The story of the domestication of cats

It would seem that cats and dogs have always lived next to a person. If the dog is completely subordinate to man, then the situation with cats is not easy. Domestication of them so completely did not happen. They perfectly adapt to life at home, become good companions. These animals have a beautiful appearance and have a special grace, but at the same time possess a wayward character.

Now there are more than 600 million cats worldwide, almost 200 different breeds have been bred, ranging from long-haired, Persian cats to animals completely devoid of hair. For more than 10 thousand years, cats live next to humans, helping them fight rodents and other domestic pests.

Little is known about the history of cats. There are several versions about the origin of this wayward animal.

One of the most common is the religious version. During the Flood on Noah's Ark, a huge number of animals from around the world were saved. Since the giant ship was on its way for a long time, a large amount of feces and excrement accumulated on it. Due to the strong stench and the appearance of rodents, all the inhabitants of the ark began to suffer. Rodents proliferated at tremendous speed, eating food supplies.

So that the animals did not die of hunger, God decided to help them by ordering Noah to stroke the trunk of the elephant first, then the nose of the lion. After that, a large pig jumped out of the trunk, which quickly began to devour harmful waste. A cat soon appeared from the nose of the lion and began to destroy the rodents, which led to the rescue of all the animals floating on the ship.

According to another common version, cats flew to Earth from space. According to this theory, the first animals appeared in ancient Egypt. They were absolutely bald, while the animals could mentally transmit the necessary information to people. According to legend, having met a steppe shaggy cat, the bald cat immediately burned with passion for him, deciding to stay forever living on Earth. The couple in love began to bring numerous offspring. Their representatives became the progenitors of domestic cats.

According to American astronauts, when they landed on the moon, they discovered unusual artifacts. After laboratory studies, it was found that these small stones are feces of cats.

The most plausible is the scientific version of the appearance of cats. According to scientists, there were pets from the ancient creodonts, who inhabited our Earth almost 50 million years ago. Creodonts were impressive in size, so they kept the weak and small animals at bay.

Some zoologists claim that cats are descended from the small animal proazirus, which lived 20 million years ago. This animal was outwardly similar to a marten, could climb trees quickly and had a wayward character.

Experts believe that from this animal two branches emerged and existed: saber-toothed cats and ordinary cats.

Biologists are still arguing whether the cat really became domesticated, because this animal has not lost its hunting skills and habits of solitude, retains its independence.

Scientists still do not know when the cat was domesticated, some of them are still arguing when this happened. Often a legitimate question arises: why were cats necessary for people, because they did not give milk or meat, could not transport goods or guard their homes.

Maybe, the animal itself came to man in search of food. The man realized that cats can relieve rodents, and began to feed and lure them. It was beneficial for people to have such a hunter, exterminating rodents and other animals. The emergence of such an animal in human life made it possible for people and their pets to coexist, thus creating a kind of mutually beneficial situation.

Cats are recognized as semi-domesticated animals that peacefully exist next to humans as long as they are profitable. If the pet is left without a master, he begins to run wild. After the birth of small kittens immediately become more adapted to survival in the wild.

Representatives of cats have long been revered by people.

• The inhabitants of ancient Rome with special respect for these animals, they worshiped them. For example, the goddess Bast had a cat's head. The population was strictly forbidden to do any harm to these pets. During the fire, cats were the first to be brought out of the house. In the event of their death, the owner was in deep mourning and shaved his eyebrows.
• With special respect for the animals and in China, where their devotion and skill in the fight against rodents was highly valued.
• Greeks and Romans also treated these animals with great respect and love.
• In eastern countries cats were revered very highly, because only they could freely enter the mosque.

In some European countries, these Pied Piper were very highly regarded. Often the cost of a good cat exceeded the price of a cow.

• According to scientists, cats were first domesticated in ancient Egypt 6 thousand years ago.
• Archaeologists claim that their first images were found in Ancient Egypt 4-4.5 thousand years ago.
• During the excavation of Jericho, they found the remains of people near cats. The age of such a find is 9 thousand years.
• In Turkey, a statuette of a woman with a cat was discovered, dated to the 4th century BC.e.

With the advent of the Middle Ages, the time has come for the mass extermination of these animals. Individuals of black or red color used particular disfavor. It was believed that witches could inhabit them, so cats were burned at the stake.

Domestication of rodent hunters began with about. Cyprus and Israel. Then these animals began to appear in Egypt and other parts of the world. So, in Europe, India and China, cats and cats appeared 2 thousand years ago, in America - about 500 years ago, and in Australia - almost 400 years ago.

In Russia, these fluffy animals appeared only in the 11th century. A large number of them were identified in port cities, so it was believed that they were brought on merchant ships by eastern merchants.

Near Odessa, the most ancient remains were found. In the cities of the Baltic states, individual individuals appeared in the 5–6 century, in the Volga region - in the 7–9 century. The cat was the keeper of the hearth and its symbol. She was also considered among the Slavic pagans a guide of the soul to another world.

With the adoption of Christianity, St. Blasius becomes the feline patron. Many believe that the popular nickname Vaska went from here.

Initially, only royal people and boyars could afford to keep pets at home, as they were simply not affordable for the majority of the population.

Peter the Great brought Vasily the cat from Holland. There lived a pet in the royal palace. A royal decree was issued specifically for this.

Very soon, these animals became very popular. Breeding them has become a common activity. Many churches kept cats in their homes to protect grain supplies. For attempting to steal a pet, a large fine was imposed. In the 18th century, cats spread throughout Russia. A domestic cat becomes a favorite for its owners. At this time, signs and beliefs associated with these animals appeared.

To purposefully breed new steel breeds in 1800. For the exhibition in London, decorative views were specially bred. Particularly impressed by the visitors of the exhibition are Siamese and Persian cats. In the modern world, genetics are working on the breeding of other breeds of pets with different colors, body size and type of hair.

You can find out more about the history of cats later.