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Re: Beginning time of the domesticated cat:
More than 50 million years ago, a small, "weasel-like" animal called "Miacis" roamed the Earth. Most scientists now believe that this animal was the ancestor of today's domestic cat, as well as the ancestor for other mammals including raccoons, dogs and bears. It was about 40 million years ago that actual members of the cat family first appeared
As early as 3500 B.C., Egyptians were domesticating wildcats from Africa, and these domesticated wildcats became treasured pets and were honored in many forms of artwork for their skill in hunting and killing rodents such as snakes, rats and mice.
Around 1500 B.C., cats were actually considered sacred by the Egyptians, and if a person killed a cat, they were usually put to death. Egyptians shaved their eyebrows as a symbol of their grief when their pet cat died, and they made their dead cats into mummies. They also worshipped a goddess of fertility and love named "Bast" or "Bastet", who had the body of a woman and the head of a cat.
Cats first came to Europe and the Middle East about 1000 B.C., most likely from Greek and Phoenician traders. The ancient Greeks and Romans also highly valued cats for their ability to control undesirable rodents. The cat was considered the guardian spirit of a household, and the symbol of liberty in Rome.
During the Middle Ages, superstitions began. In Europe the cat was associated with the Devil, evil and witchcraft, and hundreds of thousands of cats were killed out of this fear. The destruction of so many cats upset the balance of the rodent population contributing greatly to the spread of a form of the bubonic plague called "black death", in which the deadly disease is transmitted to people by rat fleas. Almost one fourth of the entire population in Europe in the 1300's were killed by this plague
Did you know that the very first cat show was held in London in 1871?? And that the first cat association was formed in 1887 in Great Britain, called the National Cat Club of Great Britain. Cat associations register purebred cats by recording the ancestries (pedigrees) of the animals to ensure the preservation of the breeds. These associations also sponsor cat shows and establish the standards for judging of each breed. Highly trained judges at these shows award points for how well each cat meets the standards of their breed, and cats that earn enough points may become champions or grand champions.
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