Proud Dog Salon – The Cat Through The Ages
I found Grace Pond’s article about the origin of the domestic cat so interesting, that I thought that I would share it with you.
She tells us that the first definite evidence of the existence of the domestic cat comes from ancient Egypt over three thousand years ago, although it may have been known in the world long before this.
In Egypt the cat was held in great esteem. It was worshipped in the temples, protected from injury, loved during life, and at death was mourned by the entire family. Both the rich and the poor had the bodies of their cats beautifully embalmed, sometimes in the finest linen, and placed in mummy cases made of such materials as bronze and wood, often decorated and lined with gold leaf. The Egyptians realised the cat’s immense value in protecting the great granaries from rats and mice. From the many motifs, drawings and ornaments of cats found over the years, it seems that the Egyptian cat had a long and slim body.
In India cats were mentioned in Sanskrit writings over two thousand years ago , while in China about 500B.C. Remains of cats have been found in Etruria and it is thought that the first cats to be kept as pets in Europe may have come from there. The Scandinavian Goddess Freya is depicted in a chariot drawn by two cats.
About 600 A.D., Mahommed is said to have preached with a cat in his arms, while about the same time Japan has tales of cats being kept in the temples to guard the sacred manuscripts. It is commonly surmised that the Romans brought the first domestic cats to Britain, and bones have been found in the ruins of some Roman villas.
With the advent of the Middle Ages, in England and in many other parts of the world, the once-reverenced and highly prized cat was becoming an animal to look on with fear and dread. It became the victim of sacrifice with ceremonies connected with Black Magic. Witches were supposed to be able to turn themselves into cats, to ride on cats, and were pictured with cats riding on their broomsticks. Many innocent women were burned to death with their harmless pets. Black cats in particular were picked out for persecution as being the familiar of the Devil and many thousands of cats were willfully destroyed. In France cats were publicly burned as sacrifices until the practice was forbidden by law by Louis XIII.
Gradually throughout Europe the witch-hunts died down and the cat was allowed once more to sit by the fire and go about its true pursuit of killing rats and mice. Interest in the cat as an individual began to increase and the first Cat Show was held at the Crystal Palace in 1871 which became an annual event.
Today the cat is very much in the public eye. Famous authors and film stars are photographed with their cats, there are plays written about cats and they are often featured in cartoons in films and on television.
Article by Dawn Carter, owner of Proud Dog Salon
Proud Dog Salon is situated in Centurion, visit our website to find out more about our grooming and other services or to book an appointment for your furry family member – www.prouddogsalon.co.za