History of cats
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{{Not verified|date=February 2007
The History of cats' relationship with man is as old as civilization and stretches back over 9,500 years. Cats have figured in the history of many nations, are the subject of legend and are a favorite subject of artists and writers.
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[edit] Neolithic
The exact history of human interaction with cats is still somewhat vague. However, a gravesite discovered in 1983 in Shillourokambos, Cyprus, dating to 7500 BC, during the Neolithic period, contains the skeletons of a ceremonially buried human and a type of young cat. Since cats are not native to Cyprus, this suggests that cats were domesticated (or just tamed) at least this early. The cat found in the Cyprus grave was more similar to the ancestral wildcat species than to modern housecats.[citation needed] Statues from Anatolia created around 6000 BC have also been found depicting women playing with domesticated cats, which implies that cats were domesticated there around the same time period.
[edit] Ancient Egypt
The earliest written records of attempts to domesticate cats date back to ancient Egypt, circa 4000 BC, where cats were employed to keep mice and rats away from grain stores in order to prevent food poisoning. Ancient Egyptians regarded cats as embodiments of the goddess Bast, also known as Bastet (emphasizing the female -t suffix) or Thet. She was the daughter of the sun god Ra, although she was sometimes regarded as the daughter of Amun. She was the wife of Ptah and mother of the lion-god Mihos. Her cult was centered on her sanctuary at Bubastis in the Nile Delta, where a necropolis has been found containing mummified cats.
It should also be noted that cats were considered sacred in this context, and the death of a cat by human hands (whether deliberate or accidental) was punishable by death.[citation needed]
Recently, deep scans of several mummified felines indicated they had suffered broken necks before mummification[citation needed]. It is unclear why, but researchers theorize that some cats may have been sacrificed to honor Bast[citation needed]. Recent research indicates that cats were so popular in tombs that sometimes other animals would be wrapped up in the form of a mummified cat.
It has been speculated that because of circumstantial evidence (which to date is unproved by DNA testing) cats resident in Kenya's Islands in the Lamu Archipelago may be the last living direct descendants of the sacred cats of ancient Egypt. The suggestive evidence is: similar body conformation, archeologically proven history of 1000 years habitation, ancient Red Sea trade between Lamu and Egypt, genetic insular isolation.[1]
[edit] Vikings
Vikings used cats as rat catchers and companions and are sometimes credited with the domestication of the Norwegian Forest Cat, or Skogskatt. The Viking goddess of love, fertility and war, Freyja, was strongly associated with cats, as they were considered her sacred animals. She was often portrayed in a chariot drawn by two horse-sized winged cats. Kittens were often given in her name to brides, linking together Freya's influence over both cats and romance.
According to Norse legend, Gleipnir (the fine ribbon used to bind Fenrir) was crafted by dwarfs from, among other items, the sound a cat makes when walking.
[edit] Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, cats were often thought to be witches' familiars (for example, Greymalkin, the first witch's familiar in Macbeth's famous opening scene), and during festivities were sometimes burnt alive or thrown off tall buildings.
A medieval King of Wales, Hywel Dda (the Good) passed legislation making it illegal to kill or harm a cat. Other cultures of the time considered them evil, unlucky, or the consorts of witches.
The human killing of cats in the Middle Ages has also been cited as one of the reasons for the spread of bubonic plague - the Black Death, which was spread by the increased rodent population caused by the death of so many cats.
[edit] Europe
Folklore dating back to as early as 1607 tells that a cat will suffocate a newborn infant by putting its nose to the child's mouth, sucking the breath out of the infant. A jury in England once found that a child had died from a cat sucking the breath out of him: this conclusion was probably reached because of the widespread acceptance of the tale. Many explanations are given to attempt to support it, the most common of which is jealousy from the cat towards the infant, as a result of the level of attention that the infant receives. Another explanation advanced is that the smell of milk from the infant's mouth attracts the cat to do so. However, it has been shown that, unless the cat is raised on milk, the cat prefers water.
[edit] Japan
In Japan, there is the Maneki Neko, also referred to in English as the "good fortune" or "good luck" cat. It is usually a sitting cat with paw raised and bent. Legend in Japan has it that a cat waved at a Japanese landlord, who was intrigued by this gesture and went towards it. A few seconds later a lightning bolt struck where the landlord had been previously standing. The landlord attributed his good fortune to the cat's fortuitous action. A symbol of good luck hence, it is most often seen in businesses to draw in money. In Japan, the flapping of the hand is a "come here" gesture, so the cat is beckoning customers. Another Japanese Legend with cats is from Nekomata, when a cat has 10 years of life, it growns another tail and can stand up and talk Human Speech.
[edit] Modern times
Today some people still believe that black cats are unlucky or that it is unlucky if a black cat crosses one's path, while others believe that black cats are lucky. Black cats in particular are associated with Halloween festivities. Because of this, many cat rescue groups will not adopt out black cats during the month of October because they are concerned that the prospective owners are only going along with the season and, as a result, will not make a lifelong dedication to the pet. They are also afraid that the prospective owners will do away with the cat because of its alleged unluckiness. Some animal shelters will not adopt out cats of any kind (or sometimes pets in general) around Halloween because they are afraid, as a result of the moral panic claims of believers in Satanic ritual abuse, that the animals will be sacrificed. A far more plausible fear is that they may be used in Halloween-oriented pranks which could hurt or kill them.
It is common lore that cats have nine lives. It is a tribute to their perceived durability, their occasional apparent lack of instinct for self-preservation, and their seeming ability to survive falls that would be fatal to other animals.
[edit] Other
Several ancient religions believe that cats are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that they are all-knowing but are mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans.
Muezza (Arabic: ﻣﻮﻴﺰا ) was the Prophet Muhammad's favorite cat. The most famous story about Muezza recounts how the call to prayer was given, and as Muhammad went to put on one of his robes, he found his cat sleeping on one of the sleeves, and instead of disturbing the cat he cut off the sleeve and let him sleep. When he returned, Muezza awoke and bowed down to Muhammad, and in return he stroked him three times. A similar story is told about an unnamed Emperor of China.
In Celtic Mythology, Cait Sith appears as a fairy cat.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Couffer, Jack (1998). The Cats of Lamu. New York: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1558216626.
