Our Fascination with Felines - A Brief History
It’s estimated that cats and dogs have been a part of human history for thousands of years; representing the best and worst of us along our timeline. According to an article titled A Brief History of Cats: From Wildcat to Housecat, Cats have held social significance for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, they were praised as Gods. By the arrival of the Roman Empire, cats had become essential to society; fighting off both diseases and rats.
In the Middle Ages, Cats began to incite fear as their reputation shifted. They were blamed for spreading the plague, witchcraft, and dark magic. As time passed, Cats regained their appeal to society. By the 1500s, they were again essential. The British government created a Chief Mouser position to ensure Downing Street was rat-free. The role still exists, and they employ up to 10,000 cats. By the 19th century, we began domesticating cats, and as the First World War ended, most cats were in households.
Human-Cat Alignment
Our interest in cats continues to grow as we take more time to learn about their natural tendencies and discover their impact on human society. In an article titled, The Cat-Human Relationship and Factors That Affect It, we understand that our cats need to be socialized, a process known as socialization. This requires early interaction with other kittens and owners. The more a kitten is properly socialized, the friendlier it will be and the easier it will adapt to human lifestyle, known as ‘habituation.’ Cats tend to have more solitary tendencies, which means they require more interactions with individuals of their kind and from another species to feel most comfortable.
Each cat breed has a distinct personality; some regard their owners simply as convenient providers of shelter and food while others remain in the house patiently awaiting their return. Research shows that cats prefer interacting with their owner more than strangers, noting vocal responsiveness as a key factor. There is a large debate around the friendliness of cats; is it environmental or genetic? Researchers have developed shy vs. bold as two main characteristics of cats. However, much dependency is placed on how humans, male and female, interact with them daily. Plus, different breeds tend to have different personality traits. Check out a few unique ones below:
-
Abyssinian
This breed of cat is known for its lean and muscular build and loves to climb and play. It has a distinctive tabby coat in which individual hairs are banded together with different colors. It’s one of the top five most popular cat breeds, particularly due to its dog-like characteristics involving a sense of affection and desire for interaction. Abys are in constant motion and need plenty of space for mental and physical stimulation.
-
Balinese
Friendly and outgoing, these cats do not like to be alone. They demand a lot of interaction and attention from their owners and tend to be very vocal. The Balinese is known as a purebred, long-haired Siamese cat.
-
Russian Peterbald
Lively and affectionate, this breed is a charming pet. They are very vocal with their owners. Initially, the breed was created in St. Petersburg in 1994 from an experimental cross between a Don Sphynx and an Oriental Shorthair. Peterbalds are sweet-tempered, affectionate, peaceful, curious, intelligent, and energetic.
-
The Highlander
The Highlander gets along with everyone - family, strangers, other cats and dogs. They come from a deliberate cross between the Desert Lynx and the Jungle Curl. They are human-oriented, friendly, playful, very active, and confident.
-
Siberian
The Siberian is a centuries-old domestic cat in Russia that evolved from ancient Siberia. These cats are energetic, playful, and adventurous. The Siberian is very social and prefers to be involved in all household activities. They also have dog-like tendencies.
At Her 2nd Chance, we celebrate all our pets, especially cats. See some of our cat-lover products below:
Happy shopping!