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Cat

History and mythology

Egyptian sculpture at the Louvre

Cats have been kept by humans since at least ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt, the cat god, Bast, was a goddess of the home and of the domestic cat, although she sometimes took on the warlike 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 speculated that because of circumstantial evidence (which to date is unproved by DNA testing) cats resident in 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.^[45]

According to Norse legend, Gleipnir (the fine ribbon used to bind Fenrir) was crafted by dwarfs from, among other items, the sound a cat makes when walking.

Several 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.

Muezza (Arabic: ﻣﻮﻴﺰا ) was the Prophet Muhammad's favorite cat. The most famous story about Muezza recounts how the call to prayer was given, and as Muhammad went to put on one of his robes, he found his cat sleeping on one of the sleeves, and instead of disturbing the cat he cut off the sleeve and let him sleep. When he returned, Muezza awoke and bowed down to Muhammad, and in return he stroked him three times. A similar story is told about an unnamed Emperor of China.

It is common lore 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 animals.

A medieval King of Wales, Hywel Dda (the Good) passed legislation making it illegal to kill or harm a cat. Other cultures of the time considered them evil, unlucky, or the consorts of witches.

In Japan, there is the Maneki Neko, also referred to in English as the "good fortune" or "good luck" cat. It is usually a sitting cat with paw raised and bent. Legend in Japan has it that a cat waved at a Japanese landlord, who was intrigued by this gesture and went towards it. A few seconds later a lightning bolt struck where the landlord had been previously standing. The landlord attributed his good fortune to the cat's fortuitous action. A symbol of good luck hence, it is most often seen in businesses to draw in money. In Japan, the flapping of the hand is a "come here" gesture, so the cat is beckoning customers.

Survival in the wild

Like horses and other domesticated animals, cats can sometimes become feral, living effectively in the wild. Feral cats will often form small feral cat colonies when the food supply can support several cats in a concentrated area. Animal welfare organizations note that few abandoned cats are able to survive long enough to become feral, most being killed by vehicles, or succumbing to starvation, predators, exposure, or disease. In Australia, the domestic cat is a major pest species, decimating native wildlife, and can be hunted without a licence.^{[citation needed}]

• Fred the Undercover Kitty
• Creme Puff
• Felix the Cat
• Morris the Cat
• Orangey the Cat
• Simon (cat)
• Socks (cat)
• Spot (Star Trek)
• Cat allergy
• Felidae
• Big cat
• Cat body language
• Catnip
• Cat meat
• Cat flap
• Cat Fanciers' Association
• Cats in ancient Egypt
• Kitten
• List of historical cats
• List of fictional cats
• Polydactyl cat (extra toes)
• Cat types
• Cat breeds

References

1. ^ Meows Mean More To Cat Lovers. Channel3000.com. Accessed June 14, 2006.
2. ^ ASPCA Complete Guide to Cats by James R. Richards,, DVM
3. ^ Oxford English Dictionary s.v. cat
4. ^ Etymonline.com:cat
5. ^ ICZN (March 31 2003). "OPINION 2027: Usage of 17 specific names based on wild species which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic animals (Lepidoptera, Osteichthyes, Mammalia): conserved". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 60 (1). Retrieved on July 13 2006.
6. ^ http://www.messybeast.com/dwarfcats.html
7. ^ Feline Statistics. Retrieved on August 15, 2005.
8. ^ Spay and Neuter Your Pet Cats.
9. ^ Vaccinate Your Cat at Home. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
10. ^ The Cat Comes Back. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
11. ^ How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids to a Cat. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
12. ^ Cat Skeleton. Retrieved on December 12, 2006.
13. ^ At Home : Care / Health : Understanding Cats. Retrieved on August 15, 2005.
14. ^ Animal Doctor (July 9 2002). "Dear Dr. Fox". The Washington Post, p. C10.
15. ^ * Ring, Ken and Romhany, Paul (August 1 1999). Pawmistry: How to Read Your Cat's Paws. Ten Speed Press (Berkeley, California), p. 10. ISBN 1-58008-111-8
16. ^ Normal Values For Dog and Cat Temperature, Blood Tests, Urine and other information in ThePetCenter.com. Retrieved on August 8, 2005.
17. ^ Why Do Cats Like High Places?. Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.. Dr. Holly Nash, DVM, MS.
18. ^ Many animal rights advocates hold the belief that a living creature should not be owned, and thus that using the word "owner" in conjunction with cats (or any pets) is misleading. The usage of the word "owner" in this article should not be construed as taking any position in this debate, but rather to acknowledge the current common usage of the term in the available literature.
19. ^ Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department. "High-Rise Syndrome: Cats Injured Due to Falls". Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc..
20. ^ Falling Cats. Retrieved on October 24, 2005.
21. ^ does a cat always land on its feet?
22. ^ PLoS Genetics: Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar. Retrieved on August 8, 2005.
23. ^ Vegan Society: Cats.
24. ^ ^{a b} Substances That Are Poison to Pets. Judy's Health Cafe.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
25. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Toxic to Cats. Vetinfo4Cats. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
26. ^ Allen AL (2003). "The diagnosis of acetaminophen toxicosis in a cat". Can Vet J 44 (6): 509-10. PMID 12839249.
27. ^ Villar D, Buck WB, Gonzalez JM (1998). "Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen toxicosis and treatment in dogs and cats". Vet Hum Toxicol 40 (3): 156-62. PMID 9610496.
28. ^ Camille DeClementi; Keith L. Bailey, Spencer C. Goldstein, and Michael Scott Orser (December 2004). "Suspected toxicosis after topical administration of minoxidil in 2 cats". Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 14 (4): 287-292. DOI:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2004.04014.x. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
29. ^ Minoxidil Warning. ShowCatsOnline.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. “Very small amounts of Minoxidil can result [in] serious problems or death”
30. ^ Rousseaux CG, Smith RA, Nicholson S (1986). "Acute Pinesol toxicity in a domestic cat.". Vet Hum Toxicol 28 (4): 316-7. PMID 3750813.
31. ^ Suspected bentonite toxicosis in a cat from ingestion of clay cat litter. Retrieved on September 10, 2005.
32. ^ Cat toilet-training. Retrieved on August 8, 2005.
33. ^ Scratching or clawing in the house. Retrieved on August 14, 2005.
34. ^ Swiss Federal Act on Animal Protection, 1978, Section 8: Prohibited Practices, §22(g). Retrieved on August 22, 2005.
35. ^ European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, Chapter II - Principles for the keeping of pet animals, Article 10(1). Retrieved on August 22, 2005.
36. ^ http://www.swimmingcats.com/faqs.html
37. ^ http://www.cathealthcareguide.com/cat-pregnant-signs.php
38. ^ Oldest Known Pet Cat? 9500-Year-Old Burial Found on Cyprus.
39. ^ http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/XShearwaterkills2.htm
40. ^ http://www.earlham.edu/~biol/hawaii/mammals.htm
41. ^ http://www.spayusa.org/main_directory/02-facts_and_education/stats_surveys/javma_articles/02dogs-cats-sterilized.asp
42. ^ "Moggie" definition question and answer Worldwidewords.org. URL Accessed June 14, 2006.
43. ^ Torties, Calicos and Tricolor Cats. Retrieved on October 24, 2005.
44. ^ White Cats, Eye Colours and Deafness. Retrieved on August 8, 2005.
45. ^ Couffer, Jack (1998). The Cats of Lamu. New York: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1558216626.

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cat&action=history

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