article<\/a> this week on the domestication of one of humanity’s favorite companions.\u00a0 Ottoni suggests that the relationship between cats and humans began as a commensal relationship established during the early development of agriculture.<\/p>\nDuring the neolithic period, humans were domesticating grains in Turkey.\u00a0 As humans gathered these early grains, the harvests attracted rodents looking for an easy meal.\u00a0 The African wildcat (Felix silvesterus lybica<\/em>) started to encroach upon human settlements.\u00a0 And humans discovered that their new partners had added benefits beyond vermin control.<\/p>\nDespite the commensal relationship cats had formed with humans everywhere, the Egyptians would complete the domestication of the modern house cat (Felix silvesterus catus<\/em>).\u00a0\u00a0 While the African wildcat was still hanging out on the fringes of early European settlements, the Egyptians had already invited cats into their homes as pets.<\/p>\nHowever, one specific aspect to Egyptian cats that may seem strange to us is that the Egyptians trained their felines.\u00a0 You only thought cats trained their humans, didn’t you?\u00a0\u00a0 The Egyptians trained these felines to hunt.\u00a0 For sport, the Egyptians used trained cats to flush out game while the hunters hurled throwing sticks (see painting above).\u00a0 Early cats were the Egyptian equivalent to the golden retriever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The role of ancient Egyptian cats is quite fascinating.\u00a0 Claudio Ottoni wrote an interesting article this week on the domestication of one of humanity’s favorite companions.\u00a0 Ottoni suggests that the relationship between cats and humans began as a commensal relationship established during the early development of agriculture. During the neolithic period, humans were domesticating grains…<\/p>\n
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