Oh the cat. What a marvelous invention is the cat. Cats have been with us for longer then man has walked this earth. But in all that time, cats have changed very little. They are such a successful species that nature has not had to make many corrections. The biggest difference between the big cats and your adorable little kitten is size. We have many breeds of house cat now but all breeds are about 99% identical to all other cats. Despite years of selective breeding, cats have remained primarily the same. Where as dogs have mutated into hundreds of variations in the same time..

 Cats have fascinated and bewildered us for centuries. Early man admired cats because big cats like lions and saber tooth tigers were the ultimate in hunting technology. Many of them wished to have the speed and weapons of the great cats. Everyone has seen the Great Sphinx of Egypt a monument to express the religious awe that the Egyptians held for BAST their cat like goddess. Egyptians even mummified cats and burried then with their kings in the great pyramids. Painters such as Goya, Rembrandt, Leyster, Renior, and Steinlen painted cats. Today you find the image of the cat on many everyday objects such as jewelry,pottery,clothing and movies. We have invented digital cats and comic cats like Felix, Slyvester and Garfield. Many greats works of literature have cats as main characters. We have all read the famous CAT In The Hat by Dr. Suess.

 

 If you are considering a new pet, think about a cat. There are several breeds available. You can go to your local ASPCA shelter and find that frisky feline for a nominal fee or you can purchase a pure breed from your local cattery. But before you adopt any pet consider the responsiblities carefully. As most cats live up to twenty years,  you are making a long term commitment. With the speed of modern life no one wants to take the dog for a walk anymore. But cats on the other hand, are low maintenance and fit well in our small apartments and homes. We love to spoil our cats and buy every available luxury for our pampered friend. Good luck with your new found friend and remember that if you love them they will love you right back.