| Have you ever wondered about the history of | | | | rodent population, and sometimes when unloading |
| the cat? Throughout the ages, cats have been | | | | their goods, a cat would wander off the boat |
| both adored and despised by different groups of | | | | establishing new territories for homes. In the |
| people. Today, cats are just as popular as dogs | | | | Roman Empire cats were used to keep the rat |
| when it comes to common household pets. But | | | | and mice population in check, but were also kept |
| where did the cat originally come from? And how | | | | as a pets. Cats became a favorite house pet |
| did it make its way into our hearts and into our | | | | because of their unique features. And Islamic |
| homes? | | | | countries held the cat in great esteem, as the |
| Although bones found in a gravesite in Cyprus | | | | Egyptians did. |
| dating around 7500 B.C. suggest some type of | | | | The Middle Ages brought about a change of |
| domestication may have occurred earlier with the | | | | opinion of the feline. Cats were viewed to have |
| wildcat species, it is believed by many that actual | | | | magical powers and were thought to be |
| domestication of cats began as around 4000 B.C. | | | | associated with the devil. Their owners were |
| in ancient Egypt in Valley of Nile. Egyptians found | | | | considered witches. Pope Gregory IX launched a |
| the cat to be a useful creature for protecting its | | | | war on cats, and even went so far as to label the |
| stored grains from the rats, and cats found that | | | | cat a "diabolical creature." Cats were put to death |
| rats were to be found where humans were. It | | | | and sometimes burnt with their owners. This |
| was a beneficial relationship for both sides. | | | | almost wiped out the domestic cat population in |
| Although Egyptians possessed many animals, the | | | | Europe, and is believed to have been the reason |
| cat was the only one allowed to roam as they | | | | for the bubonic plague, since the rodent population |
| pleased, but they were also kept indoors when | | | | was able to increase. To this day, superstitions still |
| guarding the valuable grain. Egyptians began to | | | | bestow an ominous power on the cat, as we |
| view cats as sacred animals, as the symbol of | | | | often think it bad luck to have a black cat cross |
| the Goddess Bastet was portrayed with a cat's | | | | our paths. It is also associated with Halloween. |
| head. The cat received a highly regarded position | | | | The 1800's brought another change in thinking, |
| in society, and it became a crime to harm or kill a | | | | and the cat once again became the beloved pets |
| cat. Killing a cat could result in death or a stone | | | | they once were. Domestication of cats in the |
| beating. The actual death of a cat was an | | | | United States did not begin until the European |
| extremely sad event for the family, and many | | | | settlers arrived. They were brought over on |
| cats were embalmed, put in coffins, and even | | | | boats from overseas to control rodent population |
| mummified. | | | | in the new settlements. The rest is history. Cats |
| Eventually domestication of cats spread. Nile | | | | now safely inhabit homes across the world, |
| bargemen kept cats on their ships to control the | | | | purring with happiness. |