Heirs of Egyptian Pharaohs' Cats Are Living Among Us: Is Your Cat Descended From Royalty?
Archaeologists and historians have known for decades that ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, but recent research has proven that the Pharaohs had an even more significant impact on the species than previously thought. In fact, the descendants of the Pharaohs' cats are likely living among us today, making the Egyptians the world's first cat breeders.
To celebrate its new line of premium SHEBA SELECTIONS Filets, the SHEBA cat food brand is looking for a premium cat to worship like the ancient Egyptians. On April 3, the University of Missouri's Feline Genetics & Comparative Medicine Lab and feline researcher Dr. Leslie Lyons officially began the search for the next royal cat.
Famous cat dad Nathan the Cat Lady hosts the search for the Egyptian cats' descendants, but cat parents can also use SHEBA's new 'Pharaoh Cat Finder tool' to explore their pets' similarities to the ancients. Best of all, your cat can get their paws on a free sample from SHEBA, too!
Could your cat be a descendant of the Pharaoh's cats?
This is going to be a fascinating endeavor, but for Dr. Leslie Lyons, this is only the next step in her already extensive research. Dr. Lyons and her team were the first scientists to sample DNA from mummified cats, and they did so with three main goals in mind:
Successfully extracting DNA from a mummified cat
Discovering whether ancient cats and contemporary cats shared any DNA sequences in common
Learning where in the world cats with 'Pharaoh's blood' are located
For this research, Dr. Lyons and her team studied two bones from the Brooklyn Museum and a jawbone from the Hearst Museum of Anthropology at UC Berkeley. In a sterile laboratory, they used a process called Polymerase Chain Reaction to separate and identify specific regions of the DNA called mitotypes."In genetics," explains Dr. Lyons, "'mitotypes' represent a group of mitochondrial DNA variations that are inherited together from only the mother." In other words, any royal cats found through this campaign will all be related to the Pharaohs' cats through their mother's genes, not their father's.
Once Dr. Lyons' team extracted the DNA sequence they were looking for, they began the painstaking task of comparing it to the DNA sequence of modern-day cats.
"The mitotype of Pharaoh cats is very rare and easy to distinguish from the mitotypes of other modern-day cats that are descendants from other historical populations," Dr. Lyons said, "so once we were able to identify the DNA sequences, we were then able to compare with samples of cats living amongst us today and find matches."
What they found is that the DNA sequence shared by Pharaoh's cats is still around today! While the DNA sequence, or mitotype, isn't found only in a specific cat breed, it has been found in two specific locations around the world: Egypt and the United States. That means that your average feral cat could actually be a Pharaoh cat!
Meanwhile, Nathan's search for the royal descendant continued!
After comparing ancient cat DNA and modern cat DNA, Dr. Lyons is teaming up with SHEBA and Nathan the Cat Dad to help find the next royal cat. Nathan will be meeting cats from across the country to find the feline with the highest DNA match to the Pharaoh cats. If one is found, and perhaps even crowned, they'll receive a lifetime supply of SHEBA cat food so that they can eat like royalty for the rest of their days.
Although cat parents can't submit their fur babies to be a part of the video series, they can use the AI-powered Pharaoh Cat Finder tool to see how much their cats have in common with the ancient Egyptian felines. Remember, this fun tool is based on physical features, not DNA, so it's just an estimation!
To meet a few of the cats who may be contenders for the royal title, take a peek at part 3 of the video series.
By submitting your cat's photo to the campaign, you can receive a free sample of SHEBA SELECTIONS Filets regardless of your kitty's results. But if your cat has a high percentage in common with the Pharaoh's cats, it may be time to start treating them like the royalty they are!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.
Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
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National Geographic
a day ago
- National Geographic
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There are over 3,000 types of snakes in the world. They have wide distribution, living everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. In the United States, snakes live in almost every state, except Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine. About 600 species are venomous. Of those, only about 200 can kill or significantly wound a human. Nonvenomous snakes, which range from harmless garter snakes to the not-so-harmless python, dispatch their victims by swallowing them alive or constricting them to death. Whether they kill by striking with venom or squeezing, nearly all snakes eat their food whole, in sometimes astoundingly large portions. Almost all snakes are covered in scales. As reptiles, they're cold blooded and must regulate their body temperature externally. Scales serve several purposes: They trap moisture in arid climates and reduce friction as the snake moves. Several species of snakes are mostly scaleless, but even those have scales on their bellies. 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Pythons 101 From unbelievably flexible jaws to rows of razor sharp teeth, a range of impressive features make the python one of nature's most formidable predators. Learn about ball, burmese, reticulated, and other types of pythons, what the snakes eat, where they live, and how a surprising feature might be a sign of legged ancestors. What are the top 10 biggest snakes? The 10 biggest snakes in the world are the African rock python (Python sebae), amethystine python (Simalia amethistina), black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), boa constrictor, Burmese python (Python bivittatus), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), Indian python (Python molurus), king brown (Pseudechis australis), king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), and reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus). —BBC Science Focus Magazine What are the four most poisonous snakes? India has nearly 60 highly venomous snakes, including a few known as the 'Big Four.' 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Yahoo
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Certain plant extracts, essential oils, and even foods have antibiotic properties. For example, some food and vegetable extracts can prevent the growth of bacteria in food. This includes garlic, honey, and certain herbs. Antibiotics are used to kill or inhibit bacteria growth. Although you might think of antibiotics as modern medicine, they've actually been around for centuries. Like many of today's antibiotics, the original antibiotics are derived from natural sources. Sometimes, the properties of these natural sources extend beyond the food and can aid in your personal hygiene. Cranberry extract contains antibacterial and antioxidant compounds, making it a home remedy for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Herbs can be antibiotics, too. A small sampling study of 58 Chinese plants found that 23 had antibacterial properties and 15 had antifungal properties. 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You can also ingest honey to aid in the treatment of internal infections. For a soothing treat, simply swallow a whole tablespoon or stir it into a warm cup of herbal tea. Honey is generally safe to use on the skin or in the body, though you should never give honey to an infant under a year old. Instead, consult your healthcare professional for an appropriate alternative. Garlic extract Garlic has long been thought to have antimicrobial properties. A 2021 review concluded that the organosulfur compounds in garlic are effective against a wide variety of bacteria. You can purchase garlic concentrate or extract at your local health food store. You may also be able to make your own by soaking a few garlic cloves in olive oil. Garlic is generally safe to ingest, but large doses might cause internal bleeding. Up to two cloves per day is considered an acceptable dosage. If you're taking a garlic supplement, be sure to follow the dosage directions as provided. If you're taking blood-thinning medication, consult your healthcare provider before using garlic as an antibiotic. Large doses of garlic can amplify the effects of this medication. You can also apply garlic concentrate directly to a wound or blemish. Myrrh extract Many people are familiar with myrrh, but its ability to ward off harmful germs is less well-known. Researchers in a 2000 study concluded that an extract of myrrh could kill off several everyday pathogens. This includes: E. coli Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa Candida albicans A 2020 in vitro study found that myrrh oil preferentially kills nongrowing bacteria without the organisms building any resistance. Typically, nongrowing bacteria tend to be more antibiotic-resistant than growing bacteria. Myrrh is generally well-tolerated, but ingesting it may cause diarrhea. If myrrh is applied to the skin, it's possible to experience a minor skin rash. If consumed in large doses, myrrh may cause heart problems. 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Oregano essential oil Carvacrol is an ingredient found in oregano essential oil. It has important therapeutic properties that further activate healing in the body when inhaled. Carvacrol in oregano oil has been found to help heal gastric ulcers and reduce inflammation. To treat fungal infections on your skin, add one drop of oregano essential oil per teaspoon of a carrier oil such as olive or coconut oil. Apply the mixture to the affected area. You can also diffuse oregano oil in the air to help clear sinus infections. You shouldn't ingest oregano essential oil or use undiluted essential oil on the skin. You may also be able to eradicate bacteria in the home with a homemade cleaning agent made of: oregano essential oil vinegar water lemon The bottom line Be sure to discuss your interest in natural antibiotics with your healthcare professional. They can help you explore your options and help you weigh the potential benefits and risks of each regimen. 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