The domestic cat is a thing of beauty-sleek, silent,
curious. There are currently over 80 breeds of the domestic cat recognized by
one cat registry or another. Some do not recognize the “exotic” breeds of cat,
like the Bengal, Savannah or Caracal. What is interesting, however, is that all
these breeds originated from one strain of cat, more than 9500 years ago.
Dogs have been domesticated much longer, originally for
their working capability as guard and hunter. Cats were not domesticated until
human beings settled down, established agriculture, and more importantly, began
storing crops. Crops were jealously guarded because of their value through the
lean winter months, but tribes lost countless bags to a very small enemy -mice.
So, when cats began hanging around the encampment catching and eating their
fill, people encouraged the cats to remain, effectively taming them. Cats were
often revered in the ancient cultures.
In Egypt, they were believed to be companions to the goddess
Bast. They were often mummified, as a symbol of the people’s respect and as an
offering to Bast.
In Europe, the cat took an ominous turn, becoming associated
with witchcraft and the devil, sometime around the 14th century. Black cats in
particular are seen as evil. Thousands of cats were burned for being “witches
familiar’s.” It is speculated that with the decrease in the cat population, the
rat population increased exponentially, and may have contributed to the deadly
bubonic plaque that nearly wiped out Europe, which began in 1334.
Today, the cat is the most popular house pet, with more than
82 million is the US alone, more than 500 million worldwide. They are
affectionate, playful, curious companions that bring light and laughter to
millions of people.
*Remember, cats are private creatures, and may not show you
when they are sick or in pain. They may just hide under the bed, or sleep more.
Don’t forget to bring your cat in for an annual exam!