About cats and humans - purrs, smiles and unconditional love

It seems that the relationship between humans and cats began thousands of years ago. The hypothesis is that the domestic cat is descended from the wild cat, a predatory mammal from the cat family. In the 19th century, new breeds of cats began to be engineered in Europe.

Today the domestic cat is the most common pet in the world and it is estimated that there are around 600 million domestic cats in the world. The cats are curious, flexible and smart. Some indulge and others less so. In the story of Puss in Boots, the wise cat teaches the boy who inherited it, how to make his dreams come true and how to get rich. The illustrated cat "Garfield" created by Jim Davis, simulates human qualities of indulgence and laziness.

The movie "Catwoman" from 2004 put cats on the list of American superheroes, after Walt Disney's "The Velveteen Detective" from 1965, and many other movies where the main star or actress is none other than the domestic cats.

Can't imagine life without cats

I gathered a group of friends who love cats and wrote down their comments to bring to you:

level Says that she is in love with cats: "I have two and another stray cat that we adopted from outside the house."

Yael says that cats are true love andto judy There is a corner for feeding street cats: "We have had a feeding corner in the parking lot for years and take care of castration and sterilization. We have cats and a dog at home, and I can't imagine my life without cats. The relationship? Does everything so that they have the best life, enriched, and healthy, in health And in the sick. Even in their last moments of euthanasia, so that they don't suffer and retire at the peak, it's always in our hands, hugged and surrounded by loved ones."

Full Disclosure -

I have two cats that I adopted from the street and a dog that was a stray, ran over and shadowed by the vet. In addition there are 8 cats that come to the premises for meals. I drive in a car with food for street cats and stop when I see stray cats, and near my office there is a feeding area where I share in the feeding effort along with other women.

In my worldview, it is our responsibility as humans to take care of the animals. Sometimes they jump under the wheels of our car and leave us traumatized, other times they gouge the furniture with their claws, but there is no rival for the unconditional love and happiness they provide.

Cats throughout history

The cat is basically a nocturnal predator. The cat's whiskers allow it to sense air currents and locate objects, and the pads of its feet have a special structure that allows it to jump and land softly. Despite the myth that a cat always lands on its feet, cats that fall from great heights can break their bones and be killed by the fall.

The ancestor of cats lived about 15 million years ago, and evolved into various wild breeds. In Cyprus, a 9-year-old grave was found containing the bones of a man along with his belongings, and not far from it were the bones of a young cat. In Egypt, mummified cats were found 500 BC. It is said that if there were no cats in the Egyptians, the rats and mice would eat the wheat. The Egyptian cat was elevated to the rank of deity along with the goddess of fertility.

In the Middle Ages in Europe (between the 5th and 15th centuries), the church persecuted women who were considered witches, and their cats were considered helpers of witchcraft and evil, especially black cats. You have to take into account that at that time most citizens in Europe were white-skinned, and anything that wasn't white was considered evil. Many cats were destroyed in the Middle Ages and the amount of mice and rats was out of control. A common opinion says that one of the reasons for the plague in Europe in the 14th century was the proliferation of mice and rats as a result of the scarcity of cats.

The cat is the queen of the house

to Edna There are two cats in the house, "part of the family", she says and says that she also feeds cats in the garden: "When you look closely, you realize that the cat is the real owner of the house. We are the ones who have settled in with her and not the other way around."

Ifat She reminded me: "Do you remember that about two years ago I adopted a cat from you that you yourself rescued from the side of the road? Today she is the queen of the house (her name is Phoebe) after overcoming a serious illness. There is another stunning street cat that we adopted into our home. Without a doubt, both of them added great light to the house, joy, laughter And love. They teach us and our child what giving from the heart is, unconditional love, responsibility, devotion, compassion. How much happiness."

according to revival A cat is the most wonderful animal in the world: "All my life I have had cats, they are an integral part of the family. They are clean, curious, entertaining and full of love," andRonit There are 3 cats at home and another 15 that she feeds in the garden.

Cats and superstitions

There are many myths and superstitions regarding cats: a belief that cats have 9 souls probably comes from ancient Egypt. While in ancient Egypt the cat was treated as a type of god, and the Egyptian goddess of fertility was a woman in the image of a cat, in Celtic mythology the cat represents Satan, possibly because the cat's eyes glow in the dark. In Norse mythology, the goddess Freya rode on a carriage that was drawn by cats, and they became her companions and faithful.

Another superstition is that the cat and the dog are enemies. Since both the cat and the dog are territorial animals, and both are domesticated species, tension arises over attention and food. But in many houses - as well as in my house - you can find dogs and cats living together in peace and love.

Although cats are not to blame for their colors, just as humans are no better when their skin color is one and not another, the superstitions continue to roll to this day. Precisely in Australia, the black cat is considered to bring good luck, and the white cat is considered to be unlucky, one that attracts ghosts.

A spoiled cream cat

in islam The cat is an honorable pet, because the Prophet Muhammad loved cats. It is said that his cat once saved him from a snake bite and that he cared for her and loved her. In one of the Islamic stories, Muhammad announces a woman who will go to hell because she did not give the cats water and food. In Muslim countries, cats are respected and even allowed to enter mosques so that they do not harm.

in Judaism There is Rabbi Akiva's saying that everything created by the Holy One, blessed be He, is for the good, and along with this there are negative sayings of rabbis that refer to a cat that kills - but it is probably a wild cat and not a domestic cat.

in Japan The cat represents abundance and in businesses you can find figurines of cats made of porcelain or other gold-colored materials raising their hands as if waving for peace. This cat is called Maneki-neko, "inviting cat" and according to belief brings luck and money to its owner.

Naama She says, "I give them food for the street cats and my cat is laying in my warehouse in the yard, so she lives here with her puppies and my three dogs. Then she moved the puppies to another place. As for my relationship with them, I have a terrible allergy to them, but I pet them And then I have a rash and tears in my eyes."

Ruthie: "There are 5 cats in the house and I feed several cats in the yard. With the cats, a friend brings a friend and, God willing, they all eat several times a day." ToSharon Was a house cat for 20 years. Today she feeds street cats: "One with dental problems gets wet food." the son of Rachela  He brought home a cat. "A street cat that turned into a spoiled cream cat," she says.

keep the cats

Most modern domestic cat breeds were developed in the British Isles in the 19th century. In 1871, the first cat breeds were introduced that were developed to achieve an appearance that would be liked like the Siamese and Persian cats that won awards and much sympathy.

Edna Or El Breeder of street cats: "I give them food and water. Vaccination shots. I arranged a place for them in the shelter and at night and when it's cold and raining there. Sometimes they fight in the middle of the night and a riot starts, then all the street dwellers start shouting: "Edna, shut them up!" But who can silence them When they are in heat' or when a new cat suddenly arrives. When I go out into the street they follow me. Every time a new tenant arrives, a fight starts. "What are these cats from!!!?" And I hear the whispers behind me and just smile to myself. The main thing is that they don't bully the cats."

Lior Claims to be a "mother" to two funny ones adopted from the street, and it gives a lot of joy and dirt.

and to me magnifier Five cats and a golden retriever, "this is a family for everything".

to me There are three cats:I take care of them and they take care of me. They are the sixth sense of the house, they are the reason why some of my patients come to me."

Mirim Taking care of water for the street cats: "When you see a dirty cat, know that it is thirsty. Cats clean themselves when there is enough liquid. Summer is coming and the street cats will be thirsty if we don't take care of them with water. Please leave them water fountains in every corner and make sure to refresh the water every day or two ".

Cats to improve mood

Studies have found that cats can improve the quality of life of people with mental problems such as depression and a tendency to sadness. Caring for the pet and petting the cat creates a feeling of love and belonging.

Cats seem to have the ability to calm, release tension and help balance emotions. People who get attached to cats, find that they are an encouraging force and improve the quality of life. Studies have found a connection between working with cats and improving mood, and stimulating the appearance of the oxytocin hormone that radiates feelings of love and affection.

Cats can improve the communication and social skills of their owners, especially in the case of people with physical or social disabilities. When a cat purrs, its vocal cords move closer and further apart, creating string vibration and a purring sound. The gurgling appears in times of joy, excitement and also in times of stress. But listening to the cat's purr and touch conveys a sense of emotional and physical relief to people dealing with pain.

Cats purr at a frequency ranging from 20-140 Hz, and this has healing effects. Bone fusion improves at a frequency of 25 and 50 Hz, so soft tissues also heal faster when exposed to these frequencies. Infections and swelling heal quickly and cat breeders report that when the cat lies on their lap or next to them in bed and purrs, they feel better.

Cats to relieve loneliness

Cats are an entertaining animal. People take pictures of them, enjoy watching curious cats play and jump. Ravid Plotnik also wrote about it in the song Cats, that when he doesn't know how to say he loves, he sends a video of cats. People who raise cats are happier and it turns out that their immune system is stronger.

A study conducted at the University of Minnesota found that people who raised cats are significantly less vulnerable to cardiovascular disease than those who do not. It has also been found that people who own pets survive more heart attacks than those who don't. A study done in New York found that the blood pressure of people who raise cats is more balanced. The study issued a recommendation for those who have high blood pressure to adopt a cat.

In 1992, one of the studies found that pet owners have more balanced cholesterol levels than those who do not keep pets. In an experiment conducted in Canada in 2006, it was found that grooming a house cat helped lower cholesterol levels. 

Having a pet reduces feelings of loneliness. Since cats do not need to be taken for a walk and can live in an apartment together with their owners, the connection with the cats helps to alleviate the loneliness of people who live alone, people who do not have company or family and they feel that the cats are their family and friends.

Attitude towards cats and status in heaven

Elvira She says that her parents feed street cats, "The cats wait for my father from work in his parking lot. My sister in Haifa finds a home for every kitten she finds, and has already adopted 3 sweet ones. The house cat came to take care of my daughter when she was sick with a fever.

Sarit: "Our lives revolve around our cats (several, at home and in the yard) and on the front door of our house is written: "Your treatment of cats in this world determines your status in heaven."

ASIA: I have 2 8-year-old Siamese cats that contribute to relaxation and healing. In the past I fed cats today in a more complex multi-storey building. My cats have telepathy with me. Only I think about them and they come to me. When I go out, they know when I'm coming home and wait fifteen minutes before me by the door and howl."

Miri She has been feeding street cats and taking care of them for many years, "It is important to spay and neuter to keep the culture balanced," she emphasizes.

discover the hidden

Cats symbolize freedom and flexibility - both mental flexibility and physical flexibility. In spiritual teachings the cat symbolizes a connection to mysticism, as in the Queen of Wands card in the Tarot.

The cat is considered the keeper of dreams and symbolizes intuition and seeing the worlds beyond the material. Along with this, when you dream of a cat, this may mean that the dreamer is experiencing loneliness. Among the Native American totem animals the cat symbolizes concealment, the hidden things that one does not want to show along with looking within to meet the thing that man hides even from himself.

When reading in a cafe, the cat symbolizes secrets that are about to be revealed. The things that until now have been tried to hide will be revealed, and it is possible that an unfaithful person who harms the person who drank the coffee will also be revealed.