The History of House Cats

The History of House Cats

An Unlikely Friend Cats are the world's most popular pet. However, they are different from most other tame animals. Cats are friendly, but they don't need help from others--they usually hunt and live alone.

Cats also don't work for humans in the same way that dogs, cows, horses, and sheep do. This means that cats and humans are a surprising pair. So how did cats become some of our dearest friends?

The Taning of Cats Some scientists think that cats were first tamed in the Middle East about twelve thousand years ago. At that time, people began to grow and store grain for food. Mice and rats came to eat the grain, and cats came to hunt them. People might have started feeding cats because they were happy to get rid of the pests. Over time, cats that were better with people bred rapidly near towns. These cats were especially successful because they could easily get food.

Some scientists think that people simply may have liked the way cats looked. Cats have big eyes and round faces. These features tend to bring out a caring response in humans. In other words, people may have taken in cats because they are cute.

A Growing Friendship The friendship between cats and people grew over time. In ancient Egypt, for example, people believed that cats were magical animals that brought good luck. Some of their gods even took the form of cats.