The "KOOL" "KATS" of Egypt! :)

      "On the island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea, archaeologists have found the bones of cats, mice and humans jumbled together in sites that date to around 6,000 BC. Because all three species appear on the island at the same time, scientists have concluded that the humans likely brought the other two with them. The free-loading mice probably stowed away on the boats, riding along in stored grain or other supplies, and it seems likely the settlers brought the cats with them for the express purpose of controlling those same mice."


       "No one knows exactly when people began to domesticate animals, but no doubt it happened some time, and possibly a very long time, before that first verifiable instance on Cyprus. Young animals have always held considerable appeal for humans, so it's not hard to imagine that early hunters might have found orphaned offspring of the ancestors of today's housecats and taken them home to raise. Since young animals tend to bond with whoever is providing the food, domestication wouldn't be far behind."


       "It's also possible that some varieties of wildcat may have hung around human settlements to share in the food available, and gradually were accepted and even fed, as they demonstrated their usefulness in helping to hunt small animals, protecting stores from vermin, and discouraging snakes."

       "One of the most highly developed civilizations of the pre-Christian era hugged the Nile river basin of northwest Africa. Because the Nile flooded, regularly and reliably, leaving behind highly fertile soil, the residents of that area had the unprecedented luxury of being able to produce food in quantities well beyond basic subsistence level. The excess could support people working in nonfood-producing endeavors and eventually led to development of a class system where wealth and power began to concentrate in certain families."

       "By 2000 BC, the ancient Egyptians had domesticated a variety of animals, including not just the useful cattle and pigs, but cats, dogs, monkeys and some birds, as well. Initially, the animals probably remained outdoors but were fed and cared for by people in return for the practical services they could offer. The dogs were hunters and shepherds. The cats, no doubt, earned their keep by eliminating vermin."

http://www.petpublishing.com/catkit/articles/egypt.shtml