| In the long history of human-animals | | | | but actually accelerated, for, of course, the |
| relationships, a few episodes stand out in | | | | elimination of all cats was soon followed by |
| which one species has made a significant | | | | an explosion of the rat population.Eventually |
| contribution to the survival of another. | | | | it became evident that people who had kept |
| Rarely do cats get credit for such an | | | | cats, in violation of the law, fared better; |
| accomplishment--more often dogs or horses, | | | | for the cats, according to their nature, |
| and then, usually in times of war--but the | | | | killed the rats that carried the fleas that |
| Black Plague of Europe is one of those | | | | really carried the plague. People slowly |
| times.By way of background, the ancient | | | | began to deduce the rat-flea-disease |
| Romans, in their conquest of Egypt, had | | | | connection. When the truth finally came to |
| brought cats home to Europe. Cats | | | | light, cats were quickly elevated to hero |
| subsequently suffered a period of disfavor | | | | status, and soon became protected by law.The |
| during the superstitious Middle Ages, for | | | | Great Plague ended when the fleas started |
| they had become associated with witches and | | | | dying, as a part of their natural life cycle, |
| the Devil; some people believed black cats | | | | in the cold of fall and winter. Subsequent |
| were witches in disguise, or that they | | | | plagues would visit Europe over successive |
| assisted witches in performing their craft. | | | | generations, and other continents suffered |
| Those who kept cats as pets were the objects | | | | similar outbreaks; it would not be until the |
| of much suspicion, and widespread cat hunting | | | | 19th century that scientists really began to |
| led almost to their extinction.When rats from | | | | understand the epidemiology of the plague. |
| Asia brought the bubonic plague to Europe via | | | | Increased sanitary conditions over time |
| trading ships in the mid-1300s, the epidemic | | | | helped reduce its incidence, and with the |
| (variously known as the Black Plague, the | | | | discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century, |
| Great Plague, the Black Death, and the Great | | | | the threat of the plague was greatly |
| Mortality) swept across the continent, | | | | reduced.Would it be a stretch to say that, by |
| resulting in devastating loss of human life. | | | | bringing the rodent population under control, |
| In all, one-third of the population of | | | | cats saved humans from extinction? At least, |
| Europe--some 34 million people--died. In | | | | European humans? At a minimum, cats deserve |
| England alone, more than half the human | | | | credit for heroically saving the species |
| population perished; in some parts of France, | | | | that, through ignorance, almost wiped them |
| ninety percent.It took the authorities some | | | | out.(C)Lisa J. Lehr 2006Lisa J. Lehr is a |
| time to figure out the cause of the problem. | | | | freelance writer and Internet marketer |
| At one point they tested the theory that the | | | | specializing in direct response and marketing |
| disease was being spread by dogs and cats; | | | | collateral. She holds a biology degree and |
| thus the mayor of London ordered the | | | | has worked in a variety of fields, including |
| execution of all such pets. Despite the | | | | the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, and |
| extermination of millions of companion | | | | has a particular interest in health, pets, |
| animals, however, the plague did not abate | | | | and conservative issues. |