Cattitude - Where Did it Come From?
Some cat myths are easily debunked using science. It may not be so easy to do that with the subject of cattitude! One answer for that question comes from ancient Egypt!
It's clear the Egyptians truly appreciated cats. DNA evidence points to cats first self-domesticating in the region of Egypt about 10,000 years ago. From that introduction, probably as rodent prevention for their farmers, the relationship between Egyptians and cats evolved to cats becoming divine! There was even an Egyptian goddess, Bastet, who took the form of a cat. There's a great meme going around Facebook that says cats have not forgotten that fact!
The Egyptian goddess Bastet represented fertility and domesticity, along with music, dance and pleasure. Pretty clear why the Egyptians made the connection between Bastet and their cats. They believed cats carried a bit of Bastet in them so they were protected and even venerated. Hundreds of thousands of cat mummies have been found in Egypt, which points to their value to that culture. Many household pet cats were mummified and buried with their owners. Anyone who killed a cat, even by accident, could be executed.
So when your cat sits regally in the sunshine for you to admire him - know there's a history for that! Your cat remembers!
CLICK HERE to read more about Egyptians and cats.
It's clear the Egyptians truly appreciated cats. DNA evidence points to cats first self-domesticating in the region of Egypt about 10,000 years ago. From that introduction, probably as rodent prevention for their farmers, the relationship between Egyptians and cats evolved to cats becoming divine! There was even an Egyptian goddess, Bastet, who took the form of a cat. There's a great meme going around Facebook that says cats have not forgotten that fact!
The Egyptian goddess Bastet represented fertility and domesticity, along with music, dance and pleasure. Pretty clear why the Egyptians made the connection between Bastet and their cats. They believed cats carried a bit of Bastet in them so they were protected and even venerated. Hundreds of thousands of cat mummies have been found in Egypt, which points to their value to that culture. Many household pet cats were mummified and buried with their owners. Anyone who killed a cat, even by accident, could be executed.
So when your cat sits regally in the sunshine for you to admire him - know there's a history for that! Your cat remembers!
CLICK HERE to read more about Egyptians and cats.
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