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Do cats really have 9 lives? The story of a myth that originated in Ancient Egypt

2022-07-27 17:41:38Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Do cats really have 9 lives? The story of a myth that originated in Ancient
Do cats really have 9 lives?

There are about 60 million domestic cats in the US, which means that about 1 in 4 households has at least one cat in the home!

With their amazing agility – and a natural ability to avoid death in any way – the saying that cats have 9 lives has resonated with different civilizations and societies throughout human history.

But what is the true origin of this expression?

Cats began living side by side with humans in the Near East during the Neolithic period, about 10,000 years ago. Our transition from life as hunter-gatherers to farmers is thought to have been beneficial to ancient cats as well.

As people farmed the land and began storing food in storehouses, this attracted feline prey such as rats and snakes. The relationship between humans and cats actually turned into a natural symbiosis and something beneficial for both species – humans were providing the cats with food and shelter while the cats stopped the rodents before they could steal or infect their food.

Domestication of cats began at a rapid pace in Ancient Egypt. This civilization was known for worshiping cats – many of their gods were depicted as cat-headed people. Domestic cats were actually embalmed and buried as mummies by the ancient Egyptians.

But why 9 lives?

It has been suggested that the idea that cats have nine lives originated in Ancient Egypt. One of the Egyptian gods Atum-Ra is said to have taken the form of a cat in order to go to the underworld, where he gave birth to 8 other cat gods. As a result, some people associate the idea that cats have 9 lives with this very myth.

But, according to experts, no one can really know the origin of this expression. In other cultures this number varies. For the Arabs, cats have 6 lives, for the Spanish they have 7.

Of course, this notion is related to the fact that cats are seen as extremely lucky creatures, since they have the ability to escape danger in ways that often seem unbelievable.

Do cats really have 9 lives? The story of a myth that originated in Ancient

Do cats really throw themselves to death?

Stories and viral videos of cats escaping death even after falling from great heights have become commonplace now. A New York cat reportedly fell 32 stories and survived, suffering only a chipped tooth and a mildly collapsed lung.

One reason why cats are able to survive these dangerous falls is a phenomenon known as the 'corrective reflex'. This is a balancing reflex that allows them to orient themselves while falling from heights so that they land on their feet when they hit the ground.

This reflex along with their highly flexible bones and ligaments are the reasons why these mysterious animals have the ability to survive falls from heights that would be fatal for other animals.

"Cats are curious by nature and don't think twice before exploring new and unfamiliar situations, which is not always in their favor. However, cats are prepared predators. They know their limits and have an amazing agility that allows them to react quickly when faced with danger.

"Cats are small animals that are hunted by larger predators such as wolves, coyotes, leopards, etc., so they have evolved to be 'escape artists'," says Celia Haddon, feline behavior expert.


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