Origin Of Cats
Cats have a rich history that has been intertwined with mankind’s own since the beginning of time.
You see, domestication of these wild animals can be traced back 10,000 years ago to the Neolithic area. In the Fertile Crescent, the cradle of all civilization, people were beginning to learn and implement various agricultural techniques that allowed them to grow a surplus of food.
Early humans used to be very nomadic creatures. We would move with the migration of animals, seeking food and hunting for daily survival.
It was when we humans began to learn how to cultivate agriculture and bend nature to their will that we were able to begin settling down into villages and tribes.
While producing a large amount of food meant security and allowed the human population to grow, this blessing came with its own set of problems.
As we were producing more food that we could eat at one time, these Neolithic farmers began to store their excess food and grain into large pits and short, clay silos.
But these stores of food attracted hordes of rodents that would come to feast upon the fruits of the
Yet as the rodents came, their predator, the Felis Silvestris Lybica, the wildcat found across North Africa and Southwest Asia, came along as well. You could say that the Felis Silvestris Lybica is the origin of all cats!
These wildcats were true hunters whose finesse and ferocity knew no bounds. These carnivorous wild cats were very similar to modern day cats.
The Felis Silvestris Lybica were not very social to humans and other cats initially. However, the abundance of prey in rodent-infested granaries drew in these typically solitary animals where they began to learn how to tolerate the presence of humans.
You could say that the wildcat domesticated themselves! Knowing
We humans learned to tolerate these wildcats as well, as they were a source of free pest control.
This relationship was so beneficial to both species that mankind and cats migrated together to other areas of the world.
You could see that the cat’s beginning is very closely tied with our own. Over time, Cats would rise to the status of Gods. They would be revered and honored throughout Egypt. Cats would also see their honors tarnished and their reputation demonized as religious chaos rose throughout Medieval Europe.
You could tell that I was only briefly touching upon such a small fraction of the Cat’s rich history. Interested in learning more?
The Great Cat – Enlightening Others On Cats In History, Art, and Literature
The Great Cat is a valuable source of information for any cat lover who wants to divulge themselves on informative history lessons!
Laura Vocelle is the creator and founder of The Great Cat, whose mission is to educate cat lovers about the cats in history, art, and literature.
Cat lovers will learn how our little feline companion has left its imprint on the pages of human history.
You will learn how cats played a vital role in the pre-history society by protecting our food stock and curbing rodent infestation.
The Great Cat also tells how cats rose to their status of being beloved and worshipped as deities and see some of the art that cats were portrayed in ancient times.
Then eventually how the cats were beginning to be associated with witchcraft and dark magic through the Middles Ages in Europe. During these chaotic times,
Laura has expertly crafted and archived the historical knowledge of cats dating from pre-history, ancient Egypt, early Aegean and Mediterranean civilizations, the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the early modern period, the enlightenment, the 19th century, and lastly the 20th century.
You will be able to see how cats have been famously portrayed in ancient Egyptian art. And then you will be able to compare this to how cats were treated in the arts in later periods of history.
The Great Cat will help you to develop a complete understanding of the history of our beloved feline and how they have affected our own.
As Laura brilliantly states:
“History. art, literature, and cats are my greatest loves, and I can’t think of any better way to combine them than to research and write about the cat’s relationship with man throughout history. Following the cat’s journey, sometimes glorious and pampered, sometimes dangerous and deadly, can only lead to a better understanding of our own past and beliefs.”
Laura Vocelle, creator and founder of The Great Cat
You can clearly see how human beliefs have changed over the years. We can even study how there were much turmoil and strife during the Dark and Middles Ages.
Starting in the Dark Ages, there was a struggle for religious domination between Christianity and Paganism. This continued throughout the Dark and Middles Ages.
Pagans believed that all creatures had spirits, while Christians believed all these spirits were evil. This lead to these two religions to have opposing ideologies.
As time went on and Paganism’s presence grew weaker and Christianity was able to take over. This lead to the downfall the cat’s deity status. Notice how the cat’s history is so closely intertwined with our own!
Final Thoughts
I heavily endorse The Great Cat as Laura has put in a lot of time and effort into educating cat lovers on the history of cats.
It’s interesting to see how today how most house cats still hold many of the same characteristics and attributes of their ancestors.
Close analysis of the genomes and coat patterns of modern cats tells us that unlike dogs, which have undergone centuries of selective breeding, modern cats are genetically very similar to ancient cats.
Apart from making them more social and docile, we’ve done little to alter their natural behaviors.
In other words, cats today are more or less as they’ve always been: wild animals.
Cat lovers will be able to continue their quest for knowledge by visiting Laura’s website, The Great Cat. They will be able to follow the cat as it leaves its footprint through the centuries of history.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with Laura herself on her two Facebook Communities which she has created! The Great Cat Facebook Page and the Cats In Art Facebook Page.
“Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the gods, and the judge of words, and the president of the sovereign chiefs and the governor of the holy Circle; thou art indeed the Great Cat.”
Inscription on a royal tomb in Thebes
As always, I wish you and your feline companions all the best! Be safe!
Sincerely,
James Kim
