europe's citizenry were made to pay a heavy price for their treatment of cats. The Black Plague, a disease spread by rats, cut a swathe across the continent, killing millions of people.
The cat's reputation would eventually be restored in Europe, and by the 1600's the were again being kept as pets. They also had many high profile admirers, including the great artist Leonardo, who called them, 'God's perfect creation'.
In Asia, the cat's status had never been in question. They were cherished and revered throughout the Orient where they were believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. They featured widely in the art of both China and Japan.
Today the cat remains a popular companion to humans around the world. In America they’ve even surpassed the dog as the most popular pet – a fitting tribute to these elegant and adorable animals.
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