Forever Friends

Though cats have always been recognized as wild animals and have many exotic ancestors, the domesticated cat has long been a part of the civilized household. Many speculate that this relationship spawns all the way back to Egyptian times when the cat was highly regarded for its instinctual hunting of rats, mice, even insects. Thus, the felines naturally adapted to living amongst people while unknowingly offering these humans a valuable service of ridding rodents. Unlike dogs or other varmints that also hunt and kill unwanted prey, cats do not usually eat grains, fruits or vegetables: the sustenance of human survival. This optimal compatibility quickly fertilized the growth of a grand relationship between human and cat. The first illustration of a cat with a collar appeared on a tomb in Saqqara (Egypt) dated to the 5th Dynasty (ca 2500-2350 BC), and cats are still the most frequently mummified animal in Egypt today

A few years ago an excavation of a grave revealed new confirmation of the intimate companionships between man and feline, dating back 9,500 years. Inside this grave was not just one skeleton, but two: that of a human and that of a cat lying at the humans side. This association is a significant indicator of how long we have actually held relationships with cats. Dear relationships at that.

Presently, the cat is considered one of the most popular pets in America, which is also conducive with the rest of the world. Whereas studies have indicated more households having dogs than cats, these results also reveal more cats as pets than any other animal in the world. It is quite common for the typical cat lover to have numerous cats sharing her residence. Though there are a plethora of personalities to cats, most will befriend their roommates; creating playtime with either fellow cats or even dogs and people. They take ownership of their furniture: cat poles, special cat beds, toys, etc, and they often even run the household with their strength in communicating exactly what they want, when they want it. All the more, they are a great addition to the family.

Domestication is an integral part of human civilization. Gaining relationships with animals we exist with has altered both man and animal in many evolutionary ways. Specific to the cat, scientists have been able to track this development back to at least 5 founding wildcat species. They have discovered that the domestic cat is derivative from the genes of the following: European wildcat, Near Eastern wildcat, central Asian wildcat, Southern African wildcat, and Chinese Desert wildcat. Some things are just meant to pass down. Genomes are just the beginningall the way back to the very beginning that is. As for now, traditional pets like cats are part of the family and are cherished as welcome personalities that we clearly get along with and can now even learn from. Amongst the many treasures we have discovered and passed on from generation to generation, so will our kindled love for our feline friendfor at least the next 9,500 years to come. Soon, cats will converse amongst themselves about the days they domesticated us.