Cat Mythology: Were cats gods?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ม.ค. 2023
  • Cats have captured the imaginations of people for thousands of years, and have established themselves as a very important animal in human culture. But why are they not as well known in mythology as they are in folklore? In this video, we will delve into the rise of the cat in mythology and explore some of the myths and tales surrounding these mysterious creatures. From Viking Scandinavia to ancient Egypt, and into modern day Japan, cats have a rich history in folklore. But to understand the full story, we must first understand how cats became domesticated, especially considering that humans have spent a majority of the last 100,000 years avoiding them as natural predators. Join us as we uncover the fascinating history of cats, from their domestication around 15,000 years ago, to their current role in human culture.
    If you want to support my research and see behind the scenes work, watch my videos early and without adverts, and have access to the mythology database, along with other insights then please become a Patreon here: / crecganford
    References:
    ============
    Herodutos 2.66-67
    Lucquin et al. 2018. The impact of environmental change on the use of early pottery by East Asian hunter-gatherers
    Vigne JD, Guilaine J, Debue K, Haye L, Gérard P. Early taming of the cat in Cyprus. Science. 2004 Apr 9;304(5668):259. doi: 10.1126/science.1095335. PMID: 15073370.
    de Vries, Ad (1976). Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Company. pp. 85-86. ISBN 0-7204-8021-3.
    Westendorf, W. (1970). "Beiträge aus und zu den medizinischen Texten". Zeitschrift für Agyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde. 96: 145-151. doi:10.1524/zaes.1970.96.jg.145. ISSN 0044-216X. PMID 11633620. S2CID 201809267.
    Wilkinson, T. A. H. (1999). Early Dynastic Egypt. Routledge. pp. 249-251. (stealer pic)
    Bergsträsser. 1915. Neuaramäische Märchen und andere Texte aus Malula
    (“Neo-Aramaic fairy tales and other texts from Malula“)

ความคิดเห็น • 839

  • @Crecganford
    @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +87

    Are there any other animals you would like to understand the mythology of?

    • @jgr7487
      @jgr7487 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      what about crows & ravens?

    • @tbrooks529
      @tbrooks529 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      The coyote
      The stork
      And is the unicorn mythology related to a real animal?

    • @AdeebaZamaan
      @AdeebaZamaan ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Raccoon! My totem animal! (I once asked a cat what he'd be if he weren't a cat. He couldn't choose between a snake and a marshmallow.)

    • @ratajs
      @ratajs ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Could you make some more videos about fantastic animals? Like Phoenix (and other fire‐birds), or unicorns, as suggested by @T Brooks.

    • @Flum666
      @Flum666 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Jackal both Egypt and native American

  • @taradresbach4684
    @taradresbach4684 ปีที่แล้ว +840

    I love explaining cat domestication as: cats saw the mouse problem we developed because of granaries, saw a consistent food supply, and said "I live here now." "I live here now" is also one of the ways I've ended up with pet cats in the past. I love these weird little not-entirely-domesticated pocket tigers with their magic purrs.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +108

      That is exactly what they are!

    • @aariley2
      @aariley2 ปีที่แล้ว +47

      Pocket tigers! I LOVE IT!!!!!

    • @juliamavroidi8601
      @juliamavroidi8601 ปีที่แล้ว +57

      In Germany we jokingly refer to them as "room tigers" (Stubentiger)

    • @susansaoirse2797
      @susansaoirse2797 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      That's how I found my pal Albert. He just decided to live here. My other cats are dealing.

    • @FelonyBellend
      @FelonyBellend ปีที่แล้ว +19

      I call my cat a garden tiger 😅

  • @mustafabeer1791
    @mustafabeer1791 ปีที่แล้ว +402

    "In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this." One of the many wonderful quotes by the legendary Terry Pratchett!

    • @ValeriePoynter777
      @ValeriePoynter777 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Love disc world!! (Showing our age!) 😉

    • @bettyboadwine4890
      @bettyboadwine4890 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      That why they oversee us scooping their precious poop out of the litter box. 😆

    • @bettyboadwine4890
      @bettyboadwine4890 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Terry Pratchett!!!!
      Love the way he can winde many lesser known mythologies into great entertainment!
      Have you seen the "Great Cohen"?
      It's on TH-cam.

    • @bettyboadwine4890
      @bettyboadwine4890 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Sorry it's called "Troll Bridge"

    • @ValeriePoynter777
      @ValeriePoynter777 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      No, but I will definitely check it out! Thanks!!

  • @painmt651
    @painmt651 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    Cats inspire adoration. The little purr of a cat is soothing beyond any other animal noises.

    • @marztar
      @marztar ปีที่แล้ว +1

      it's vibration in equilibrium
      a cat does it when it is truly content
      humans can also vibrate their vocal cords and express this state of harmony.
      mongolian throat singing is one example.
      vibrating your vocal cords also has healing powers for many imbalances such as indigestion and nausea. it's a simple technique that ancients utilised but western world has long lost.

    • @christinec7892
      @christinec7892 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@marztar cats also purr when they are injured or in distress, the frequency of a cats purr can actually help bones mend faster.

    • @marztar
      @marztar ปีที่แล้ว

      @@christinec7892 wow that's awesome. Cats are on a higher level. Vibration (resonance) is a hidden magic that we humans have little knowledge of.

    • @francisfischer7620
      @francisfischer7620 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I adore my dog but I must agree.

  • @bob7975
    @bob7975 ปีที่แล้ว +94

    My mother grew up on a farm in North Texas, and she used to tell me about how the barn cats kept the rattlesnakes under control. They would often find dead snakes about the place, but never a dead cat. They really are good at this.

    • @japspeedgirl6216
      @japspeedgirl6216 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I had a neighbour whose cat would kill rats and leave them on the porch. She would then come out in the morning, count the rats and give the cat equal number of pieces of meat. Soon her farm was rid of rats and he would be killing her neighbours rats….😂

    • @stefanlaskowski6660
      @stefanlaskowski6660 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      I've seen a couple of cat vs snake videos. It's amazing how quick cat reflexes are. Every time the snakes tried to bite the cats, the cats just whapped it on the top of it's head.

    • @tsugima6317
      @tsugima6317 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I had a lovely bronze tabby named Gringott who would bring me a dead snake every spring and leave it on my back sidewalk. Really miss him.

    • @lovingdeanthegodmachine5622
      @lovingdeanthegodmachine5622 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Fearless lil purry fur balls they are

    • @buggalujuju
      @buggalujuju ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I had a male tabby that I saved as a kitten from being drowned in a river. He grew up to be the most amazing rat hunter ever. He would kill several rats and mice in one night. He would leave them on the porch for me (He obviously thought I was a very poor hunter). He was awesome.

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage ปีที่แล้ว +49

    "In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this."
    -Terry Pratchett

  • @Crowhag
    @Crowhag ปีที่แล้ว +207

    My four cats have approved your video. And they would also like us to always remember that, unlike other animals, their history is one of domesticating us as a source of food and comfort, not the other way around. So they are still very much gods. 😼

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +20

      They are indeed!

    • @dragonfox2.058
      @dragonfox2.058 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      indeed

    • @Ellestra
      @Ellestra ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Other animals were domesticated. Cat, on the other hand, came for the food and liked it so it said "I live here now" and humans just said "Kitty" and so it is to this day.

    • @Svensk7119
      @Svensk7119 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, cats... it's almost as if there was a ytube video about... oh, that's silly of me! Who would do THAT?
      On a less whimsical vane, I have to note here that "yeah" has a completely different pronunciation than ""yea". The first is y + əhh, and the second is y + ā, Y + Ā, to be clear. Yea of Yea or Nay, in parliamentics.
      Lord, sometimes I hate having to pedantic!
      Sorry. The only pets I have at the moment are Peeves. Sigh.

    • @Svensk7119
      @Svensk7119 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@J-11369 Yayy is what is used for celebration. Yea is the opposite of nay. If on-line dictionaries don't say that, then you have found an error in that dictionary. "Yea" has been spelled that way since.... Shakespeare, I think.
      Yea (yā). Adv. Aye, yes. 2. Indeed, truly...
      Yeah (yĕ'ə)... adv. Slang: yes. variant of YEA.
      American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition.
      Notice the difference in the pronunciation phonetics. "Yayy" didn't make the list.

  • @BoiseIdaho83716
    @BoiseIdaho83716 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    2:48 I love how the cat acknowledges her subjects when she's introduced.

  • @patriciagallagher3793
    @patriciagallagher3793 ปีที่แล้ว +84

    Yes I would like to hear more about cat folklore. I recently adopted 2 little black cats from a local shelter and when i was looking for names found some interesting tales of "fairy cats" and the "King of the Cats" from Ireland and Scotland. I decided on Maeve and Brigit for my little Fairy Cats.

    • @karmaalstad5588
      @karmaalstad5588 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Cait Sith ❤️ 💙 💜

    • @gilligan80
      @gilligan80 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a Sid and a Nancy

  • @gregmark1688
    @gregmark1688 ปีที่แล้ว +50

    We naturally think of rodents when we think of animals attracted to stored grains. But, especially considering that early grain stores were almost certainly open-air, it's likely that birds were of equal concern. And ofc, we see that cats are extremely well-adapted for the predation of birds (in addition to their unique adaptations for dining on rats).

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yes, and that’s a good point. Thank you.

    • @rictechow231
      @rictechow231 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I'm not sure where I saw this now but it was a comparison of early Egyptian farmers and Levant farmers and the video made the point that it was emmer wheat in Egypt and the Levant but emmer wasn't native to Egypt, Egyptians sickles were the same as the Levant sickles and the wheat storage were rectangular bins the same as in the Levant and inside the hut. I certainly did have the impression it was a clay tub for storing grain as something like that was shown. If wattle & daub, a closely fitting lid would easy to make . Wattle & daub construction was known in Faiyum 4,800-4,300 BC so I think the conjecture has a little plausibility.
      I'm inclined to think open air storage would be highly problematic. Rain would have been a disaster, and dew could have been enough for premature germination. It would be one thing to be hungry for a while and quite another to lose the seeds for the next season. The Sahara was green till 5000 years ago - 3,000 BC and that would overlap with neolithic farming. This is well above my amateur (i.e $0) pay grade, so just flagging.
      At the time I was just interested in the early Egyptian early Levant farmer connections so my recollections might be poor and what I saw might not have been archaeological excavation. So mentioning for interest and not swearing to it.

  • @GingerRose25
    @GingerRose25 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    I don't know where else to write this, but I wanted to thank you for The Mythology Database. What an absolutely incredible resource, and I can't begin to imagine the decades of time and effort that went into gathering all of that information and all of those texts, so to make them available online is truly amazing. Thank you for everything you do for the community!!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Thank you so much, and I'm continuing to expand it all the time.

  • @KamikazeKatze666
    @KamikazeKatze666 ปีที่แล้ว +147

    Yes, we need more cat content! Give us all the cat folklore!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +20

      That's a lot of content, but I think I should cover some of it.

    • @jamesbond900
      @jamesbond900 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Learning about Japanese nekomata and bakeneko would be awesome!

    • @ToastedTater420
      @ToastedTater420 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I second this

    • @kronoscamron7412
      @kronoscamron7412 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      cat connoisseur ?

    • @francisfischer7620
      @francisfischer7620 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes!!!

  • @davidwright8432
    @davidwright8432 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    I love cats and have done since toddlerhood (photographic evidence!). Mostly, they've felt the same way about me. I think it's wrong to think of us as 'domesticating' cats; they found certain interests in common with us, and graciously condescended to ally themselves with us - strictly, of course, on their terms. I'm fine with that.

  • @25lighters91
    @25lighters91 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    It's so crazy you came out with this NOW because all I've been wanting is something to tell me why cats are so precious to humanity and we're so revered. Also the spirituality of cats

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That was lucky, as lucky as a black cat!

    • @francisfischer7620
      @francisfischer7620 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Oh yes!! The spirituality of cats and of those who adore them.

  • @fuzz668
    @fuzz668 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I love this. I wrote an entire article on the domestication of cats. I have always had at least one cat by my side for the past 35 years. ❤

    • @francisfischer7620
      @francisfischer7620 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm 70 and have ALWAYS had cats! It only gets better!!

  • @karinschultz5409
    @karinschultz5409 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Great summary. Didn’t know about Mafet, so what was the relation to Bastet? Was this a regional difference ie Upper vs Lower Egypt or something else like a different emphasis in attributes? For example, Bast was the goddess associated with hunting mice and snakes, while Bastet (the "et" ending means little Bast, which would be kitten) was associated with music, joy, fun, etc. You often see the kitten motif on musical instruments such as sistra, a type of rattle.
    Also there's no mention of Sekhmet, daughter of RA, the lion goddess who was associated with war and healing. There's an Egyptian tale that RA, the major sun god, was so annoyed with wayward humans that he sent his daughter to punish them. She slew so many that in order to stop her, the Egyptians brewed beer which they dyed red. She enjoyed the drink so much, she fell asleep and humankind was saved. Sekhmet was the consort of Ptah, the creator God of Memphis. So you had the creative male god paired with a goddess of war and destruction. I find the war-healing duality very intriguing. It is thought that Sekhmet was originally an aspect of Hathor, but by the Middle Kingdom, these became two separate goddesses. Each Egyptian nome (province) had their own recognized triads, male, female and 1 offspring. These triads evolved in importance through time. The Egyptians had a very complex religious system

  • @alethearia
    @alethearia ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Also, highly recommend the documentary "The Tiger of Scotland" about trying to preserve one of the last populations of European wildcats (not to be confused with the pallas cat)

  • @algernoncalydon3430
    @algernoncalydon3430 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Now pregnant women are advised to not clean cats boxes and such to avoid toxoplasmosis, but back then cats were regarded as protectors of pregnant women.

  • @kacperkawecki1850
    @kacperkawecki1850 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I think that an interesting part of cats in european folklore is how they were associated with the devil and witches. I’d love to see a video about that since this wasnt really touched upon.

  • @MotivatedRat
    @MotivatedRat ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Not sure if you mentioned this but apparently cats purrs have healing power

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      They're good for self healing, not sure about a benefit to people. I shall check that out though.

    • @taradresbach4684
      @taradresbach4684 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I've heard that too. The vibrational frequency of the purr is apparently just right to encourage the body to repair tissue & bone damage more efficiently. It's pretty cool.

    • @rachelkrumpelman5131
      @rachelkrumpelman5131 ปีที่แล้ว

      I sometimes listen to cat purring on my phone at night to go to sleep. My cat Indy approves 👍

  • @vijaynair2403
    @vijaynair2403 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Best thumbnail picture ever.
    I like the idea of a giant car using the Great Pyramids as a scratching post.
    “Look out! Goddess Bastet is huge!”

  • @HANKTHEDANKEST
    @HANKTHEDANKEST ปีที่แล้ว +14

    My favourite cat-thing is what they do in the morning. They meow at you to wake you up--not because they're hungry, they'll do it with full bowls of food. What they're actually concerned with is that you need to wake up, because what if predators come? Come on big-cat, it's time to get up! COME ON! Oh, but you're just staying in bed--does that mean there's no predators, then? So we can go back to sleep? Oh, nice! ^_^
    They don't know that we aren't cats and I love it.

    • @khaosssssss1727
      @khaosssssss1727 ปีที่แล้ว

      🖤xxx

    • @h.m.mcgreevy7787
      @h.m.mcgreevy7787 ปีที่แล้ว

      Or do the kitty-cats want our warm spot on the bed?☘️🙃☘️

  • @sofiatgarcia3970
    @sofiatgarcia3970 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I've never watched one of your videos I didn't enjoy, but I found this one particularly fun, interesting, and entertaining. My enjoyment was no doubt increased by my love and wonder of all things feline. I vote yes to additional historical videos on cats and cat-related subjects. Thanks so much!

  • @LillibitOfHere
    @LillibitOfHere ปีที่แล้ว +9

    That was facinating. I'm so glad this popped up in my recommended videos. As I was watching this my Splinter cat had broken into a cupboard to steal a box of food. We have three cats and they each have their own mythologial nickname, we also have a butter cat and a sith cat. I'd love to see more on cat folklore!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      I will make a video on cat folklore as soon as I can.

  • @thehairywoodsman5644
    @thehairywoodsman5644 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Cats are still GODS !

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      True, but I didn't want to upset the dogs :)

  • @freyasdottirx5894
    @freyasdottirx5894 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    I have an interesting ledgend for you. One day the baby Jesus was crying and nothing Mary could do would help. Then a cat lay down beside him and purred. Jesus was comforted and went right to sleep. In gratitude, Mary marked all cats with an 'm' on the forehead. As a mother, I can relate to this story as my cats always watched over my kids. Love your channel!

    • @kathleenhensley5951
      @kathleenhensley5951 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      That is an Italian story! my Mother told me it when I was a child. In Italian Nativity scenes there is frequently a mother cat and her kittens! My mother ephazized that the mother cat was keeping Jesus warm on a cold night. The M on the forehead of tabbies is Mary's sign of gratitude.

    • @freyasdottirx5894
      @freyasdottirx5894 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@kathleenhensley5951 thank you for the history! I always wondered where it came from. I'll have to find one of these nativities for my tree. 🥰

    • @teleiosdawyz4044
      @teleiosdawyz4044 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I too have heard this story and have also given the account in my own comment on this vid.
      I didn't know it was Italian!

    • @lilibillie2002
      @lilibillie2002 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ive never heard that before and its so sweet.

    • @paulbeahm3891
      @paulbeahm3891 ปีที่แล้ว

      I don't know that there's any biblical or extra-biblical historical evidence to support such a claim. Nice story though.

  • @playfulpanthress
    @playfulpanthress ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Ah, back when cats domesticated humanity. Good times!!

  • @DigitalDuelist
    @DigitalDuelist ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I'm a dog person and I endorse this video. Very informative. The idea that agriculture wouldn't have been possible without cars is very cool.

  • @e.h.buchmann23
    @e.h.buchmann23 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Congragulations on surpassing 100K subscribers, very well-deserved. ❤️ I'd also love to hear about cats in folklore.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Thank you, and yes, there is plenty to tell about cats in folklore and so I will make a video about this as soon as I can.

    • @e.h.buchmann23
      @e.h.buchmann23 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Crecganford Thank you, looking forwad to it!

  • @gildedpeahen876
    @gildedpeahen876 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My favorite little chapter of catstory is when crazy popes persecuted cats to turn attention from their own misdeeds, and then after a brutal slaughter, the rats go crazy and the plague comes. Every creature, even if you don’t like it, has its place. I for one love cats, especially black 🖤🫧🐈‍⬛🍄🗝️

  • @RegebroRepairs
    @RegebroRepairs ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Ooh. History AND cats. A video for me. And TH-cam knew, because when it showed it to me it had been published for a whole 10 seconds. :-)

  • @love4keoni
    @love4keoni ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is so lovely. My first video of yours I’ve seen- instant follow! Appreciate the lore depth and mic quality!!! 🥺

  • @TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods
    @TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Always superior quality, a milestone richly deserved! Cheers from Acorn, a proud patreon!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you so much for all your support!

  • @Swissbluemountain
    @Swissbluemountain ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Cats ARE gods ! They’re teaching humanoids to live on this planet . They’re guarding and healing . They’re high rank angels on earth ! 🙏❤️

  • @cooljledge
    @cooljledge ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Thank you so so much. I appreciate your diligence to bring quality content. AND that you are such a good explainer!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      And thank you so much for your kind words.

  • @kimberlyperrotis8962
    @kimberlyperrotis8962 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The Ancient Greeks (or Hellenes, more accurately), credited Egypt with a lot of things that became important in Hellas, building temples in stone, for one thing. Hellenic temples started out as reproducing the local wooden temple style, but in stone. They have many traces of features found in the original wood structures, like stone triglyphs imitating the ends of the purlins that were used in wood. The Romans then blended Greek stone styles with their local wooden Etruscan styles.

  • @armchairwomanmao2922
    @armchairwomanmao2922 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Dogs: this human feeds me , he must be god !
    Cats: this human feeds me, I must be god !!
    😽😽😽😽🙀

  • @kimwarburton8490
    @kimwarburton8490 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    congrats on 100k subs!
    really enjoyed this vid, thanks

  • @gilliandawson6567
    @gilliandawson6567 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Congratulations on the subs. Love your videos.

  • @pabloloerag.5368
    @pabloloerag.5368 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    As always the quality of research and presentations is excellent. I just hit the like button as soon as play (some times before play). I personally enjoy your content very much and so do my cats .

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you, I really appreciate that, and your kind words.

  • @igoldenknight2169
    @igoldenknight2169 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Wonderful! I would love to hear more about the Folklore of cats! Especially in Scotland and Ireland.

    • @theshamanarchist5441
      @theshamanarchist5441 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Research the 'Cait Sidhe'. The fairies with the bodies of black cats that inspired the modern day superstition.

    • @igoldenknight2169
      @igoldenknight2169 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@theshamanarchist5441 I appreciate your reply! Thank you so much!

    • @theshamanarchist5441
      @theshamanarchist5441 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@igoldenknight2169 You're welcome.

  • @annwhite6305
    @annwhite6305 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    My three cats appreciated the history lesson. They now expect to be worshipped as the Gods that they are!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      Oh dear, sorry about that :)

    • @stefanlaskowski6660
      @stefanlaskowski6660 ปีที่แล้ว

      We could never figure out if my first cat was a cat-like goddess or a goddess-like cat. So we decided to play it safe, as either way she demanded worship. 😸

    • @altyrrell3088
      @altyrrell3088 ปีที่แล้ว

      Worshipping cats? No, that was then, this is meow.

  • @SassyGirl822006
    @SassyGirl822006 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I view the domestication of cats as more their choice than our. They viewed our mouse problems as a good food source. We allowed them to solve it, because they were better at it. The ones that were friendlier towards people probably got more mice, simply because they were more likely to hunt around people. As the cats got friendlier, and the mice also moved into our homes for food, we allowed the cats to follow. Humans barely altered the cats appearance (beyond superficial colouration), because they were perfectly adapted for their jobs. It's only been since the 1900's that cat breeds that couldn't live in the wild have flourished, because we're really only just now viewing them as animals without jobs.

  • @oceanman7248
    @oceanman7248 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for making content!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      And thank you for watching it.

  • @feliciagaffney1998
    @feliciagaffney1998 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Congrats, Jon, on the 100k subscribers plaque! 🏆⭐

  • @officialstoneytark
    @officialstoneytark ปีที่แล้ว +2

    perrrfect video. great work as usual!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Congratulations on being the first to use that cat pun!

  • @spiritualspinster4222
    @spiritualspinster4222 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Cat lover here! I knew about some of the mythology mentioned here but learned about some new cat mythology I didn't know. This was very thorough! I own 2 Egyptian Mau cats BTW.

  • @TheRasta510
    @TheRasta510 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video! Thanks😻

  • @greenthumb8266
    @greenthumb8266 ปีที่แล้ว

    I enjoy your talks so much, you’re so easy to listen to, and the information flows in a way that I can readily digest it! Thank you.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for your kind words, they are appreciated.

  • @phoebehill953
    @phoebehill953 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thank you! Kittens, Cracganford and Earl Grey on a Sunday morning - what a treat!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      And thank you for watching!

  • @rictechow231
    @rictechow231 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I'm a farm boy. I think that most people will think that domestic cats are tame by nature. They are not, not in the way dogs are. On the farm, quite a number of cats lived under the house. They were appreciated for their mousing and encouraged to hang around with milk and food but not too much lest their interest in catching rodents was impaired. They really just co-existed, they trusted that food would appear and you wouldn't do anything bad to them because we hadn't so far. But that was about it. If you did pick up a kitten you would discover how wild their nature was - all teeth and claws.
    As a boy I might decide one was worth taming and of course offering food was the path. You can tame any animal that way. Once it was accepting food then you could work on getting it to accept patting. That was a big step. It took a long time for the chosen kitten to actually like being patted and it was a big thing if you could get it to purr.
    Cats do domesticate themselves. There was an abandoned cat living in hedges off rabbits for a while. Then it worked out there was free milk at the milking shed and tasty rodents in the feed shed. After a while it discovered there were even easier pickings at the homestead including home cooked meals. I doubt it was any different 5,000 years ago, or whenever it was, when the first cat sauntered up.
    Would quite like to hear more on cat folklore.

  • @christinec7892
    @christinec7892 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I would love to hear more about cats in folklore. Thank you

  • @monagorgan7288
    @monagorgan7288 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    great video as always sir!

  • @richarddegener
    @richarddegener ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Such a good episode! Thanx much appreciated.

  • @sandrashevel2137
    @sandrashevel2137 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Bastet is a Goddess of my belief. I love cats. Cats could of saved people in the black plague, but they said they were evil.

  • @sftgp
    @sftgp ปีที่แล้ว +3

    and we never stopped making symbols depicting cats… cat memes are gold

  • @MatthewCaunsfield
    @MatthewCaunsfield ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Fascinating as always, thanks for your research! 👍

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And thank you for watching.

  • @ernestschroeder9762
    @ernestschroeder9762 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    150 thousand subscribers. Much respect.

  • @crystalroseblue6760
    @crystalroseblue6760 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Our family cat a black and gray tabby loves us more since we saved his life from a bladder desease,he stays near us and has become a very affectionate house cat...he knows he lives because we care and love him...( cost at Vet $3.000 au. dollars almost. ) We are broke....but we love the fluffy fur ball, best mouser ever, and best friend of our little dog . Us humans love our best animal friends the world would be an empty place without them.

  • @margomaloney6016
    @margomaloney6016 ปีที่แล้ว

    VERY interesting discussion! Thank you, Jon! :)

  • @armyforlife3191
    @armyforlife3191 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    ¡Gracias por el video! Me gustó tu narración y el research que haces

  • @danielbtwd
    @danielbtwd 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Last week I found a very sick and mangy old street cat lying outside my front door. I took him immediately to the vet to be told that he was very old and sick. I told the vet to do whatever she could to try and get him back on his feet. He was positive for Felin hiv and had a very low red blood cell count. He was at the vet for a week and had four blood transfusions. I collected him on Friday afternoon and brought him to my land where I have a tent and a shed. I did everything to make him comfortable and the first two nights he slept with me on my bed. He was very weak and wobbly, just skin and bone. The first three days he ate drank and slept. Possibly the first time in his life that he could just relax without a care in the world with someone taking care of him. Today is Wednesday. He died last night lying peacefully near me on his bed. I will go and Bury him now under a fig tree. I watched your post as a little homage to him. I called him Mineto Bebo.

  • @tcl5853
    @tcl5853 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wonderful content!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you!

  • @maharetlanoire4419
    @maharetlanoire4419 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for this wonderful and interesting video. Love the channel ❤

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      And thank you for watching.

  • @crazyasalways9272
    @crazyasalways9272 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    😮 I would love to hear more about cat folk tales
    On another not I just realized that I have been adding your videos for months to my playlist to sleep to (always restarting from where I left off) your voice is very soothing and the topics are fascinating

  • @chauKlet
    @chauKlet ปีที่แล้ว +1

    First video I’ve seen on this topic and it’s great

  • @alohaandchillohana
    @alohaandchillohana ปีที่แล้ว +1

    yesssss another awesome video

  • @kirkkatana
    @kirkkatana ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Loved this. Great summary.
    Would absolutely want to hear more about cats themselves in myths or folklore if you have any.
    Your delivery also got a sub from me.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you so much, it is appreciated.

    • @kirkkatana
      @kirkkatana ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Crecganford Question... do you have any recomendations for unknown or lesser known tales that would make a good short film?

  • @bobSeigar
    @bobSeigar ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ah, thanks for the Video sir. Always love your analysis.

  • @369poe5
    @369poe5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    ❤ absolutely love this video! Thank you for sharing!

  • @katiekane5247
    @katiekane5247 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I know it's bad form to recommend another creator but seriously, if you've not watched "Sad Cat Diaries" by Zefrank, do so after watching this excellent video! You've earned a sub Sir, well done.
    Edit: the frequency at which they purr has been shown to increase healing. After I had a bad injury, my lovies insisted on contact with my broken bones. Best therapy ever!

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I like De Frank, his duck video is legendary!

  • @kilgoretrout413
    @kilgoretrout413 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always love your content - this more than ever 😻😻💖

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you, there certainly seems to be more cat lovers than dog lovers here.

  • @shyamasingh9020
    @shyamasingh9020 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for informative take on cat's. Yet the most intriguing aspects of calm creature is that it's origin still unknown. Most mystical quality of cat is its eye that perfectly mirrors, scatters, reflects and projects along exact phases of moon movement.

  • @simongotborg3866
    @simongotborg3866 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I really like the videos like this, that explain the symbolism of a specific thing. It would be interesting to hear how it shapes folklore as well.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you, and yes, I will be making a folklore video now as there has been a lot of demand, and I don’t want to upset the cat gods!

  • @hanagrygarova8866
    @hanagrygarova8866 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    You are best. I survived bullying and violence. I cope with having a cat, playing videogame were I can be a sneaky bow wielding cat person, and watching cat related science videos. Then I can function as responsible adult. So, thank you for this video.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

  • @destrvktive
    @destrvktive ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video thank you

  • @pacco1737
    @pacco1737 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very informative video!

  • @CygnusEight
    @CygnusEight ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great vid boss.

  • @AdeebaZamaan
    @AdeebaZamaan ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I persuaded my cat to watch most of this with me (only most, because my cat has a short attention span; I once had a cat with an attention span longer than a college freshman's). Thanks! I shall return! With a mind blowing cat tale.

    • @painmt651
      @painmt651 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      My cat actually watches TV wake me upon occasion.

  • @irenavranova897
    @irenavranova897 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The story from Syria is similar to a tale About the Cat, the Rooster and the Scythe.

  • @a1n9t8o9
    @a1n9t8o9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Brilliant subject. Definitely want to hear more about the mythology and folklore of cats and dogs too or other pets and animals in general!

  • @honeybeechanger
    @honeybeechanger 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I love your video and I love the way you talk very calming. I noticed that you mentioned Cypress and Egypt as ancient areas where cats become domesticated but you never mentioned the first the first place where cats and humans were found together but not buried together. Cypress where a cat was buried with a human. But in Mesopotamia is where they found the first kind of domesticated sort of cat remains as far as I know. The reason why I think this is significant is that a lot of people are left with the mistaken idea that cats are domesticated in Egypt and I think they were domesticated in Mesopotamia first

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you for sharing this, and yes, I had heard there were cats in the Near East and South Eastern Anatolia, but I'm not sure we had evidence to be sure of the domestication date.

  • @DakiniDream
    @DakiniDream ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you very much, still a great pleasure to listen to you !

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      And thank you for watching and your kind words.

  • @eeaotly
    @eeaotly ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I am here for the first time. I noticed two things.
    1. Your voice is good for story telling.
    2. I remember hearing a voice sounding like yours in the background of certain videos about animals, paranormal and stuff like that. Maybe even movie recaps, I am not sure.
    Anyway, the similarity is striking.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you for your kind words, although I've never narrated anything other than my videos.

  • @sweetpotatodato6068
    @sweetpotatodato6068 ปีที่แล้ว

    I’ve always wondered why cats were so underrepresented in many mythologies. Thank you so much for this fascinating video! Are you going to do one about birds? I know you mentioned how they were associated with death along with dogs in your last video but I wonder if you could go into more depth? But then again that’s probably a whole series of videos that in itself lol

  • @karenabrams8986
    @karenabrams8986 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Loved this. I can understand you better. Sometimes I have to back up, but not this video. I have a tiny Bastet statue I found in a thrift store. A little treasure. 💜

  • @grandymommy4531
    @grandymommy4531 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I am a cat lover and enjoyed your presentation. I read a lot of the comments and enjoyed them, too. So many cat lovers! More on cats would be fun.

  • @feliciagaffney1998
    @feliciagaffney1998 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My tabby farm cat I had in high school got pregnant and she had 2 adorable babies. I had named her Wildcat for her markings, they made her look like one. The babies I felt like were her good side and her bad side.
    The one with broader black stripes had little tufts at his cheeks and at the top of his ears. Of the 3, he was the only one not a shorthair. I'd call it more of a medium length. I called him Bobcat, b/c the tufts made him look more like a bobcat or lynx. And he had more of an attitude, wasn't as nice.
    His brother was the sweet kitten, and even tho they were both males, I named the sweeter kitten Artemis, for the goddess of the hunt. I'm happy to learn she was also associated with cats. 🥰🐱 Artemis sounds like an androgynous name to me, anyway. Lol

  • @I_am_Irisarc
    @I_am_Irisarc ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video! You might remember me commenting about your recent dog video that I am so soft hearted that hearing about animal cruelty can really disturb me. Because of this, I was too chicken to watch it. I hate it that there seems to be so much of this kind of thing related to canines in myth and folklore. However, I love it that there is much less of this when it comes to cats! Well, right up until the time that the idea of witches and their familiars took hold in Europe. Luckily, that seems to have passed, so now cats can hold their proper places as the little deities in our homes and hearts that they are.
    Thank you, Jon, for all the work you do making information like this available online in such an entertaining manner. It takes a lot of time and effort to research the topics you cover.
    My suggestion for further animal myth studies is the bird, but specifically either ravens and crows or doves. Maybe both 😊

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      And thank you for all the support you have given me, it is appreciated.

  • @poppymoon777
    @poppymoon777 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great show 👍🏻

  • @iridescentdragonfly1839
    @iridescentdragonfly1839 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great show. I’ve been feeling bad about my previous comment about having a hard time hearing certain words when you’re talking. I like your accent. I hope I didn’t come across as rude.

  • @juanballesteros5672
    @juanballesteros5672 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Dear Dr. White, your program is absolutely great . It is really amazing! Could you tell us something about the basque legends and mythology ? Best regards

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, I have touched briefly on it in previous videos, but will do more this year.

  • @cavemancaveman5190
    @cavemancaveman5190 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Best content on the planet ty

  • @Mr.EmeraldTheGreen
    @Mr.EmeraldTheGreen ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Super interesting!! I love love love cats! Thank you so much for your video!
    ❤❤❤❤❤

  • @artistpoet5253
    @artistpoet5253 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Another excellent exploration of mythology, legend and folklore. I am, for the most part, a cat person though I do enjoy the company of dogs so long as they aren't too rowdy.

  • @jgr7487
    @jgr7487 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I loved this episode of Catganford, in which I learned that there's a reason for Catgirls, as cats and femininity have been linked throughout the ages.
    one interesting thing abt cats (and small hounds) is that they don't really eat snakes, but they out-compete them. seeing the snakes disappearing from the silos almost magically might have had an effect on early Egyptians.

    • @hugespinner4890
      @hugespinner4890 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      got me thinking is St Patrick really a cat lol

    • @robo5013
      @robo5013 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      My two garage cats will beg to differ as they often catch and sometimes eat snakes around my home.

    • @hugespinner4890
      @hugespinner4890 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@robo5013 guess that depends entirely on where you live and how deadly or dangerous the snakes are

    • @robo5013
      @robo5013 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@hugespinner4890 The snakes aren't poisonous nor vary large (my wife would disagree on the last point) but they do catch and eat them. Along with mice, moles, squirrels and the occasional bird. I wasn't disagreeing with the OP that cats would out compete snakes for the same food source, but my cats did disagree that they don't eat them 😺

    • @jgr7487
      @jgr7487 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@robo5013 I stand corrected.
      in my case, my countryside hound & cat usually free us from snakes just by killing more rats than they do. I'm glad to know that cats can kill & eat snakes.

  • @nicklang6798
    @nicklang6798 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great stories.

  • @sardeeni
    @sardeeni ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video! Yes, more kitty cat myth & folklore please!

  • @ratajs
    @ratajs ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like the new bookshelf layout in the background.

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you, I'm running out of space, I need to but more shelves.

  • @catherinehartmann1501
    @catherinehartmann1501 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love this - More on cats would be great! Thanks

    • @Crecganford
      @Crecganford  ปีที่แล้ว

      I am working on a folklore video, but it maybe some months away as it is a huge topic.