The History of Cats
It has taken a while for scientists to piece together the riddle of just when and where cats first became domesticated. Domestic cats descended from the Near Eastern wildcat and began living alongside humans around 10,000–12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, attracted by rodents in early agricultural settlements. Cats were introduced to Europe by Greek and Phoenician traders, and later spread throughout the Roman Empire. In Europe, cats were associated with witchcraft and the devil, leading to widespread persecution of those who owned them. As time went on, the superstitions were put away as the need for rodent control increased. By the 20th century, cats became common household pets- often times viewed as members of the family. Today, cat shows are held for those to take pride showing off their furry friends, along side special breeding practices to ensure certain variations. It's funny how the cuddly creature was once viewed as a bad omen, to now holding fanbases and monetizing videos of their furry antics on Tiktok.
Cats In Ancient Egypt
In Ancient Egypt cats were originally valued for hunting rodents, snakes, and scorpions, protecting both the food supply and households. They were believed to bring good luck to households, and, in some cases, were adorned with jewelry. Ancient Egyptians held cats in such high regard because of the practices and preferences of their gods, but also because their kings, the pharaohs, kept giant cats- the ancient Egyptians understood that cats of all sizes were smart, quick and powerful. The ancient Egyptians believed that their gods could assume different forms, and over the centuries, it became increasingly common for gods to take the form of animals (as seen in many ancient carvings), including cats. Bastet was the Egyptian goddess of home, domesticity, fertility, and protection. Over centuries, her image shifted from a violent lioness to a gentle, cat-headed woman to represent protective household nurturing rather than aggressive ferocity. She was praised heavily as the daughter of Ra and protector of the people.