cats are one of the most beloved 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 nearest relative of the modern-day domestic cat and was bred by Mesopotamian farmers, most probably 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 Egyptians are responsible for the actual name `cat’ 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. A penalty of death was put in place around 450 BC in Egypt if a cat was deliberately killed.
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 highly regarded throughout homes, farms and even palaces due to its usefulness with controlling the pest population of less desirable creatures such as mice, rats and snakes.
It is generally thought that the Phoenicians introduced the cat to Europe by the traders possibly smuggling them out of Egypt. While the Phoenicians are acknowledged to have traded extensively with every known civilization of the time, cats may have been spread around the region on a fairly regular basis.. It is well documented that cats were kept on ships to control vermin during the time of the 15th century Age of Discovery and, it’s possible, 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.
Pet ownership has proven benefits to both our health and social well-being. In fact, The number of households owning a cat or dog has been steadily growing since the start of the millennium, with a recorded 8.8 million cats and 7.6 million dogs considered as family pets in Canada alone in 2016.
There has been a boom in the pet economy in Asia with the ‘humanization’ of pets. 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 brisk growth. With more than 100 million pets, China has now become the third largest pet owning country after the US and Japan. Demand for other ‘pet’ services has grown dramatically too. Owners not only visit pet salons for grooming and manicures, but also indulge in clothing, pet-sized furniture and carriers, gourmet ‘baked’ treats as well as the ever evolving array of toys.
Cats are often considered as the preferred choice over the dog as they too are capable of establishing strong bonds with people, but are easier to look after and don’t require the daily walks. Cats also tend to be less expensive as they don’t require any day care services and the procedure for spaying and neutering is significantly less. 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 certainly don’t require the space of a dog. 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 generally known that cats have the tendency to hide illnesses which is why it is so important to assess the state of any illness when considering a vet visit. The age of the cat and the resulting stress 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.
