| es are, at some point you have walked into a store, | | | | Historically, cats have been as revered as they have |
| or other business establishment to be greeted by a | | | | been hated. In the Middle Ages black cats endured a |
| locally famous cats. These elite, and yet unique | | | | horrible tradition as famous cats. They were routinely |
| mascots usually come with stories of being rescued | | | | tortured to death because of their color, and the |
| from an animal shelter. Other owners will relate | | | | association with witch craft. To this day, there are |
| stories about how their famous cats simply decided | | | | unsavory people that will try to adopt black cats to |
| to take up residence with them. Irregardless of how | | | | use all sorts of disgusting |
| a cat comes to be a part of someone's life, they | | | | “ceremonies”. Still other people fear |
| often remind us of some of the most famous cats in | | | | black cats, or will do anything they can to harm them. |
| history. | | | | Perhaps it should come as no surprise that legitimate |
| Recently, Oscar, the nursing home cat grabbed world | | | | black cat owners will tell you these animals have |
| headlines. This incredible cat not only knows when | | | | some of the finest, and most intelligent natures |
| residents in the nursing home will pass on, he keeps | | | | amongst cat kind. |
| vigil. While there are many stories about service dogs | | | | As you may be aware, cats were highly prized in |
| that make headlines on a daily basis, a famous cats | | | | ancient Egypt. Not only were they mummified with |
| with a job in the medical profession is often | | | | as much care as humans, it was against the law to kill |
| considered a rarity. | | | | a cat. In addition, a number of Egyptian deities were |
| Oscar is yet another reminder of how these elegant | | | | associated with cats. Bastet was keeper of hearth |
| animals seek to provide emotional support and | | | | and home, while Sekhmet and Pakhet were often |
| friendship to humans. Frequently, family members | | | | associated with medicine and warfare. Virtually all |
| have a difficult time coping with emotional impact of | | | | Egyptologists will acknowledge that famous cats |
| seeing a loved one experiencing the types of decline | | | | played a key role in many aspects of ancient |
| associated with old age. At the same time, a | | | | Egyptian culture. |
| representative of one of the most | | | | Historically, many famous cats have cheered us up, |
| “aloof” species of domesticated | | | | and helped us to realize that our world would be a |
| animals does not hesitate to keep people in nursing | | | | very sad place without their mischievous presence. |
| homes company during their final hours. | | | | Today, people all over the world keep cats as pets. |
| Few discussions of famous cats would be complete | | | | While cats can be enigmatic and aloof, when they |
| without mentioning Garfield. As infamous cartoon cats | | | | take a mind to be famous, they do it with skill and |
| go, one must wonder how Garfield chooses between | | | | aplomb. One has only to observe famous cats like |
| eating and sleeping. And of course, many love reading | | | | Oscar to realize that cats are capable of offering |
| about the thoughts that go through his mind as he | | | | companionship to humans even when we cannot do |
| observes others doing things in non-cat optimized | | | | it on our own. |
| ways. | | | | |