cats are one of the most popular pets globally, next to dogs. It was widely believed that cats were originally domesticated in Egypt 4,000 years ago however, their history among humans actually goes back much further. While it has now been determined that wild cats lived among people in Mesopotamia over 100,000 years ago, they were domesticated around the same time as dogs, sheep and goats approximately 12,000 BC. Within the last decade or two, archaeological excavations have provided evidence that the Near Eastern Wildcat is the closest relative of the modern-day domestic cat and was bred by Mesopotamian farmers, most likely as a way of controlling pests, such as mice, which were attracted by grain supplies.
Cats have been revered for centuries by various cultures, most notably the ancient Egyptians. In fact, the actual name ‘cat’ has been credited to the Egyptians in that it derives from the North African word for the animal, “quattah”, and as the cat was so closely associated with Egypt, practically every other European nation applies variations on this word. The goddess Bastetwas among the most popular deities, portrayed as a cat or as a woman with a cat’s head. She was the keeper of hearth and home, protector of women’s secrets, guardian against evil spirits and disease, and the goddess of cats. This worship of the cat resulted in the establishment of a penalty prior to 450 BC in Egypt, whereby the killing of a cat resulted in death.
The devotion to the cat is also noted in India. The Indian cat goddess, Sastht, served much the same role as the Egyptian goddess, Bastet. The cat was honoured throughout homes, farms and even palaces due to its usefulness with controlling the pest population of less desirable creatures such as rats, mice and snakes.
Cats are thought to have been introduced to Europe by Phoenician traders who may have smuggled them out of Egypt. Since the Phoenicians are acknowledged to have traded extensively with every known civilization of the time, cats may have been routinely introduced to the region. It was well documented, during the 15th century Age of Discovery, that cats were kept on ships in order to control the vermin population and, it’s plausible, they served the same purpose for the Phoenicians.
One common cat figurine popular with the Japanese is the maneki-neko or “beckoning” cat. The cat has its paw raised as if it's waving which is believed to bring good fortune. This became a popular trend in the last few decades in China whereby a shop owner would keep a cat or simply a cat sculpture on the counter, hoping to increase sales.
There are legitimate benefits to both our social welfare and health when owning a pet. In fact, in Canada there has been an upward trend established toward the number of households owning a cat or dog since 2004, with 8.8 million cats versus 7.6 million dogs considered as pets in 2016.
In Asia, the perception of pets has changed toward making cats and dogs more like a family member which has caused a massive surge in the pet economy. The annual growth rate of the pet care industry in Asia between 2017- 2022 is expected to be 8 per cent, making this one of the few mass market industries seeing rapid growth. With more than 100 million pets, China has now become the third largest pet owning country after the US and Japan. The pet economy now encompasses an array of services, from grooming, manicures, pet furniture and carriers, numerous types of fresh and raw food, treats and baked goods as well as the huge market for pet toys. According to industry trends, projections for the pet business will continue with its constant upward growth unabated. In 2017, 69.51 billion was spent on pets in just the United States alone.
Cats are capable of developing extremely strong bonds with people and are often preferred to the dog due to their ease of care. Cats tend to be more affordable since they don’t require daycare or regular dog walking services, the neutering procedure is also less costly. Cats are uncanny, solitary hunters that have the ability to understand how things work without being trained.
Cats are known for their self-sufficiency and independent nature along with their cleanliness and they definitely do not need the same amount of space. In fact, more and more cat owners are keeping their kitties indoors for safety reasons due to the various predators living within the residential areas.
Even though cats can sometimes appear to be aloof, they quite often develop separation anxiety when their favourite person disappears for an extended period of time. They aren’t fond of change and can get stressed out simply with the move of a chair. It is common knowledge that cats have the tendency to hide illnesses which is why it is so important to consider the degree of illness prior to taking kitty to the vet. The consequential stress as well as the maturity of the cat should also be taken into consideration since they are so averse to leaving the home.
Both dogs and cats are the most popular family pets and while both have their pros and cons, concerning their upkeep, humans will continue to cherish their relationships with them, treat them as another member of the family and live along side them forevermore.
