06/23/2026
(Pre)History of Cat Ownership
Though they haven't been pets for as long as dogs, cats have their own storied history to tell, one somewhat similar to that of dogs. Cats self-domesticated, but far less than dogs. Agricultural humans like Egyptians stored grain, rodents ate it, and cats ate them. Due to this, humans appreciated cats, and cats enjoyed the rodents that humans attracted. This only touches on the utility of keeping cats around, however. In terms of behavior more closely associated with pet ownership, a grave in Cyprus dated to around 7,500 BCE contained an 8-month-old big cat and a human skeleton. Though this was not a domesticated cat but rather a tamed one, it speaks to the relationship some humans already cultivated with felines.
Much can be said about cats in Ancient Egypt. Cats helped with pests and became associated with the Egyptian goddess Bastet. Some were even mummified!
The written record seems to reflect some of these positive feelings towards cats as well. Notwithstanding the scarcity of materials, fragments of epitaphs from Late Rome show cats being referred to as words like sweet, faithful, companion, etc. As for East Asia, some far more personal (or personable) writings exist. In 889 CE, Emperor Uda of Japan said of his cat what we all think about our own cat(s): “I am convinced it is superior to all other cats.” Some things never change.
Post credit: Aidan
