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 more or less 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 hold onto more independent, territorial instincts than most domesticated animals.
Cultural attitudes toward cats have swung dramatically
Cats have been worshipped, feared, and everything in between across different cultures and centuries. Old Irish folklore added its own twist with tales of the Cat Sith, a fairy creature said to resemble a large black cat, and that kind of story still colours how some people react to a black cat crossing their path.
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 in Ireland?
Much of it traces back to older folklore, including tales of fairy cats like the Cat Sith. Elsewhere in Europe, black cats were linked to bad luck, while other cultures, including parts of Japan and the UK, consider them lucky.