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Thanks. Close your eyes and imagine waking and being surrounded by the yummiest food on sparkly plates and wearing shiny jewels and sitting on a cozy soft pillow for your image to be turned into a statue.
How cool does that sound?
Awesome, right? Well, this was the reality for the ancient Egyptian cats who used to be adored and respected, not just for being amazing animals, but also as friends who kept Egyptian society safe from bugs, snakes, and other scary things.
What an amazing life those cats had.
Cats have been very important in Egyptian society for more than 3 ,000 years.
They weren't just treated as pets, they were considered as important as gods.
People thought they were symbols of things like fertility, having a fair and just society, and of course power for the whole country.
Cats were thought of as guardians of Egypt and were featured in art, which shows that they were very involved in everyday life of the common men as well as the kings and queens.
They were treated specially because people spent a lot of time and money to mummify them and bury them in special cat cemeteries.
Even after they died, people drew their pictures and painted them on the tombs of their owners.
It's amazing how much cats were a part of everyone's life in ancient Egypt.
However, cats were not just important in ancient Egypt, they were also important in ancient Greece and Rome as beloved pets.
In those societies, cats were appreciated for their role in keeping rats and mice under control.
However, as time went on, their mice catching skills weren't the only thing that cats were known for.
Roman soldiers kept cats in forts, not only to protect food, but also to prevent rats from damaging leather, which in turn protected armor and equipment.
As a result, cats became valued partners to Roman soldiers, often seen as loyal friends.
In old stories from Rome, cats meant freedom, and they were the only animals allowed to go into important religious places such as temples.
Before the Victorian era, cats were not commonly viewed as pets.
Cats and dogs were supposed to work, to be part of the family, rather than just to be pets for fun.
But in the 1700s and 1800s, everything changed.
Having a pet became a way of life for families and made them happier.
It was also good for teaching kids about responsibility.
Dogs became like members of the family and had special values like being loyal and brave.
Cats still had a hard time because they were thought to be connected to bad things like witchcraft, so they just kept catching mice to live with families.
However, soon after this, things became easier for our cat friends.
Thankfully, in the 1900s, people started seeing cats differently, and for the first time ever, they were loved by kids and adults alike as pets.
While it took some time for cats to be accepted in the Western culture, that was not the case for Russia.
Cats have been considered to bring good luck in Russia for centuries.
In older times, when Russian people bought a new house, they had a tradition to let a cat enter the house before anyone else.
They believed it would bring them success and happiness in their new home.
Well, what about the cat history in Asia?
Well, in China, cats were favored as pets as early as the 1200s, during the Song Dynasty over 800 years ago.
Old Chinese civilizations even bought special gifts for their lovely lion cats, as they called their pets.
One such gift was small beds called cat nests.
Doesn't that sound so similar to cat beds.
It might even be where the idea of beds for pets started.
In Japanese folklore, cats were believed to be magical beings.
There's an enchanting tale about Maneki Neko, a figurine believed to bring good luck to its owner.
Legend says a cat once waved its paw at a Japanese landlord, catching his attention.
Curious, the landlord moved toward the cat, and moments later, a lightning bolt struck the spot where he had just been standing.
Ever since then, cats have had a high place in Japanese culture, so high that they even have multiple temples dedicated to cats all over the country.
Fast forward to today, cats are the world's second most popular pet after dogs.
There are over 400 million domestic cats around the world, including stray ones, with a whopping 76 million living in the United States.
Cats are such fascinating creatures.
You probably noticed how they purr, right?
Well, purring is one of the ways cats talk, and it's super interesting.
They usually purr when they're feeling relaxed and comfortable, like when they're getting some cuddles.
It's like their way of saying, well, I'm happy and chill right now.
But get this, purring isn't just about happiness.
Cats might also purr when they're hungry or curious.
And did you know that kittens purr to let their moms know they're safe?
It's like their super sweet way of saying, I'm here, mom.
Don't worry. Purring can also help cats when they're feeling sad or in pain.
It's a way for them to calm down.
Some experts even believe that the vibrations from purring can help cats heal faster.
It's like they have a special superpower.
So next time you hear a cat purring, remember, there's a whole lot more to it than just happiness.
It's like their secret language, telling us so much about how they're feeling.
Have you ever wondered why cats sleep so much?
Well, let me tell you.
It's because they've grown to do so.
Even our house cats have a history of wild ancestors who needed to store their energy for hunting and chasing their next meal.
Although our pet cats may not have to hunt for their food, the instinct to rest during the day is still deeply ingrained in them.
Did you know that adult cats can sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day on average.
Yes, that's a lot of snoozing, but here's the interesting part.
For about 75 % of that time, they're just catnapping and will still be aware of their surroundings.
So if you walk into a room or start preparing their food, they'll definitely notice.
A few more fun facts about cats.
Their whiskers help them figure out if they can fit into small spaces.
It's because of these whiskers that our cute furry friends can squeeze themselves into the tiniest spaces.
They can also see really well in the dark with those glowing dark eyes they have.
Have you ever noticed that cats make very little noise when walking around?
That's because of the thick, soft pads on their paws giving them a sneaky advantage when they're stalking prey or you.
Cats are very interesting animals.
They like to sleep on things that smell like their owners, like beds, dirty clothes, and sometimes even the owners themselves.
Cats use their long tails to balance when they jump or walk on narrow ledges.
When they hiss, it's just to defend themselves, not because they're being mean.
Cats are amazing hunters and have really good senses.
They eat meat because they're experts at hunting.
They usually hunt alone, but can be friendly with other cats and animals sometimes.
Even though they can eat some non -meat foods, they really need meat to stay healthy.
Cats have been living near people for a very long time.
History shows that cats started coming to where people lived because they were good at catching pests, and also because they wanted to live with humans.
As a result, humans got pets that could catch mice for them, and cats found families that would always love and provide for them.
As the human population continues to grow, so does our beloved cat population, With how the entire world loves and adores cats, it's clear that the future holds nothing but absolute security and love for our feline friends.
