The History of Cats: How Cats Became Our Feline Friends

🐈Cats were domesticated around 10,000 years ago when humans started farming and attracted rodents, which cats preyed upon.

🏞️Cats originated from the near-eastern wildcat and have retained their physical characteristics throughout their domestication.

🏰Cats played a significant role in ancient Egyptian culture, worshipped as symbols of divinity and protected as valuable assets against rodents.

💻The rise of the internet brought about the widespread popularity of cat pictures and videos, turning cats into internet celebrities.

🌍Today, there are over 500 million cats worldwide, varying from street cats to beloved pets and internet sensations.

When were cats domesticated?

—Cats were domesticated around 10,000 years ago, when humans started farming and attracted rodents for cats to prey upon.

What role did cats play in ancient Egyptian culture?

—Cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt as symbols of divinity and were valued for their ability to protect crops from rodents.

What impact did the internet have on cats?

—The internet popularized cats through pictures and videos, turning them into internet celebrities and increasing their overall visibility.

How many cats are there worldwide?

—There are over 500 million cats worldwide, ranging from street cats to beloved pets and internet sensations.

How have cats retained their physical characteristics throughout domestication?

—Cats have retained their physical characteristics throughout domestication due to their limited breeding variations compared to dogs.

00:00Cats have become an integral part of our lives, with diverse roles in ancient civilizations and modern society.

00:30Cats were domesticated around 10,000 years ago when humans started farming and attracted rodents, which cats preyed upon.

02:12Cats originated from the near-eastern wildcat and have retained their physical characteristics throughout their domestication.

03:09Cats played a significant role in ancient Egyptian culture, worshipped as symbols of divinity and protected as valuable assets against rodents.

04:24The rise of the internet brought about the widespread popularity of cat pictures and videos, turning cats into internet celebrities.

05:52Today, there are over 500 million cats worldwide, varying from street cats to beloved pets and internet sensations.