The dark reasons humans keep cats as pets, according to the experts
New research suggests cats first became human companions in ancient Egypt, not Cyprus as previously thought.
DNA analysis reveals that the feline remains found in a 9,500-year-old Cypriot grave belong to a European wildcat, not a domesticated cat.
Scientists now believe cat domestication occurred around 3,000 years ago in Egypt, possibly linked to mass ritual sacrifices of wildcats for the goddess Bastet.
Temples dedicated to Bastet were often located near agricultural lands, where wildcats would have preyed on rodents, potentially fostering closer relationships with humans.
The cult of Bastet may have played a role in the spread of domesticated cats, similar to how other cults influenced the dispersal of certain animals.
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