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