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Thanks to the digital age, cat imagery is everywhere. Yet, this is merely the modern chapter in a centuries-old tale of love and admiration between humans and these enigmatic creatures, a bond that stretches back over millennia.
10. The First ‘Companion’ Cat
A remarkable discovery of a 9,500-year-old cat at a Neolithic burial site in Cyprus may have pushed the timeline of feline companionship back by thousands of years. As cats are not native to the region, it's believed they were brought there by ancient settlers.
It was once believed that humans domesticated wild cats into house pets around 4,000 years ago in Egypt. However, newer discoveries now suggest that domestication may have begun in China over 1,000 years earlier. More ancient specimens have been found across Northern Africa, but the nearly 10,000-year-old remains uncovered at the Shillourokambos settlement in Cyprus are truly ancient.
This Neolithic cat, laid to rest just 0.3 meters (1 ft) away from its likely human companion—someone of significant importance, judging by the elaborate burial items discovered nearby. Among the rare treasures were ornamental shells and a small ceremonial jade axe.
Why was the kitten buried alongside a human? While archaeologists can’t say for sure, the fact that the eight-month-old cat wasn’t butchered suggests that it held some political or symbolic significance.
9. Native American Ritual Burial
Though we don’t know exactly when cats transitioned from mere rat-catchers to beloved companions, a recent archaeological discovery has given us a partial glimpse into this shift.
At a burial mound of Native Americans in what is now western Illinois, archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old bobcat. While we've already discussed older feline discoveries, this one stands out as the only recorded bobcat burial in the entire history of archaeology. Moreover, it was placed among the remains of 22 humans and was adorned with a decorative shell-and-bear-teeth collar.
Unfortunately, we may never know whether the Hopewell Native Americans attempted to domesticate bobcats. The remains are currently housed in the Illinois State Museum, which is facing financial difficulties and closing down. It is hoped that an unexpected financial miracle will rescue the museum, as its closure could make the bones inaccessible due to bureaucratic hurdles.
8. Tokyo’s Cat Temple
The Japanese have an immense affection for their cats. In the 18th century, the maneki neko—small white cat statues with raised paws—were created to bring prosperity to shopkeepers and noodle makers. Much like China’s thick smog, this beloved Japanese figure has gradually spread throughout mainland Asia.
When it comes to the sheer quantity of maneki neko, no place holds more than the famed Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward. The temple is small and unassuming, with no outward sign of the ceramic cat collection inside. Upon entering, you'll find the cloisters filled with tiny white figurines. Take a closer look, and you'll see—they’re all cats!
Gotokuji Temple, home to all maneki neko, has an intriguing myth attached to it, though its historical accuracy may not be entirely certain. Whether the tale is true or not, it goes something like this: A wandering feudal lord sought shelter from a storm beneath a tree close to the temple. The temple's cat raised its paw, seemingly beckoning him, and he followed it inside. Moments later, the very tree he had been sheltering under was struck by lightning. In honor of the cat that had shown him the way, the feudal lord created the first maneki neko, complete with its signature beckoning paw.
7. Houtong: The Village Saved By Cats
On Taiwan’s northern coast lies Houtong, a village that owes its salvation to cats. It may sound like the premise of a feel-good Disney movie, but in the 1970s, this once-thriving mining town was on the brink of collapse, thanks to the rise of cleaner energy sources like oil and gas.
The village’s population had drastically shrunk from 6,000 to just a few hundred, and the coal town was on the verge of dying out. Then, in 2008, a miraculous turn of events took place. A cat enthusiast known across the internet as 'Palin88' staged a photo op with the village's numerous cats, giving it a new lease on life.
With hundreds of cats lounging around the streets, Houtong quickly became a viral sensation, and soon a tourism board was needed. Today, visitors from all over the world flock to what is now known as Houtong Cat Village, coming in droves on weekends to indulge their love of cats and inadvertently preserve a part of Taiwan's mining history.
6. Cats And Marriage Beliefs
Despite their fierce reputation, the Vikings actually had a fondness for cats. They kept them around to maintain a rat-free environment at home and aboard their ships, with the mighty Norwegian forest cat being the most famous breed. This majestic feline still thrives in Scandinavia and has a following on Reddit.
Cats gained a mystical aura due to their connection with Freyja, the goddess of love and fertility, making them important symbols in Viking culture. The Vikings believed that any event involving a cat could serve as a sign of either a prosperous or troubled marriage. For instance, gifting a black cat to newlyweds was seen as an assured way to bless their union with lasting happiness. Contrary to the modern image of the 'crazy cat lady,' women with a strong love for felines were thought to be destined for marriage.
Interestingly, this belief in cats as marriage omens was widespread, extending to cultures such as the French and English. A random cat’s meow or sneeze could be interpreted as a signal for future matrimonial events. In the Buddhist world, far across the Eurasian continent, cats—especially those with dark fur—were considered signs of forthcoming wealth. Polydactyl cats, with extra toes, were especially revered and treated as lucky.
5. Kuching Cat Museum
The Kuching Cat Museum, located in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, holds the distinction of being the world's first and largest museum dedicated entirely to felines. The name Kuching, meaning 'Cat City,' makes it the perfect place to house over 2,000 exhibits, ranging from historical artifacts to quirky cat-themed trinkets from all over the world.
Managed by Kuching’s North City Hall, the museum is more than just a tourist trap filled with cat paraphernalia. It’s also a place of serious study, offering insights into global cat mythology and history. Distinguishing itself from more gimmicky roadside attractions, the museum features rare treasures like a 3,500-year-old Egyptian mummy and the world’s rarest taxidermied cat, the elusive Felis badia from Borneo.
As if the museum weren’t enough, Kuching itself is overflowing with cat statues, and it’s also home to the Meow Meow Cafe, where cat lovers can indulge in their feline fascination.
4. Pan-American Jaguar Worship
Though big cats are often linked to the savannas and wild landscapes of Africa, the majestic jaguar is a symbol of the Americas. Native to the New World, jaguars are deeply woven into the fabric of Pan-American myths and legends.
Jaguars are symbols of strength, courage, and ferocity. Their very name, meaning 'he who kills in one fell swoop,' reflects their power. Revered by the Aztec, Maya, and Inca civilizations, these great cats were integrated into their pantheon of deities. Temples dedicated to jaguars were constructed, and in Maya culture, the jaguar was honored as the god of the underworld, with priests known as balam overseeing all matters of death and jaguars.
The jaguar also plays a significant role in Native American lore, often depicted as a wise and guiding figure. One such legend tells of a jaguar who becomes the godfather to a baby skunk. The jaguar teaches the young skunk the ways of hunting, though the skunk’s attempt to take down an elk on his own leads to his unfortunate demise.
3. Nineteenth-Century Cat Meme Photography
Cat memes aren't a modern-day invention. As long as photography has been around, people have been dressing up their cats in human clothes and setting them up for highly detailed portraits.
The trend began with 19th-century British photographer Harry Pointer, who initially took candid photos of cats. However, he quickly realized that his 'Brighton Cats' could attract more attention if they reenacted human activities. While the methods he used remain unclear, given the lack of animal protection laws at the time, Pointer also attempted to work with other animals. Pigs, dogs, and rabbits were uncooperative, but young cats were highly pliable.
In 1906, almost 40 years later, photographer Harry Whittier Frees took the concept further by putting a party hat on his family cat, unwittingly creating a new and enduring form of art.
2. The Spot Where Caesar Was Assassinated Has Been Transformed Into a Cat Sanctuary
Gaius Julius Caesar, the former Roman dictator and namesake of the salad, was famously betrayed and murdered by his colleagues at the Theater of Pompey in 44 BC. Today, the site, now known as Largo di Torre Argentina, has taken on an unexpected new role as a cat sanctuary.
Situated about 6 meters (20 ft) below the weathered streets of Rome, the expansive temple complex was uncovered during Mussolini’s restoration projects in 1929. Over the following 80 years, this historic murder site became the unofficial home to another group of invaders—feral cats. The multi-leveled ruins, with their enticing cubbyholes and neatly arranged colonnades, proved to be the perfect gathering spot for the city’s stray felines.
Rome is home to approximately 300,000 cats, and the city has enacted laws to protect areas where these felines congregate, officially designating them as urban sanctuaries. Any location where five or more cats have made their home is off-limits to human disturbance.
1. Japan’s Cat Islands
Aoshima is one of the rare places where cats outnumber humans. This small Japanese island, part of the Ehime prefecture, is home to a modest fishing village where the feline population is six times larger than that of the human inhabitants. The daily feedings draw a massive crowd of cats, and the island has become a popular tourist destination, much to the frustration of its few permanent residents.
Tashirojima Island is another feline haven, boasting a population of several hundred cats and only about 100 human caretakers to enjoy the charm of the furry residents. The island’s cats have been revered for nearly 300 years, originally brought in to protect silkworms from rodent infestations. As the fishermen grew more attached to the cats, they constructed a cat stupa, or shrine, at the center of the island to honor them.
If two cat-filled islands aren’t enough for you, Japan is home to at least nine other cat islands waiting to be explored by fellow cat lovers.
