The History of the Cat

By kelley-freire
  • 100

    4,000 BC

    4,000 BC
    The ancient history of the domestic cat starts at the time of the ancient Egyptians 4000 years ago where they were regarded as sacred creatures.
  • 500

    500 BC

    500 BC
    In 500 BC a domesticated cat was given to the Emperor of China and cats were the most popular pet of the rich during the Song Dynasty.
  • Mar 4, 1000

    100 AD

    100 AD
    Egyptian traders brought cats to Europe and they were introduced to the Greeks and then the Romans. The Romans used cats to control the pest population and as their empire increased so did the population of cats.
  • Sep 3, 1348

    The Black Death

    The Black Death
    During the Middle Ages cats were associated with superstition and witch craft, they were considered animals of sin and were thought to be associated with Satan.When the Black Death (The Plague) started in 1348 the rulers ordered the killing of all cats who were the initial suspect of the disease.

  • Manx, 15th century

    Manx, 15th century
    Cats were used upon Ships on voyages of discovery during the 15th/16th Century to control rodent population and disease. A ship crashed off the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom and the cats on board the ship swam to the shore. This created one of the first known pedigree breeds, the Manx.

  • Cats are now Household pets

    Cats are now Household pets
    Cats flourished in the Twentieth Century when they were introduced once again as household pets by Queen Victoria of England and have become a key part of modern society.

  • National Feril Cat Day

    National Feril Cat Day
    Alley Cat Allies created National Feral Cat Day in 1991 to promote humane care for these forgotten animals. A time to remember the countless numbers of dumped, abused, unwanted cats who, through no fault of their own, are forced to survive in the wild.