Cats
Definition
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cats are a small, furry animal with four legs and a tail, often kept as a pet, or any of a group of related animals that are wild, and some of which are large and fierce, such as the lion.
History:
Egypt
Cats were revered as sacred animals in ancient Egypt. They were often associated with the goddess Bastet, who was believed to protect the home and bring good health. Cats were buried with great ceremony, and it was considered a crime to harm one.
Rome
Cats were introduced to Rome by the Romans themselves. They were brought along to help control rodent populations on ships and in homes. While not as revered as in Egypt, cats were still valued for their practical use.
China
Cats were introduced to China from India around the 7th century AD. They were initially seen as pests, but eventually gained acceptance and were even used in traditional medicine.
Domestic Cats
The cat (Felis catus), also referred to as domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a house pet and farm cat, but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact. Valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin, the cat's retractable claws are adapted to killing small prey like mice and rats. Text from here.
