Cats and dogs had a common ancestor

Scientists suggest that cats and dogs descended from one ancestor - small predators from the type of Miacidae, who lived mainly on trees about 66 million years ago.

The first cats appeared earlier

The ancestors of all modern cats were formed in the era of myocene, which ended more than 5 million years ago, and a straightforward person appeared almost 3 million years later.

The path of cats to domestication took 120 thousand years

About so much time has passed from the moment of isolation of the subspecies of the steppe cat, from which all domestic ones occurred, before the start of life together with a person.

Cats began to live with people 10 thousand years ago

It was then that the rapid development of agriculture in the territories of the countries of the modern Middle East encouraged people and cats to live together. Pets helped a person save a crop from numerous rodents.

Ancient Egypt - a cradle of cat civilization

Probably, they did not treat cats anywhere better than in this country. In Egypt, they were considered sacred animals that were protected. The Egyptians even worshiped cats in the image of the goddess Bastet. If the pet died, the owners shaved his eyebrows as a sign of mourning. And for gross treatment, murder and smuggling of cats to other countries of the guilty, there was a severe punishment, up to the death penalty.

Middle Ages - worst time in cat history

Completely differently treated these animals in medieval Europe. Then cats were considered a product of the devil and the accomplices of the "dark" forces. Particularly “unlucky” was in black cats - it was believed that the witches started to help with magic rites. For this, unfortunate pets were often burned on fires with their housewives.

The fight against cats in the Middle Ages led to epidemics

The ruthless extermination of domestic cats in those days was one of the reasons for the terrible epidemics of the plague that claimed the lives of about half of the entire population of Europe. The carriers of this disease were mainly rodents infected with plague fleas. But there was simply no one to hunt for them.

Cats are the most popular pets on earth

Fortunately, religious prejudices have gone the past, and in our time cats are very popular. It is estimated by experts that about 600 million domestic cats live in the world. The leader in this regard is Australia: here for 10 people there are 9 pets.

Cats are extremely fertile

Scientists calculated that the offspring of one pair of cats in seven years can be born more than 400 thousand new individuals.

Record offspring

On average, a cat brings from 1 to 6 kittens in one mark. The record is 18 kittens, 15 of which were viable. And the most prolific cat is a spotty tabby nicknamed Dusty, who lived in American Texas. The owners calculated that in her life she gave birth to more than 400 kittens. At the same time, the last time she “became a mother” already at the 19th year of her life.

Cats can be the cause of diseases

And this is not an allergy to cat hair. There are two officially established mental diseases: ailurophilia (excessive attachment to cats) and ailurophobia (pathological fear of domestic cats).

Not only a person can suffer from allergies to cats

Yes, cats also have an allergy to “people”, or rather what is connected with them. For example, the cause of allergic reactions in pets can be cigarette smoke, odors of perfumery and even human dandruff.

There are also long -livers among cats

The average life expectancy of cats with proper care is 12-15 years. Often pets live up to 20 years or more. But there are absolute record holders. For example, a cat named Crimm Puff from the United States lived 38 years and 3 days.

Cats and dogs had a common ancestor

Scientists suggest that cats and dogs descended from one ancestor - small predators from the type of Miacidae, who lived mainly on trees about 66 million years ago.

The first cats appeared earlier

The ancestors of all modern cats were formed in the era of myocene, which ended more than 5 million years ago, and a straightforward person appeared almost 3 million years later.

The path of cats to domestication took 120 thousand years

About so much time has passed from the moment of isolation of the subspecies of the steppe cat, from which all domestic ones occurred, before the start of life together with a person.

Cats began to live with people 10 thousand years ago

It was then that the rapid development of agriculture in the territories of the countries of the modern Middle East encouraged people and cats to live together. Pets helped a person save a crop from numerous rodents.

Ancient Egypt - a cradle of cat civilization

Probably, they did not treat cats anywhere better than in this country. In Egypt, they were considered sacred animals that were protected. The Egyptians even worshiped cats in the image of the goddess Bastet. If the pet died, the owners shaved his eyebrows as a sign of mourning. And for gross treatment, murder and smuggling of cats to other countries of the guilty, there was a severe punishment, up to the death penalty.

Middle Ages - worst time in cat history

Completely differently treated these animals in medieval Europe. Then cats were considered a product of the devil and the accomplices of the "dark" forces. Particularly “unlucky” was in black cats - it was believed that the witches started to help with magic rites. For this, unfortunate pets were often burned on fires with their housewives.

The fight against cats in the Middle Ages led to epidemics

The ruthless extermination of domestic cats in those days was one of the reasons for the terrible epidemics of the plague that claimed the lives of about half of the entire population of Europe. The carriers of this disease were mainly rodents infected with plague fleas. But there was simply no one to hunt for them.

Cats are the most popular pets on earth

Fortunately, religious prejudices have gone the past, and in our time cats are very popular. It is estimated by experts that about 600 million domestic cats live in the world. The leader in this regard is Australia: here for 10 people there are 9 pets.

Cats are extremely fertile

Scientists calculated that the offspring of one pair of cats in seven years can be born more than 400 thousand new individuals.

Record offspring

On average, a cat brings from 1 to 6 kittens in one mark. The record is 18 kittens, 15 of which were viable. And the most prolific cat is a spotty tabby nicknamed Dusty, who lived in American Texas. The owners calculated that in her life she gave birth to more than 400 kittens. At the same time, the last time she “became a mother” already at the 19th year of her life.

Cats can be the cause of diseases

And this is not an allergy to cat hair. There are two officially established mental diseases: ailurophilia (excessive attachment to cats) and ailurophobia (pathological fear of domestic cats).

Not only a person can suffer from allergies to cats

Yes, cats also have an allergy to “people”, or rather what is connected with them. For example, the cause of allergic reactions in pets can be cigarette smoke, odors of perfumery and even human dandruff.

There are also long -livers among cats

The average life expectancy of cats with proper care is 12-15 years. Often pets live up to 20 years or more. But there are absolute record holders. For example, a cat named Crimm Puff from the United States lived 38 years and 3 days.