Americans second favorite pet is the cat with 25% of house holds owning a cat. A cat can jump as much as 5ft. They always land on their feet because of their vestibular aparatus (in their brain) that lets them determine which way is up and down. A cat can also make 100 different sounds like meowing, purring, and hissing. Their purr can be more than happiness, it can help heal a cats bones, joints, tendons, and wounds. While the most poplar cat breeds are Persian, Maine coon, and the Ragdoll, there are actually 78 different types of cat breeds.
For a while people thought that the first pet cat was in Egypt over 4,000 years ago. But in 2004 a cat was found buried with a human in Cyprus and the grave was over 9,500 years old. Cyprus is an island with no wild or tamed cats so that cat must have been from somewhere else. DNA also shows that humans tamed cats over 12,000 years ago. When humans started settling from being nomads and hunters they became farmers. Mice would eat the stored grain so wild cats would come and catch the mice, but only the boldest cats would stick around. Eventually humans started to bond with cats and over a long period of time those cats became the loving cuties you love today.
Cats in some cultures have been thought of as gods. In ancient Egypt people associated cats with the goddess Bastet who gave protection, fertility, and motherhood, and their presence was believed to bring good luck and to ward off bad spirits. In Islam cats are respected for their independence and cleanliness. In hinduism the goddess Durga is often drawn riding a tiger or a lion which both mean power and victory. Lots of cultures have folktales with cats either using their powers for good or evil. Some people also associated cats being witches in disguise and others think that cats have the ability to see ghosts, see the future, and be able to control the weather. There are also superstitions, like in Japan, if a cat is washing its face it means a visitor will arrive or in China that means it will rain. Others belief that if you bring a cat onboard a ship it will bring good luck but if you throw a cat overboard it will end in storms and rough seas.
Overall, cats have a long history of being loved and respected around the world. There is even a holiday to honor cats in Japan – Cat Day is on February 22, the day for appreciating cats, sharing photos and stories, and getting them gifts. One day when I have a cat, every day will be Cat Day!
