The Elevated Status of Cats, Past and Present

As a cat fancier, you love your pet, but did you know that cats have been worshiped throughout many parts of the world? In fact, in some countries, cats still hold an important position in society, venerated in ancient texts and teachings. Even the Babylonian Talmud speaks of the admirable traits ascribed to cats and encourages humans to breed and keep cats “to help keep the houses clean.”

Egypt

Most folks are familiar with the cat’s legendary status in ancient Egypt. An agrarian community, Egypt depended on her stores of grain to sustain human life. Rats and mice were always a threat to the grain stores, so the Egyptians encouraged the African wildcats living on the fringes of human settlements to take up housekeeping near the grain stores and in their homes and businesses by leaving out bits of food for the felines. Over the years, the feral cats became domesticated and were prized not only for their rodent killing skills, but also for their bravery in attacking venomous snakes, including the deadly cobra.

The cat eventually achieved the position of deity. The goddess Bastet, with a woman’s body and the head of a cat, represented fertility, love, protection and motherhood. Cats were protected by law, and killing one, even accidentally, would result in death for the offending human. If a house caught fire, the cats would be rescued before the endangered people. When a cat died, it was greatly mourned by its human family and was embalmed and entombed, ready to be reunited with its owners in the afterlife. Cats in Egypt enjoyed this reverence for almost 2,000 years.

Siam

In Siam, which is now Thailand, priests bred and kept cats in the temples. These felines were similar to today’s Siamese cats, except for the ancient counterpart’s stockier bodies, rounder heads, and kinked tails. The noticeable kink in the tails held deep religious significance. These cats were also bred by the kings of Siam as prized pets and offered as gifts to express the kings’ esteem. Whenever a parade was held to celebrate a new king, a cat always rode in the lead chariot.

Norway

In Norse mythology, cats were closely associated with Freya, the goddess who lent her name to our day of the week, Friday. Two huge cats pulled her fiery chariot across the heavens, and she was always surrounded by felines. Farmers often put dishes of fresh milk out for stray cats, believing that Freya would bless them for feeding her minions. Cats were also considered good luck, and if a cat appeared at a Norse wedding, it was an omen of good fortune. The Norse and their neighbors even believed that cats could frighten away evil trolls that lurked under bridges or in the dark forests.

Japan

Japan has its own good-luck cat, the mi-ka. Mi-ka literally translates as “three-furred,” and the traditional fortune kitty is white with patches of black and red, what we would refer to as a calico. The cats were originally bred by priests and lived in temples as well as in the homes of the Imperial families. The Japanese priests honored the cats after death, and the temple of Go-To-Ky-Ji in Tokyo is dedicated to the venerated felines. Still much admired in modern Japan for their beauty and elegance, in addition to their potential as good-luck charms, statues of the mi-ka cats can still be found all over the island nation.

Today, cats often have the reputation for being proud or arrogant. And why shouldn’t they be? What other animal has enjoyed so much reverence and worship from different cultures throughout history? Perhaps our modern kitties realize the rich heritage their ancestors enjoyed across the eons and just how important they’ve been to humans around the world.