Wild cats lived in Egypt in ancient times, and ancient Egyptians thought they were holy animals. Egyptians domesticated, or tamed, wild cats about 3,500 years ago. They used these cats to kill the rats and mice that ate their stored grain.
Many years later, during the Middle Ages, Europeans feared cats because they were linked with witches. Some people still think that black cats bring bad luck.
Today millions of people around the world keep cats as pets. In the United States there are more pet cats than pet dogs.
Adapted from "Cat", Britannica Kids, Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Nov. 2020. kids.britannica.com/kids/article/cat/352924