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