Cat Mythology: Cats as Familiars
Cats as familiars have a long and dark history in western mythology. These cats
often found their way into literature. One of the most famous was Grimalkin, the witches’
cat from Shakespeare’s MacBeth. Cats as witch’s companions are still a part of the
popular symbology associated with the modern holiday of Halloween.
What is a familiar? In western mythology a familiar was an animal companion
given by the devil to a witch in order to help her with her evil magic. These familiars
would have names just like any other pet. In the middle ages, if you were caught talking
to your pet (like a lot of people do) you were considered to be consorting with the devil in
speaking to w obviously your familiar. The Middle Ages were a very dark and violent
period in Europe. Their alternative name “Dark Ages” should come as no surprise.
Learning was confined to clergy and nobility. The general population was therefore quite
ignorant and prone to superstition.
A familiar could be any type of animal such as a toad, dog or cat. Black cats
became the traditionally cited companion and hence cats became particularly reviled. In
1233 Pope Gregory IX wrote in his Papal Bull “Vox in Rama” actually denounced black
cats as satanic. The Popes’ proclamation began the persecution of cats all over Europe.
Thousands and thousands of cats were burned alive in the attempt to drive out the evil
Satan. Wild tales of these cats shape shifting into other creatures were common among
the populace and justified these terrible acts in their minds. When the power of the
Knights Templar was broken, some of the knights were said to have confessed to
worshipping cats. As these so-called confessions were given under extreme torture, they
would seem to speak more to the attitudes of their inquisitors than to anything the
Templars themselves had actually done.
Why were black cats in particular singled out? There are a couple of legends that
might explain this singular revulsion. In the first legend, so the story goes, is that cats
who were born at the end of blackberry season were called blackberry cats. According to
this legend, the end of blackberry season coincides with the expulsion of Satan from
heaven. When he fell he landed on a blackberry bush which he defiled with his urine and
spit. Thus, blackberry cats, especially black ones are associated with the devil in this tale.
The second tale comes from Italy. The Italian witches, called streghe, tell a legend about
Diana who is goddess of the moon and also called “Queen of the Witches”. Her brother
who was known in ancient times as Apollo, is renamed Lucifer (Light Bearer) in this tale.
Supposedly, Diana wanted to have a son by Lucifer, so she attempted to trick him by
taking the shape of a black cat.
As you can see, these stories were pretty wild, and yet the people of those dark
times took them as the gospel truth. The irony of this superstitious hysteria against cats
was that by destroying the cats the Europeans nearly destroyed themselves. Cats had been
used for centuries to keep down the population of vermin, especially mice and rats. When
their predators were destroyed, the vermin population exploded. They ate large amounts
of grain that had been meant for human consumption resulting in widespread hunger
among the people. Even worse than the hunger was that the enormous numbers of rats
became disease carriers. The worst of these diseases was the bubonic plague, otherwise
known as the Black Death. The Plagues of the Middle Ages are terrible instance of the
repercussions that can befall humans due to misplaced zeal.
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Cat Mythology: Cats as a Diety
Cats as deities are most closely associated with ancient Egypt. The ancient
Egyptians had several feline gods and goddesses. Lions were said to guard the great god
Ra during his nightly journey through the underworld. The Egyptians had a fascination
with lions. They created their sphinx with the body of a lion and the head of Pharaoh.
Three lion goddesses existed in ancient Egypt. Sekhmet was a fierce and powerful
goddess. She was a war goddess who was sent by her father Ra to earth to destroy his
enemies. She is usually depicted as a woman with the head of a lion. Another lion headed
goddess was Tefnut whose name means moisture. She represented a primeval force of
nature. The third lion goddess was Mafdet who was the goddess of protection.
Among her fierce sisters, gentle Bast may seem a bit out of place. Often shown as
a graceful cat wearing bracelets a broad collar and earrings, Bast was the protectress of
domestic cats and those who cared for them. Her principle gifts to the world were joy and
pleasure. She was a much beloved household deity. Her principle temple was at Bubastis
and was said to be one of the most beautiful and popular in all of Egypt. She had a
secondary seat in Memphis as well. There is some evidence to believe that the ancient
Egyptians believed that Bast and Sekhmet were actually two faces of the same divine
force. Sekhmet representing the violent aspect of the divine, and Bast, the gentler
qualities.
Egyptian children were often consecrated to Bastand placed under her protection.
Bast was considered a divine mother and was sometimes depicted with kittens. When a
woman in ancient Egypt wanted to have children, she would often wear a bracelet or a
necklace depicting the goddess Bast with kittens. The number of kittens shown with the
goddess represented the number of children desired by the woman. Ancient Egyptians
seemed to consider cats to be the height of beauty. The styles of makeup they used,
especially around the eyes, tended to give them a feline look.
Cats were so highly regarded by the ancient Egyptians that the penalty for killing
one was death. When a family cat died of accident or old age, its’ human family would
go into mourning. They would shave their eyebrows off to show their grief. Cats were
often mummified. One royal cat was buried in a marble coffin. The hieroglyphs on her
coffin referred to her as “Lady Cat”.
Bast was said to be the wife of the god Ptah. Ptah was the creator god of the
universe. Ptah and Bast were said to have had a son, the fierce lion god Maahes. Maahes
originated as a Nubian god. During the New Kingdom, his worship moved northward
where he was incorporated into the Egyptian pantheon as the son of Bast and Ptah. On
becoming a divine mother, Bast became associated with the protectress of Lower Egypt,
Wadjet. They became linked as Wadjet-Bast. A similar association was created in the
Upper Kingdom By the combination of Sekhmet and the Upper Kingdom protectress
Nekhbet.
The constantly changing nature of Egyptian religion can be rather confusing.
They had an inclusive attitude towards other gods and religions. The ancient Egyptians
freely adapted and adopted these others into their own cosmology. This attitude makes it
difficult for modern readers to understand. Most of us have been raised in religions
whose nature is highly exclusive. With an exclusive religion, outside influences are
rejected or even actively repelled. The Egyptians, as demonstrated by the story of Bast
and Maahes, had a very different way at looking at religion.
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A Short History Of Cats
It seems strange that there was ever a time when cats were not a part of our lives.
It’s been less that 10,000 years since cats swaggered into our lives. Hardly an eye blink in
the grand sweep of life on this planet. Why were cats so late to join our team? The simple
answer is they didn’t need us to survive. Cats were surviving just fine on their own. Then,
people invented agriculture. Agriculture resulted in large scale storage of grains which
attracted the usual and well know group of freeloaders, mice and rats. Grain attracted
rodents. Rodents attracted cats who consider them tasty meals. The result was that cats
set up housekeeping close to human settlements. Eventually, cats being cats, moved right
on in.
Who were these first cats? The first clue lies in where agriculture was first
practiced. Agriculture first took root (no pun intended) in the Middle East in a great
sweep from modern day Turkey to Egypt. Within this area ranges the African wild cat,
Felis libyca. African wild cats are slightly larger that our modern house cats and are
yellow in color with muted stripes. These cats have a docile, almost laid back nature.
Interestingly, these cats still tend to live and hunt near human dwellings today. Locals
still like to catch and rear young wild cats as pets. When mature, wild cats raised by
humans tend to behave very much like our familiar housecats. A very good case can (and
has) been advanced designating Felis libyca as the principal founding population for
domestic cats. At least two other varieties of wild cat are speculated to have contributed
to the genetic make up of domestic cats. One is Felis silvestris, The European wildcat
who appears to have contributed darker markings and a peppery spirit to the African wild
cat base. Also, from Asia, comes the Pallas or Steppe cat (Felis manul) that appears to
have contributed long-haired coats to the mix.
The early period of domestication of cats is vague with only patches of evidence.
However, by 6,000 B.C. statues found in Anatolia (modern Turkey) show women playing
with domestic cats. Cats had clearly become common and affectionate pets by that time.
The earliest written records about cats appear by approximately 4,000 B.C. in Egypt
where they were frequently kept to hunt mice and rats from stored grains. It was a good
time to be a cat in ancient Egypt. Domestic cats were thought to be the embodiment of
the goddess Bast (or Bastet). There was a necropolis at her principal temple at Bubastis
that contained mummified cats.
Romans spread the domestic cat northward into central Europe and westward to
Britain during the expansion of their empire. Cats were quickly adopted and admired as
great hunters. And they continued to move north and east in Europe. The Vikings used
cats as both rodent hunters and pets. The Viking goddess of love and war, Freyja, was
associated with cats. Huge winged cats drew her chariot. It also became the custom to
give new brides a kitten in her name.
The Middle Ages it were a very bad time to be a cat. Cats were said to be witches
familiars, in league with the devil. Because of this superstition, cats were routinely killed
during festivals. Sometimes they were even burned alive or thrown off tall buildings. The
Europeans paid heavily for their cruelty to cats. The deaths of so many cats allowed the
rodent population to rise out of control, bringing in the Black Death which killed so much
of the European population. Eventually, the cats’ cleanly ways and hunting prowess
redeemed them in the eyes of the people of Europe. By the 1600s, people in France began
putting little holes near the bottom of their doors to allow their cats to enter and leave as
they please.
In Asia cats continued to be familiar hunters and cherished pets. Cats were often
subjects for drawing and painting in China. In Japan, cats in the form of Maneki Neko,
usually portrayed as a sitting cat with one paw raised and bent, are considered good
fortune. They are often found in businesses to draw in money.
The history of cats is a fascinating one, worthy of much more in depth study. It
fosters an appreciation for the personalities and talents of our pets.
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YouTube – Funny Cats
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Let’s Go For A Walk!
Why should dogs have all the fun? Many indoor cats would love to go outside and
enjoy the sun but it is often far too dangerous to let them simply wander about as they
please. Busy roads, large dogs and careless people are hazards many of us don’t want our
cats exposed to. So why not teach him to walk on a leash?
But cats don’t walk on leashes! That’s the sentiment many people have when the
idea is first introduced. It’s true that some cats will absolutely have nothing to do with the
whole business. They apparently think it is entirely beneath them to be seen out of doors
on a leash. What would the neighbors think! Fortunately, there are other cats willing to
entertain the idea and some who actually come to like their walks. There really isn’t any
way of knowing which way your cat will turn out unless you try. Let’s get started.
The first thing you will need is a properly fitting harness and a light weight leash.
It doesn’t need to be fancy, just sturdy and well made. Trying to teach your cat with only
a collar is not a good idea. Pressure around their necks seems to make some cats freeze.
You want to teach him to move forward, not lock in place. The second thing you will
need is a bag of treats. Preferably something he really likes but doesn’t often get. The
third thing you will need is lots and lots of patience.
Begin training inside your home. Do not take him outside until he is walking
freely and comfortably along with you on his leash. Place the harness on your cat and let
him get accustomed to it. If your cat is particularly timid, you might want to leave the
harness where he can investigate it and get used to seeing it first before you put it on him.
Leave the harness on him for ten to fifteen minutes a day for the first few days. After that
the period can be raised to fifteen to twenty minutes. Give him one or two treats during
the time he is wearing the harness so that he associates it with good things. When he is
fully comfortable with the harness, add the leash in the same manner, allowing him to
drag it around for a slowly increasing period over several days. Don’t forget the treats.
By now, your cat is comfortable wearing both harness and leash. Pick up the end
of the leash and just hold it. Don’t try to lead him anywhere. Follow him around if he
moves. Do this exercise for a few minutes a day until he is comfortable with it. Now
comes the big step, teaching him to follow where you lead. Place your cat to your left
side, your leash should be in your left hand. Let your arm hang relaxed at your side. Take
a treat in your right hand. Turn toward your cat and show him the treat. Now take a
couple of step forward, continuing to show the treat. If he follows you, take a couple of
more steps. If he follows to your new position, give him his treat and praise. If he is
reluctant to move forward, place the treat closer to him. Praise him if he takes a step
forward and give him the treat. If he doesn’t want to move forward no matter what you
do, don’t drag him. Pick him up and take him somewhere else to take his harness off. Do
not give him a treat since he didn’t do as you asked. Here is where patience comes in.
Keep repeating the lesson every day, asking him to move farther each time.
When your cat is walking freely on leash with you all over the house, take him
into your back yard and walk him around in it. If he freezes and refuses to move, don’t
panic. Reassure him he is safe and take him back inside. Try again tomorrow. If he tries
to take off on his own you can easily check him with your leash. Once he is comfortable
in the yard you can start taking him farther. Before long you will be able to take nice
walks wherever you choose.
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Deworming Multiple Cats
Ah yes, everyone’s favorite pet chore. One day you clean your cats’ box and
discover little white chunks of what appear to be cooked spaghetti lodged in the feces,
that is, until one starts to move. You know then that it’s time to deworm your cats. If your
veterinarian says that your cat doesn’t have anything particularly tough or nasty then he
or she may recommend a regular schedule using commercial dewormers that can be
found readily in any pet store. Your veterinarian even may have a good general purpose
dewormer on hand for your use. Fortunately, there is a wide range of deworming
medicines available on the market. Most are liquid or pill form.
If you have only one cat, your task is relatively simple. Choose a dewormer that
your cat will find acceptable if not palatable. Many liquid dewormers claim to be very
tasty to cats. Unfortunately, many cats would vigorously disagree with that assessment.
In such a case, if you have access to a pill form of dewormer that your cat is willing to
swallow, you’re in luck. If your cat won’t swallow pills without major mayhem breaking
out and turns his nose up at every liquid dewormer you try, then you have a problem. If
you have more than one cat, it can become even more of an issue. If your cats will
happily take whatever you offer, then the only thing you have to worry about is keeping
the greedy guts from getting more than they should. But, If each of them has a different
idea as to what is acceptable (or not) for deworming medicine, then you have a major
headache.
Rather than cater to each cats whims and maintain a veterinary pharmacy worth of
dewormers in your house or routinely running your finicky feline into the veterinarian
every to he needs deworming, you might try a different route. You will need a liquid
deworming medicine and a syringe. Syringes are readily available in the livestock
medication section of farm supply stores. You only need the section with the barrel and
plunger. No needles are needed or should even be used. Syringes in farm supply stores
usually offer the two sections separately. Select one of smaller size. Your cat won’t need
large amounts of medicine at any one time.
Measure out the proper amount of dewormer for your cat into a measuring cup. A
measuring cup usually comes in the package with a liquid dewormer. Take one of your
syringes and place the open end (where the needle would normally attach) into the
measuring cup and draw the medicine up into the barrel by pulling upward on the
plunger. Try to get it all at one time. You could do this task by increments but trying to
manage a squirming cat while refilling a syringe really is more difficult than it is worth.
Now restrain your cat gently and situate yourself so that you can hold the cat and use the
syringe easily. It could require some experimentation to work out a suitable position for
the both of you. . If you keep one hand underneath the cats head and cradle his chin it
will make this part of the task go more smoothly. Slide the end of the syringe a little bit
into your cat’s mouth and slowly depress the plunger This will empty the medicine into
your cat’s mouth slowly enough that he can readily swallow it without choking. Repeat
for each cat.
Naturally, your cat will not be particularly pleased with this method. He may
object rather strenuously. With repetition, however, you will become much smoother
with the task. You don’t need to rush during this task. Take your time to discover what
will work best for you and your cats. Your cats will become more accustomed to it
despite themselves. This method will ensure that each cat, even your most finicky, gets
the proper amount of medicine he needs. And that, of course, is the whole reason for the
entire exercise.
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Basic Nutrition For Cats
Cats are what are known as obligate carnivores. An obligate carnivore is one that
must east meat. You cannot just turn her out to graze in a pasture. The digestive tract of
cats has been shortened and optimized proteins from meat. They simply don’t have the
dental or digestive apparatus to process plant materials. It’s therefore surprising, given
their physical inability to process plants, that you will still find cats nibbling on plants
from time to time. There are many theories for why cats would nibble plants. They may
be trying to balance an upset digestion or add missing vitamins and minerals. Perhaps
they simply like the taste. Maybe it’s a combination of factors. The jury is still out on this
matter.
Fortunately these days, we don’t have to go out and hunt for food to feed our cats.
There are a large number of very good, nutritionally balanced foods available in pet
stores to satisfy any cats’ tastes. Try to feed good quality food. It really does make a
difference in the health and appearance of your pet. Pick one that your cat likes and stick
with it. Cats don’t actually need a lot of variety. Changing their food constantly tends to
just make them picky eaters.
Nutritional requirements for your pet will vary by age and size. What she needs as
a kitten will be very different than what she will need as an adult. Be sure to follow the
instructions on the bag to avoid feeding too much or too little. The average adult cat will
need about one cup of food a day. Cats appreciate consistency in their feeding schedules.
Try to feed them at the same time each day. Also, try to keep their bowls out of high
traffic areas. It’s hard to eat your dinner when people are stepping on you!
Try not to feed your cat people food. Some things, such as chocolate and raw
liver, are actually toxic to cats. Others cause digestive upset. Remove the bones from any
cooked meat you might want to give to your cat. Poultry and pork bones in particular are
given to splintering and can injure your cat.
When you need to switch from one type of food to the other, do so in a gradual
process. Shifting gradually from one to the other over the course of a week will help
prevent digestive upsets. You may need to switch foods because your store may stop
carrying the brand you like or perhaps your kitten has grown old enough to graduate to
adult food. Do the changeover slowly and your cat will thank you for it.
Feeding treats is something for you to decide if you want to do it. Some people
are dead set against them. Others lavish treats on their pets at every opportunity. There
are many good cat treats on the market today. Read their directions carefully. You don’t
want to overindulge your cat and turn her into a furry beach ball with legs. The only other
thing that a cat requires is water. Do your best to keep a nice fresh supply of water
available for your pet. With a little thought and planning you can keep your pet healthy
and happy for a long time to come.
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