What was the fascination of the ancient Egyptians with cats?

The ancient Egyptians’ fondness for cats can be seen in all the temples and tombs. This fascination, they believe, lies in the duality of cats, as they are both loyal and mischievous, much like the ancient rulers and deities who sometimes protect them and at other times become angry with them.

The ancient Egyptians were famous for their deep affection for cats. This passion left its mark on artifacts ranging from large statues to precious jewelry.

The ancient Egyptians also mummified countless cats, even establishing the world’s first pet cemetery, which is nearly 2000 years old and contains cats wearing collars made of iron and beads.

The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the ancient Egyptians would shave their eyebrows as a sign of respect when losing cats. The ancient Egyptians believed that their gods and rulers had cat-like qualities, and cats were seen as possessing duality:

on one hand, they could be protective and loyal, while on the other hand, they could be mischievous, independent, and fierce. All of this led the Egyptians to view cats as special creatures deserving of attention. This explains why they built statues of cats.
The Sphinx statue in Giza – built in the form of a man’s face and a lion’s body – is the most famous example of the Egyptians’ fascination with big cats. Similarly, the powerful goddess “Sekhmet” was depicted with a lion’s head on a woman’s body and was known as the “protective goddess.”

The practice of sacrificing cats among the ancient Egyptians spread, and they were buried after being embalmed next to the mummies of their relatives.

Many studies have indicated that this obsession was not always kind and loving, and it is likely that there were entire industries dedicated to breeding millions of kittens to be killed and embalmed to be buried alongside their relatives between around 700 BC and 300 AD.

In a study published last year in the journal “Scientific Reports,” scientists conducted an X-ray scan on preserved animals, one of which was a cat. This allowed them to take a detailed look at its skeletal structure and the materials used in the mummification process.

Scientists have concluded that this cat was less than 5 months old when it died, having had its neck deliberately broken; this explains that the practice of sacrificing cats was not uncommon, as they were often bred for this purpose. Mary Ann Bolger, a professor of Egyptian archaeology at the University of Toronto, says that offering many creatures as sacrificial offerings to the gods of ancient Egypt was a way to appease the gods or seek their assistance.