Ancient Cats

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By peace | February 27, 2008

Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want. ~ Joseph Wood Krutch

Ancient Egyptians were crazy about cats. They worshiped them as gods literally and anyone caught hunting or mistreating them in any way was put to death. Many cat lovers take their pets everywhere, but the ancient Egyptians took it one step farther. They hoped to take their pets with them after death. For example, Prince Tuthmosis of Cairo, was buried with his cat, Mit. Provisions for the long journey into the afterlife were left for him and his Mit.

Names of pets were found inscribed on ancient Egyptian tombs. According to Dennis Doxey of the Egyptian section at the University of Pennsylvania’s museum, this shows that their owners wanted to help bring the animals into the afterlife with them.

Cats Make History
In Philadelphia, a cat risked its own skin to save the lives of its young. Without the slightest hesitation, a mother cat rushed into a burning building and, one by one, pulled out her litter of kittens, and were saved.

Stories like this one that relate to the heroic efforts of mother cats are common. In 1996, a similar incident occurred in Brooklyn. Firefighters who responded to a report of a burning building discovered five tiny kittens purring outside the flame-engulfed building. Nearby was the mother cat, who had pulled them out one by one, according to witnesses. She finally collapsed with severe burns on her face and paws. She eventually recovered and offers of adoption and financial assistance poured in from as far away as Japan.

Great Cats In History
It might surprise you to know that Edgar Allan Poe, author of The Black Cat, a horrific tale of cat mutilation, was a cat lover. In fact his cat, Catterina, served a very special purpose in the Poe household. When Poe’s wife, Virginia was ill, the family was so poor they could not afford enough coal to keep the house warm. Blankets were also scarce, so Catterina would recline on Virginia’s chest, giving her much needed body heat. The cat was a kind of living blanket that helped keep Virginia warm and comfortable during her illness. In return, the cat received much tenderness and love from the Poe family.