How long ago did the cat become domesticated? The cat appears in pictures is being domesticated in each of around 1500 BC. However, the domestication probably happened well before that time because it had to become part of normal life before being shown in pictures of everyday home life. Cats have been depicted on painted reliefs and paintings in ancient Egypt. They were usually found sitting under the chair the person having their portrait painted. They will probably originally attracted to settlements where they could find a large concentration of their natural prey of rodents. With the massive grain stores held by the ancient Egyptians, there were bound to be an equally massive amount of mice.
By 450 BC in ancient Egypt, all animals whether wild or domesticated, are regarded as sacred. Any person found guilty of killing an animal faced either the death penalty or severe fines. Mummified cats have often been found buried with their owners. In fact the cat was the most popular animal to be mummified.
During the late 19th century, an enormous cat cemetery at a cat temple were excavated. For those lucky enough to see a mummified cat as I was, it was an amazing experience. I was seeing one of the first domesticated cat that happily coexisted with man. Many of the mummified cats of ancient Egypt a much larger the domestic cat of today. Remember that the standard of nutrition plays a very important role in the size of any animal. And if a cat belonged to someone rich enough to mummified it, they were rich enough to feed it, well.
In the latter stages of the 20th century, new signs of large quantities of cat mummies were discovered in Egypt. Ongoing studies will undoubtedly reveal more about how these first cats lived with and around men. These sacred cats were also kept in sanctuaries and temples. However, in many of the temples, they were kept for up to around four months of age when they were ritually killed, dried and covered in resin. They would then be wrapped in it, linen bandages and sold by the guardians of the temples and used as offerings to the deity.
When the cat become domesticated, they became smaller in size and with a corresponding smaller brain capacity in only a few generations. However, the cat was smart enough to realise that becoming extremely friendly to their captors would ensure a longer life. This was more evident in the as cats are lucky enough to live in a family home instead of a temple. Contrast this massive killing of cats for religious purposes with the penalty handed out to private individuals who killed a cat. However, if a pet cat died, its owners had to shave off their eyebrows as a mark of respect, carrier detailed funeral rites which included embalming their pets body and burying it in one of the large cat cemeteries.
It is a direct result of living in towns where there was plentiful food available that cats were able to build up to large populations. They could also do this very quickly, as a tomcat can father kittens while still a kitten himself and a female can fall pregnant at around four months old. So not only did it ensure its survival, the cat became domesticated and began its long relationship with us humans.
I’m sure you have a first aid kit in your home for your family. But do you have one for your cat? Both are essential items in any home. The more complete your first aid kit is, the better prepared you are to treat your pet in an emergency. Old tackle or tool boxes are good containers but I suggest getting everything together first so you can find something that will hold it all. Your cat’s first aid kit needs to have the following items, many of which you most likely have. However, keep them all together in a separate kit from the family’s one. Make sure it is clearly labelled so it can be found quickly.
- Adhesive tape including water proof tape
- Antibacterial scrub
- Cotton swabs, q-tips, cotton wool balls
- Waterless hand cleaning agent, preferably anti-bacterial to clean your hands
- Rectal thermometer
- Rubbing alcohol and/or alcohol wipes
- Gauze pads
- Mineral oil
- One or two rolls of gauze
- Splints – these can be strong strips of sterilized plastic (make sure there are no rough edges if you make these yourself)
- Bubble wrap make a good emergency splint
- Contact lens solution for rinsing out eyes or fresh water
- A bottle of water for rinsing out wounds
- One or two small blankets and/or towels
- Syrup of ipecac
- Small flashlight
- Tweezers
- Rubber bulb ear syringe for flushing out wounds
- Scissors – blunt tip for cutting fur and normal for cutting bandages
- Some old clean pantyhose or knee highs to protect the bandage
- Lubricating jelly
- Razor blade for shaving fur or removing ticks
- Gel packs for hot or cold compresses. You can buy single use packs very cheaply these day
- Contact number for your vet and emergency number for animal poisoning
You are going to be trying to help your pet when it is injured. Having everything together will make this much easier for you both. You will be able to focus on helping your pet knowing that you have the essential tools handy.
You don’t want to wait until an emergency to have these items, get them ready now. If you travel with your cat, take the first aid kit with you. Make sure everyone in the family knows where it is and that they can safely reach it.
No-one expects you to be able to deal with major trauma at home, for this you need your vet immediately. However, there are more minor type injuries that you can treat at home, like grazes, small cuts or minor burns, and having a first aid kit will make it easier for you both.
