Cats have been kept by humans since ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt, the cat
god, Bast, was a goddess of the home and of the domestic cat, though she
sometimes took on the war-like aspect of a lioness. She was the daughter of the
sun god Ra, although she was sometimes regarded as the daughter of Amun. She was
the wife of Ptah and mother of the lion-god Mihos. Her cult was centered on her
sanctuary at Bubastis in the Nile Delta, where a necropolis has been found
containing mummified cats. Bast was also associated with the "eye of Ra," acting
as the instrument of the sun god's vengeance. She was depicted as a cat or in
human form with the head of a cat, often holding the sacred rattle known as the
sistrum.
It has been suggested that because of circumstantial evidence (to date unproved
by DNA testing) cats resident on Kenya's Islands in the Lamu Archipelago may be
the last living direct descendants of the sacred cats of ancient Egypt. The
suggestive evidence is: similar body conformation, archeologically proven
history of 1000 years habitation, ancient Red Sea trade between Lamu and Egypt,
genetic insular isolation.
Video - Kitten Talk
According to Norse legend, the fine ribbon used to bind Fenrir was crafted by
dwarfs from, among other items, the sound a cat makes when walking.
There are many ancient religions believe that cats are exalted souls, companions
or guides for humans, that they are all-knowing but are mute so they cannot
influence decisions made by humans.
Common lore says that cats have nine lives. It is a tribute to their perceived
durability, their occasional apparent lack of instinct for self-preservation,
and their seeming ability to survive falls that would be fatal to other
creatures.
