| The cats that we know today have a long history | | | | worshipped them. In Thailand, Siamese cats were |
| dating back millions of years. Paleontologists | | | | sacred temple cats. In Japan, thse animals kept |
| discovered evidence of a cat with a retractable claw, | | | | Buddhist temples free of mice. In Norwegian |
| Miacis, who lived about 50 million years ago. Most | | | | mythology, Freya (the goddess of fertility) rode in a |
| scientists believe that the descendants of Miacis and | | | | chariot pulled by two white cats. Cats made their |
| other prehistoric cats divided into three separate | | | | way to China in 5,000 BCE and to India in 100 BCE. |
| groups nearly a million years ago; the big cats (lions | | | | Throughout history, sailors and other explorers helped |
| and tigers), the cheetahs, and the small cats (ocelots, | | | | spread cats across the world. They realized that |
| bobcats and lynxes). | | | | keeping them abroad their ships was a good way to |
| Cats come in many shapes and sizes, but the fur | | | | rid their living quarters of mice. In time, it was |
| coat found on each feline is a big part of how they | | | | considered lucky to keep cats on board. |
| are classified. They usually fall somewhere in the | | | | When cats came to Europe in 900 BCE, they |
| categories of long-haired, short-haired, or "hairless". | | | | crossbred with native cat found in the British Isles, |
| Long-haired breeds include Persian, Himalayan, Maine | | | | Felis silvestris. By the middle Ages, however, cats fell |
| coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll. Short-haired | | | | out of favor with most of Europe. The Catholic |
| breeds include American Shorthair, American Wirehair, | | | | Church connected them and those who loved them |
| Siamese, Burmese, Korat and Singapore. "Hairless" | | | | with paganism, devil worship, and witchcraft. |
| cats, such as Sphinx, merely appear to be hairless. | | | | Superstitious people believed that cats (especially |
| The breed actually does have a thin layer of hair | | | | black cats) had diabolical powers. They were feared |
| covering its body. | | | | because of their nocturnal hunting habits, their ability |
| Cats first started living with people approximately | | | | to see in the dark and their "glowing" eyes. |
| 6,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian | | | | In 1484, Pope Innocent empowered the Inquisition to |
| farmers domesticated the African wildcats, Felis | | | | burn all cats and cat lovers. As a result of the drastic |
| hybica, a natural hunter, to keep grain storage areas | | | | drop in the cat population, the number of rodents |
| rodent free. Egyptians worshipped Bast, or Bastet, | | | | increased. Millions of rats carrying fleas infected with |
| the cat goddess of fertility, happiness and the moon. | | | | bubonic plague spread the Black Death across Europe. |
| Impressed with the cat's natural beauty, Egyptian | | | | When the persecution of cats ended, they began |
| artists painted and sculpted them, making them | | | | hunting rats again, and Europeans saw the advantage |
| cultural icons. | | | | of having these natural hunters keep their towns' |
| Although ancient Egyptians are known for their love | | | | rodent free. |
| of cats, they are not the only people who | | | | |