Ancient Egyptians worshipped many different animals for thousands of years. Different animals were revered for different reasons. While dogs were valued for their ability to protect and hunt, cats were thought to be the most special. Egyptians believed cats were magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them.

To honor these treasured pets, wealthy families dressed them in jewels and fed them treats fit for royalty. When the cats died, they were mummified. As a sign of mourning, the cat owners shaved off their eyebrows, and continued to mourn until their eyebrows grew back. Art from ancient Egypt shows statues and paintings of every type of feline. Cats were so special that those who killed them, even by accident, could be sentenced to the harshest of penalties – sometimes death.

But why cats? Within Egypt, cats were originally the perfect solution to the overgrowth of rats and snakes in Egypt. Because cats were so useful in keeping these animals under control, great care was taken to protect these feisty felines, as they were valuable to have on property. Cats started to become domesticated in Egypt when people set out food for them as a way to keep them around their homes. Cats contributed to the home by killing disease-spreading pests and they also benefited from the relationship themselves because by living in the home, they were protected from larger predatory animals.

While we may not worship our own silly kitties in the same way anymore, doesn’t that explain why they think they run our households?! They do come from royalty, after all…