Most cats in Muslim countries have a tendency to prosper in terms of their numbers simply because the predominant religion has a strong inclination towards adopting them as pets. But unlike in Muslim cities like Istanbul and Saravejo, Cairo's predilection for cats far precedes that of the Islamic faith. In fact, the cats in Ancient Egypt were almost an inseparable part of its civilization.
Ancient Egyptian Mythology
The cats in Ancient Egypt were the first domesticated feline creatures in history. Before Ancient Egypt, cats have not yet evolved to become the smaller and more adorable domestic fur babies modern pet owners know today. The cats in Ancient Egypt were beloved by both the common household and the royalty for one thing - they kill vermin for food and sport.
Several thousand years of biological programming remained and until today, cats bring home dead birds and rodents to please their two-legged benefactors. However, the relationship between cats and humans goes beyond pet and owner symbiosis. Another key factor that strengthened their bond is the Ancient Egyptian mythology.
The cat goddesses that occupy the Ancient Egyptian pantheon are Sekhmet and Bastet. In Upper Egypt, Sekhmet was lioness goddess of war and healing held in almost the same reverence as Greeks would of Athena. In Lower Egypt, Bastet was worshiped as a lunar domestic cat goddess who fights evil spirits and corruption (common diseases). As Sir Terry Pratchett would quote; "In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this."
EMRO and ESMA Era
The cats in Cairo might be able to recall their glorious ancient years, but it seems the neglect they suffered from human society made this history of coexistence a one-sided memory. In modern Egypt, the apathetic attitude towards stray animals causes society to neglect their welfare. Abandoning cats were becoming a common practice.
Fortunately, in 2003, a Canadian and Egyptian couple visiting Cairo founded a charity group that is aimed at adopting Egypt's endemic Mau breeds. From the streets of Cairo, Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization (EMRO) would find better homes for Mau cats across the Atlantic.
In 2007, a local group called Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (EMSA) became the leading champions for the welfare of abandoned pets in Cairo's concrete jungle. Their crusade takes them on a direct collision course with the government's brutal methods of population control.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
