What is the relationship between humans and cats?

The History of Cats and Humans

The relationship between cats and humans stretches back thousands of years, though it is markedly different from the history of domesticated dogs. While dogs were bred for specific purposes like herding, hunting, or guarding, cats were not so easily controlled. Their domestication was likely a matter of mutual benefit rather than intentional breeding.

Cats are believed to have been domesticated around 9,000 years ago in the Near East. Early agricultural societies faced a problem: the grain stores they relied on attracted rodents, which could quickly destroy their supplies. Enter the cat. Wild cats, drawn to the abundance of easy prey, began frequenting human settlements. Over time, a symbiotic relationship formed cats kept the rodent population in check, and in return, they had a steady food supply. These early human-cat interactions likely laid the foundation for the domesticated cats we know today.

In ancient Egypt, cats became revered animals, associated with the goddess Bastet, who was depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness. Killing a cat, even accidentally, was punishable by death. Cats were so highly regarded that they were often mummified and buried with their owners. Egyptians are credited with spreading domesticated cats to other parts of the world, as traders and sailors brought them along to keep ships free of vermin.

Despite their growing relationship with humans, cats have never been fully domesticated in the way dogs have. They retain a sense of independence and self-sufficiency that sets them apart from other pets. This independence is one of the reasons why cats have a reputation for being aloof or distant, although this characterization is often oversimplified.