Cats in Ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egypt, Egyptians believed that cats were magical creatures that were capable of bringing good luck to their owners. They were first captivated by their rodent hunting skills. It is because of their association with several gods that they were mummified after their death and their owners shaved off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. Cats were often trained to fetch birds on hunting excursions and get fish from the marshes of the Nile River. They also believed that dreaming about a cat would bring good luck. If someone in Ancient Egypt killed a cat, it could result in a death sentence as well as smuggling cats. Most modern cats are related to the cats kept by Ancient Egyptians.

This fact card was made in memory of Talking Kitty Cat YouTuber Steve Cash who died by his own hand in spring 2020.