The Cherished Cat: 9,500 Year Old Human and Pet Memorial

Cats are known to be cherished as our companions, worshipped as idols, and used for pest control and good luck. According to the APPMA’s 2005-2006 report there are more than 90 million domestic cats in the and people still sit in awe of these creatures and consider them to be spiritual beings. That's why there are so many people who pay tribute and honor their beloved cats upon their passing, according to Peternity.com Founder, Colleen Mihelich. Her company’s website offers hand crafted, pet urns and engraved stone pet memorials and pet grave markers for cat-lovers to remember their friends for eternity.

The earliest evidence of cat domestication is from ancient Egypt, and many experts believe that the Egyptians probably tamed and bred felines to produce a distinct species by the 20th or 19th century B.C. Ancient Egyptians revered cats more than any culture in history, and because they were so respected, cats were often mummified and buried in tombs with their owners. Considered a high crime to kill a cat, and punishable by death, families owning cats took care that they received respect even after they died. Whenever a pet cat died, the entire family would go through a period of grief. They would even shave their eyebrows to mark their sadness. Deceased cats were often mummified and entombed with fine jewelry and treasures; a custom usually observed by the most powerful and wealthy. Mummified rats and mice have even been found in cats' tombs, signaling the Egyptian belief in the afterlife.

In ancient Egypt, the cat, or miw (to see), was a sacred, respected companion that was venerated by all. In those times domesticated Egyptian cats in were used for warding off common snakes and rodents. As time went by, the cat became more to the Egyptians than just a normal animal, the cat became a god. Cats are often represented in Egyptian mythology in the form of the feline goddesses named Bastet, Sekhmet, as well as other deities. In early times Bast, also written as 'Bastet' by the scribes in later times was a goddess usually depicted as a cat, or as a woman with the head of a cat or lion.

According to an April 8, 2004 article in National Geographic magazine, French archaeologists found the carefully interred remains of a human and a cat memorial were found buried in a 9,500-year-old grave site on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Unearthed in 2001 in the Neolithic village of Shillourokambos, the mummified remains were found along with seashells, polished stones and offerings such as ochre and flint tools, axes, and other decorative artifacts. This find predates the known early Egyptian art that depicted cats by 4,000 years or more.

Archaeologist Jean-Denis Vigne of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris said that the joint burial indicates a strong association between the human and cat and that the feline is possibly the world's oldest known pet cat. Evidence indicated that the cat and human were intentionally buried together and remained in a good state of preservation, buried just 16 inches apart. Analysis suggests that the cat was just eight months old at death and was possibly killed in order to be buried with the human companion.

Other researchers have found hints that cats were domesticated even earlier than this, with experts who have found 10,000-year-old engravings and pottery depicting cats that actually date back as far as Neolithic period, or the late Stone Age, which also provides evidence that cats had a spiritual significance.

The world today is still fascinated with cats, a contributing factor to why pet memorials are growing in significance. Mihelich and her team are always on the lookout for unique, handcrafted pieces of art to help her customers express their love, joy and memories of beloved cats, and other pets who have passed on. Her website, www.peternity.com also provides pet loss support and virtual pet memorials.

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