Cats as deities are most closely associated with ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians had several feline gods and goddesses. Lions were said to guard the great god Ra during his nightly journey through the underworld. The Egyptians had a fascination with lions. They created their sphinx with the body of a lion and the head of Pharaoh. Three lion goddesses existed in ancient Egypt. Sekhmet was a fierce and powerful goddess. She was a war goddess who was sent by her father Ra to earth to destroy his enemies. She is usually depicted as a woman with the head of a lion. Another lion headed goddess was Tefnut whose name means moisture. She represented a primeval force of nature. The third lion goddess was Mafdet who was the goddess of protection.
Among her fierce sisters, gentle Bast may seem a bit out of place. Often shown as a graceful cat wearing bracelets a broad collar and earrings, Bast was the protectress of domestic cats and those who cared for them. Her principle gifts to the world were joy and pleasure. She was a much beloved household deity. Her principle temple was at Bubastis and was said to be one of the most beautiful and popular in all of Egypt. She had a secondary seat in Memphis as well. There is some evidence to believe that the ancient Egyptians believed that Bast and Sekhmet were actually two faces of the same divine force. Sekhmet representing the violent aspect of the divine, and Bast, the gentler qualities.
Tired of coming home and having puddles all over the house, the cat meowing as if you have left for a weeks on end.
All of this is natural to a cat, even as it is annoying to us most the time. Just remember your cat has never learned any different.
Let us look at natural cat training. One of the first things we have to learn is the natural instincts and behavior of a cat.
Kittens are born with a great sense of smell, before they can even see. This is a sense that you will want to help build in a kittens life, in order for growth to a cat, the sense will continue to be strong. A cat will live with in its or territory if they have their scent around the area. As a kitten, you will want to have the kitten explore as many possibilities as it can. Like taking, the cat to the groomers when you have not taking the kitten when they are young, the outcome will be disasters if you wait until they are a full-grown cat. Kittens and cats need the socialization in order to prevent bad experiences.
Cats as familiars have a long and dark history in western mythology. These cats often found their way into literature. One of the most famous was Grimalkin, the witches' cat from Shakespeare's MacBeth. Cats as witch's companions are still a part of the popular symbology associated with the modern holiday of Halloween.
What is a familiar? In western mythology a familiar was an animal companion given by the devil to a witch in order to help her with her evil magic. These familiars would have names just like any other pet. In the middle ages, if you were caught talking to your pet (like a lot of people do) you were considered to be consorting with the devil in speaking to w obviously your familiar. The Middle Ages were a very dark and violent period in Europe. Their alternative name "Dark Ages" should come as no surprise. Learning was confined to clergy and nobility. The general population was therefore quite ignorant and prone to superstition.
A familiar could be any type of animal such as a toad, dog or cat. Black cats became the traditionally cited companion and hence cats became particularly reviled. In 1233 Pope Gregory IX wrote in his Papal Bull "Vox in Rama" actually denounced black cats as satanic. The Popes' proclamation began the persecution of cats all over Europe. More on Cats as Familiars
