Domestication of the Cat
Friday August 1, 2008
K. Kris Hirst, About.com Guide to Archeology, adds a tongue-in-cheek comment, (If that's even possible) to her outstanding article.We've thought for many, many years, that the cat was first domesticated in Egypt, and certainly, cats as we know them today have been affected by those centuries of being regarded as gods (just ask any of your own cats.) However, as Kris points out in her article, more recent evidence indicates that the cat was first domesticated over 10,000 years ago, in the Fertile Crescent region. Don't miss reading the rest of this informative article. It will give you even more appreciation of your own royal cats.
Speaking of "domestic cats," there's still plenty of time to submit your picture for my upcoming " 2008 August Domestic Cats Picture Calendar." My Billy, pictured here, has long considered himself to be a god, to the degree that sometime there's no living with him.
Photo © Franny Syufy
Comments
I have been a subject of king Dudley for 13 years. He always gets the last bit of milk in my cereal bown and whenever we have chicken, a small piece is always set aside for him. We dare not even think of making the bed if he is sleeping in it and no matter where he is laying on the floor, we must step aroung him. He is aware of the fact that we adopted Lucy, Lily and Zoey for his pleasure (younger by 11 years !) and he allows them to kiss and groom him. I know of no other king in history who was treated as well as my furry boyfriend.
I cannot find anywhere anything about the grief that one cat experiences when another who has been with the dead cat for years dies. I need help on this one…My lovely ginger who was 11 years old died suddenly. MY other cat is a tortie whom I have also had for 11 years. How do I know whether the tortie is grieving? Would someone please help me out here?
Franny, I hope you don’t mind me stepping in here.
arusha40, there is quite a bit of evidence that cats do grieve their companions. You might want to go to this site’s forum (forums.about.com/ab-cats) and start a thread there. I’m so sorry about the loss of your kitty.
Franny, thank you for pointing out this article. It was quite informative. I love the fact that our little housecats are so close to their forebears.
Hello cat lovers,
Yes cats grieve for weeks. six years ago I got a cat from a family with three cats. They had to get rid of them because their grandbaby had come to live with them. I got a tuxedo cat. Black with white neck and white paws. I put him in my carrier and brought him home. about 8 miles. He cried like crazy. When we got home he was really depressed. Just laid on the sofa and did nothing else but eat and use litter box. I called the other mama three times to see if she could take him back. She called several people but no luck. It was about a year before that cat trusted me. The other mama should have given me one of his toys. Even now he stays close to me. Last summer a friend was taking him to the vet and dwhen she put him in her car he cried like crazy even though I was with them. Elinor and I looked at each other and she said “He doesn’t know this car.” We went back home and got my car. He was happy then. He thought he was going to another home. Anyway all is well now. Thanks Rachel