Cats in human society: from working hunters to house pets
How cats went from working rodent hunters in ancient Egypt to the pampered, sometimes internet famous house pets we know today.
Cats & Culture
Cats pretty much domesticated themselves
Unlike dogs, cats weren't bred by people for a job so much as they moved in on their own, drawn to the rodents that gathered around early grain stores. That self selected history helps explain why cats hang onto more independent, territorial instincts than most domesticated animals.
Attitudes toward cats have swung a long way
Cats have been worshipped, feared, and everything in between across different cultures and centuries. In Australia, that mixed history has a modern twist: cats are loved as pets in most households, while debate over feral cats and their impact on native wildlife shapes a much more cautious public attitude toward cats outdoors.
Did people domesticate cats the way they domesticated dogs?
Not quite. Cats are thought to have self domesticated, drawn to human settlements by rodent populations, with far less direct breeding pressure from people than dogs experienced.
Why are black cats associated with superstition?
It varies by culture. Some European traditions linked black cats to bad luck, while other cultures, including parts of Japan and the UK, consider them lucky.