Cats are members of the family Felidea. They are pure
carnivores and require a high level of protein in their
diets (about 30%) and lack the digestive equipment to survive
on a diet of grains, fruit, or vegetables. They are
hunting mammals, equipped with powerful jaws, sharp teeth,
and claws that draw back into their paws when not being
used. They have extremely acute hearing and their
eyes easily adjust to darkness for hunting reasons.
Contrary
to popular belief, cats are very social animals. It
is always thought that dogs need lots of attention while
cats would rather be left alone. This is very much
not true, as cats love and crave attention. However,
they prefer attention when they choose, so it is easy to
understand how they have gained this reputation of being
aloof. Unlike dogs they do not suffer from lonliness,
but they can get depressed in some cases when lonely
and act out.
A Brief History of Today's Housecat |
50
million years ago: The Miacis
The Miacis was a small animal that lived in trees and
is the oldest known ancestor of the cat, dog, and other
animals such as the bear, weasel, raccoon, and fox. The
Miacis had a long body, even longer tail, and short legs. It
also probably had retractable claws like today's domestic
cats. |
|
40
million years ago: The Dinictis
The Dinictis was a very agile animal on both the ground
and in trees. It was a small primitive cat with
a sleek body, a long tail, and short legs. It
is also known as a "false saber tooth" because
of its long saber teeth. |
|
1500
BC: Egyptian Deities
Cats
during this time were captured from the wild as kittens
to grow up domestically for the first time. They
were at first used to help hunt, but were later worshipped
as deities. Protected by the law, anyone who harmed
or killed a cat was punished harshly. Cats were
mummified after death, and owners shaved off their eyebrows
to display mourning. |
|
900
BC: European Mousers
Phoenician traders traveling to Europe used cats to catch
rodents. Soon they gained this reputation and were
popular across Europe. The tendency of cats to
do their own thing made them mysterious, and they were
worshipped in different everyday and religious rituals. However,
this was not the same as in Egyptian times. |
|
Devil
of the Middle Ages
Cats were associated with the Norse goddess, Freya. When
Christianity barred her worship, she became a demon. Friday
became known as the Black Sabbath and the cat became
associated with the devil. Many were tortured and
killed. The cat population shrunk to only ten percent
of its original size, aiding to the spread of the Black
Plague, which was caused by fleas on rats. |
|
17th
Century: Rodent Controllers
Cats began to regain their status as rodent catchers
and were employed on ships after the Black Plague due
to their increased popularity after managing to control
the rat population once again. They were seen as
important members of the crew rather than pets, and they
were treated as equals. Many ended up in America
after crossing the ocean. |
|
18th
Century: Popular Pet
Cats became popular pets, serving not only as
rodent catchers but as companions also after reaching
America. Today they are a very popular pet in America,
Europe, and many other countries around the world. Some
still believe in their former stereotypes and see them
as royalty or demons, but to most they are just a clever
companion. |
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