Innovation No. 56 of 77 in the book
The House Cat
Cats kept for pest control and companionship
- When
- c. 3700 BCE
- Dynasty
- None (before the dynasties)
- Era
- Predynastic Period
No people bonded with cats like the Egyptians. Wild cats had drifted toward human grain stores across the region, but it was in Egypt, by around 3700 BCE, that the cat truly became a household pet.
Grain drew mice, mice drew cats, and the tamest cats earned their keep and stayed. In Egypt the working mouser crossed a line no other place pushed it past — into the home, with a name and a place by the family.
They were adored in life and mourned in death, painted on walls and mummified by the thousand. The whole idea of the cat as a beloved pet is Egyptian.
Your cat’s pampered life indoors was first invented on the Nile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for the house cat in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 3700 BCE during Egypt's Predynastic. No people bonded with cats like the Egyptians. Wild cats had drifted toward human grain stores across the region, but it was in Egypt, by around 3700 BCE, that the cat truly became a household pet.
How did ancient Egyptians develop the house cat, and what is its legacy?
Grain drew mice, mice drew cats, and the tamest cats earned their keep and stayed. In Egypt the working mouser crossed a line no other place pushed it past — into the home, with a name and a place by the family. Grain drew mice, mice drew cats, and the tamest cats earned their keep and stayed. In Egypt the working mouser crossed a line no other place pushed it past — into the home, with a name and a place by the family. Your cat’s pampered life indoors was first invented on the Nile.