A Quick Introduction On The History Of Domesticated Cats
Ever wondered how cats got so popular on the internet? Well If we trace back their origins, these guys were just as worshiped then as they are right now.
We always joke about how cats act like they are gods among men. But, in actuality, cats were considered sacred in ancient times.
The domestic cat that we know right now was thought have descended from the African wildcat. And, in ancient Egypt, these animals were treated as sacred creatures.
Back then were associated with good yields of crops. Whenever there were cats, farmers would always have a good harvest.
This wasn’t due to some cosmic supernatural power brought by the feline creature though. It was basically because they ate vermin.
Because of this, cats quickly became one of the favorite pets of the Egyptians. According to livescience, it was at Egypt where Cats started being domesticated.
After the fall of the Egyptian dynasty, these animals found popularity elsewhere. According to catspride.com, in the far east, cats were owned by the rich.
As they were rising in popularity, the domesticated cat was introduced to surrounding countries. These included Inida and Japan.
This was also when breeding started. Breeds such as the Siamese and the Burmese were introduced during these times.
These animals were also used as the primary source of pest control. The Egyptians originally traded them with Greeks and Romans for that reason.
However, during the Middle Ages, these animals were associated with superstition. During the Black Death of 1348, rulers ordered the deaths of all felines.
This was because they believed the animal was carrying disease. It wasn’t till the 1600s that their public reputation began its recovery.
During the 15th and 16th century, cats were brought aboard cargo ships to reduce vermin and disease. It’s also thought that when Christopher Columbus found America, felines from his ships settled ashore and grew in population.
This was where the American Shorthair and other breeds were rumored to have originated. Cats reproduce quickly, and because of this their population flourished in the shores of America.
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