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Cats

The cat has developed an intimate relationship with mankind whilst still having its own independence. The cat leads a double life. Out of the home the cat is its own boss, alert and free living wild creature. In the home it is an overgrown kitten. The cat manages to remain tame because of its upbringing, being with humans and other cats from an early age it considers itself both.

Cats have been domesticated for more than 3,500 years. Remains dating from 9,000 years ago have been found at a Neolithic site at Jericho, but there is no proof that these were domesticated cats. The only proof we know that the transformation from wild cat to domestic animal took place, is that from specific records and detailed pictures from ancient Egypt.

Cats were of little value to early man until he had progressed to the agricultural phase and was starting to store large quantities of food. This attracted rats and mice and any carnivore that preyed on these pests would have been a godsend to the harassed food storers. So from here on the keeping and breeding of cats for the vermin destruction must have been a simple step, since it benefited both sides.

Because of the importance placed upon the cat the ancient Egyptians considered the cat sacred and thepunishment for killing one was death. If a cat died naturally ina house the occupants would go into mourning by shaving off their eyebrows. The body of the Egyptian cat was then embalmed with full ceremony, the corpse was bound in wrappings of different colours, its face covered with a sculptured wooden mask and then buried in a cat shaped wooden coffin or encased in plaited straws.

The cat Goddess was called Bastet, meaning She-of-Bast. Bast was the city where the main cat temple was situated. Here as many as half a million people would meet every spring for the sacred festival. About 100,000 mummified cats were buried at these festivals to honour the feline virgin-goddess. The cult of the cat lasted for nearly 2,000 years and was officially banned in AD 390.

For more information on the history of the cat and questions like why does a cat purr and why does a cat have a nine lives then Desmond Morris's book Catwatching answers these.

Moving on to present day, the continuing popularity of the cat can be seen in the numerous children's illustrated books featuring cats and kittens.

My personal favourite is the illustrator Nicola Bayley who is well known for her pictures of cats and who has established a reputation for herself as one of the most gifted and imaginative contemporary illustrators. Her most popular books include The Patchwork Cat and the Copycats Series. Nicola Bayley was born in Singapore and studied art at St Martins and the Royal College of Art. She now lives in London with her husband, son and famous tabby cat Bella.

Illustrator/artist Martin Leman has an international reputation. His paintings have been exhibited in Europe and America and also hang in private collections and galleries throughout the world. He has illustrated many books including Martin Leman's Painted Cats, The Perfect Cat, The Little Kitten Book and The Teeny Weeny Cat Book.

Contributed by Fiona Lane

(Published 15th Sep 2014)

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