The Domestic Cat (Felis catus) is probably one of the most familiar mammals in the world. As of 2021, there were an estimated 220 million owned and 480 million stray cats in the world. About 1 in 4 adults in the UK is owned by a cat (!).
Cats that are similar to our house cats have been around for a long time, with the genus Felis genetically diverging from other Felidae (ie all other 'cats') around 6 to 7 million years ago.
For a long time the domestication of the cat was thought to have begun in ancient Egypt, where cats were venerated as Gods from around 3100 BC. (and as the joke goes: they still remember this!) Recently, the earliest known evidence for the taming of an African wildcat was excavated close by a human Neolithic grave southern Cyprus, dating to about 7500–7200 BC.
Domestication has changed cats very little, with only minor changes in anatomy and behaviour. This means they are still capable of surviving in the wild, and in many places feral cat populations pose a significant threat to native wildlife. As always seems t0 be the case, this is a significant problem in Australia.
I keep two cats, but would not do so if I was not able to keep them contained. My cats has an enclosed outdoor door area which we refer to as the 'pleasure palace', which keeps both the cats and the local wildlife safe.
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| Cuban Cat |
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| Cuban Cat |
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| Cuban Cat - showing its nictitating membrane in its eye |
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| Cuban Cat |
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| Dutch Cat - living on a house boat! |
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| My cats Hector and Freda - showing total disregard of any rule setting! |
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| My first Australia cat - Mr. Hudson |
Cats feature in many mythologies, one of my favourite being the idea that the Norse Goddess Freyja, the goddess of love, luck and (I think) things domestic, had a chariot that was pulled by two black cats. This resulted in cats being common wedding presents, to bring the favour of Freyja on the newly married couple. I can think of worse traditions!
Cheers - SM
Cats are mysterious beings
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me how many birds are victims of cats. People in the here keep the cats inside though which is great!
ReplyDeleteDelight for post. Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteDelightful 🙂
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that
Life's softer with a cat
I had one called Tatt
Who didn't mind the hat
Or brother's chasing with a bat
...or the pram, come to that...
They all leave paw prints 🐾
YAM xx
Despite a lifetime engaged with animals, I have not felt the need for domestic animals (pets) - nor ever shall! Apart from their companionship I know that they can involve considerable expense. A friend of our is now in for over $8,000 to treat an ailing dog with limited life expectancy, but she claims that to not undertake heroic measures, albeit only to delay the inevitable, would be akin to abandoning a child. One does what one must, I suppose!
ReplyDeleteI have heard similar stories of the cost of keeping pets alive. While it may seem harsh, I think people should understand that prolonging an animal's life - at the expense of it's actual well being - is cruel. When it became clear that Mr. Hudson was very unwell, we gave him the bowl of ice-cream he had always tried to steal from us, and then we let him go. I think it best that Hector and Freda are never told this story! SM
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