felinehistory

What is an AILUROPHILE?...One who loves cats...ETYMOLOGY: Greek ailouros, cat + –phile.

The domestication process began about 3,000 BC in Egypt when cats were enlisted to protect grain silos from rodents. These felines became so valuable that they were regarded as gods. The basic domestic cat was descendant from this Egyptian stock.

Small cats never populated North America. The small predators in existence here included the mink, marten, wolverine, and skunk. The first domestic small cats were brought to this region by early explorers and colonists.

The concept of breeds began in the mid-nineteenth century when the idea of cat shows was invented. Pedigrees were developed by breeders from natural cat breeds that were in existence for thousands of years. People took the cats with traits that they most favored and then bred those felines to continue and enhance the desirable characteristics.

The first true cats were found at the beginning of the Pliocene Period, which was about 12 million years ago. The evolutionary processes led to three main types of cats: The Forest Cat, the Afrivan Wild Cat and The Asiatic Desert Cat.

Ancestors resembling modern cats first appeared about 10 million years ago, but they were completely wild and did not associate with humans. As humans learned to farm, their grain crops attracted mice and birds, and these, in turn, attracted cats. Gradually, around 8,000 years ago, cats and humans learned that they could form a mutually beneficial relationship --the humans protected and sheltered cats who, in return, protected their human's grain supplies.

Sacred to Egypt

The cat was sacred to the Egyptian goddess Bast. Cemeteries containing the bodies of mummified sacred cats have been discovered with bronze statues of cats, is dated around 600 B.C.

Cats are known to have been a part of Egyptian households by 1600 B.C. although they were not deified until much later.

Superstitions

Scottish immigrants believed a cat that entered a room where a body was awaiting burial had to be killed at once. If she were not, the next person the cat touched would be struck blind!

The fear of the cat was so great that it was believed evil would strike down anyone who harmed a cat.

A person who kicked a cat was certainly to develop rheumatism in that leg!

A farmer who killed a cat could expect a mysterious illness to kill off his cattle.

Cat superstitions persist to this day. For the most part, Americans believe white cats are lucky and black cats are unlucky. In Great Britain the reverse is thought to be true.

Professional gamblers have the belief that caring for cats and treating them well will increase their luck. This particular superstition was probably started by a feline to ensure a good home.

In some parts of the old world, the cat was placed in an empty and waiting cradle of a newlywed, the couple in the belief she would quickly grant their wish for children. The Pennsylvania Dutch continue that time-honored custom today

The phrase, let the cat out of the bag means to disclose a secret. It's origin: a favorite country trick was to substitute a cat for a pig at market. If you let the cat out of the bag you disclosed the trick - and avoided buying a pig in a poke (bag)

Legend

From Poland comes the story of the pussy willow, a plant that has been named for the cat the world over. Long ago, a mother cat cried inconsolably on the banks of a river in which her kittens were drowning. To help her, the willows swept their long branches into the water as lifelines for the little kittens. Every spring since, buds with the soft feel of a kittens silky fur open at the tips of willow branches.

Source: Pet Care Report/ Cats and their History - Ralston Purina Co.

Religious Persecution

Because cats were often deified in pagan religions, they have suffered from religious persecution throughout history. For example, in the 16th century it was very common for a cats to be executed as agents of the devil. Fortunately for today's cat lovers, this practice eventually diminished in popularity.

Cats and Witches

A very early record of the linking together of witches and cats concerns the ceremony of Cat Wednesday which took place in the city of Metz in Northern France. This involved hundreds of cats being burnt alive in the belief that they were witches in disguise

Persecution in the 13th century

Papal might was brought down upon witches and cats in the 13th century when horrible acts of atrocity were carried out on humans and felines. Black cats in particular were believed to be agents of the devil, especially if owned by an elderly woman.

The Celts

The Celts believed that cats had once been human and had been changed into felines as punishment for their wicked ways. Cats were sometimes tied up with silver ropes because it was believed that these creatures had the ability to protect hallowed treasures. Later, Catholic culture mixed with Celtic beliefs and the cat became thought to be the witch's familiar.

In the 16th and 17th centuries tens of thousands of witches and cats were put to death in Germany, 75,000 in France and 30,000 in Great Britain. Cats were often tortured, along with their unfortunate humans, before being burnt, or buried alive.

Cats Witches and Halloween

A 17th century English woman, Joan Flower, along with her two daughters, was hung for practicing witchcraft. Joan and her daughters were employed by the Earl of Rutland and were accused of cursing his family. His sons had died, and his wife had become barren, and someone had to take the blame for it. It was said that the daughters had stolen some of the Earl's possessions and given them to their mother who rubbed them on the fur of her cat uttering curses. Nothing is recorded about the fate of the cat, but it is unlikely that it escaped with its life.

Witches and cats have had a long association with Halloween. Because cats are nocturnal creatures and do their roaming at night, they were seen as the servants of witches and out to harm those that the witches had cursed. It was also believed by some that witches had the supernatural power to change into cats and so more easily carry out their wicked deeds and escape detection. Mythical stories recount great gatherings of witches when the seasons changed, on the eve of May Day and on the eve of October 31 Halloween.

The Plague and Cats to the Rescue

In 1348, the Black Death or bubonic plague swept across Europe in successive epidemics with an overwhelming loss of life. In England, more than half the people died; in some parts of France, only one-tenth of the population survived. By bringing the rodent population under control, cats heroically saved the humans from complete extinction.

Cats in Asia

Cats were honored and protected in Asia because the humans there recognized the value of our services in protecting food crops and the silk worm industry from destruction by rodents.

Cats in Thailand

Cats have guarded temples in Thailand and other parts of Asia for centuries. One Thai legend says that hightly spiritual people reicarnate as cats as their last stage on the way to heaven. Another explains the dark patches on the shoulders of some Siamese cats as "temple marks" left by Buddha's fingers when he touched them in blessing.

Cats and Islam

Islamic lore includes many tales about the prophet Mohammed and his beloved cats. One story tells how a considerate cat saved the prophet from death by snakebite. Another tells of Mohammed's kindness in cutting off the sleeve of his robe rather than disturb Muezza, the cat who was sleeping on it. ( She said thanks by sharing her special powers with the prophet...or so it is alleged. )

A Famous Story

In the Islamic world, the cat was respected and protected because cats were loved by the prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. There is a story that Mohammed's cat Muezza once fell asleep on the sleeve of his master's robe and instead of disturbing his beloved cat when he had to leave, Mohammed cut off the sleeve of his robe so his precious Muezza would not be disturbed.

Cats and Hindu

Hindus, who revere all living creatures, have a special rule about cats: Each faithful family is expected to house and feed one.

Cats and Clairvoyance

Cats have often been associated with clairvoyance. An early European tradition held that one could acquire this gift by growing up with a tortoiseshell cat

Cats in Japan

In Japan, a cat with a raised left paw brings wealth, while one with its right paw raised brings luck and happiness.

Cats In South Africa

A South African tribe told of a cat who served as the "external soul" for an entire family whose lives depended on her existence. When she died, the family members quickly fell lifeless too.

The Greeks and Their cats

The Greeks credited their goddess Artemis with creating the cat and ascending to the moon in feline form

Cats in South America

In South America, some people worshipped a puma god and thought medicine men turned into jaguars when they died

Cats and the Romans

The Romans gave Venus, their goddess of love, many of the attributes of Bastet and often depicted the goddess with a cat.

Some historians believe importing cats to England was the Romans' greatest contribution toward civilizing the British.

The Norse

For transportation, the Norse fertility goddess Freya used a cat-drawn chariot.

Finnish people thought the souls of the dead were collected by cats drawing a sled.

In Java

When people in Java wanted to make it rain, they would bathe two cats, a male and female, then carry them in a procession with music.

In America and other Christian countries, the tabby cat has a legend of its own. As the Christ child lay in the manger, no animal - not even the gentle donkey or the faithful shepherd dog - could soothe Him to sleep. But when a little tabby jumped lightly into the manger and began to purr a lullaby, the Babe fell asleep at last. Ever since, all tabbies' foreheads have borne an M in token for the Madonna's gratitude.

According to another legend, the "M" marking on the forehead of the Tabby Cat was created by the prophet Mohammed as he rested his hand lightly on the brow of his favorite tabby.

Expressions

Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret. In medieval times, piglets were taken to markets and sold in sacks. Occasionally, an unscrupulous vendor would try to pass off a cat or puppy in a bag as a piglet. If the cat escaped in view of the potential buyer, so did the secret.

Kitty-corner or catty-corner: Comes from catercorner, the old dialectical term for diagonal, which itself comes from the French word "quatre," or four.

Raining cats and dogs: A driving rain. This ever-popular expression first appeared in print in 1653. ("It shall raine ... dogs and polecats.") No one has a definitive explanation for where it comes from, but everyone has a theory.

Not enough room to swing a cat: A crowded, tight space. This phrase possibly deals with cruelty to humans, not animals. Theories say it refers to the cat o’ nine tails, a pronged whip used for punishment on boats at sea. There wasn’t enough room below decks to perform the punishment, so it was always done on the deck. The phrase could also relate to the use of cats that were swung into the air as targets for archers.

Cat Nights - This term harks back to the days when people believed in witches. An old Irish legend says that a witch could turn into a cat and regain herself eight times, but on the ninth time, in August, she couldn’t change back, hence the saying: “A cat has nine lives.” Because August is a “yowly” time for cats, this may have prompted the speculation about witches on the prowl in the first place.

Mythology and Folklore of the Manx

When Filling the ark and the rains came down, Noah closed the door and caught the tail of a cat

Cats from ships wrecked on the coasts around the Isle of Man came ashore and made the Island their home

Mother cats bit off the tails of their kittens to keep them from being snatched by the invading Scandinavians, who cut off the tiles and used them for decorating their helmets