Writer : Yan Jiaxin / Direct translation
Domestic cat is the only domesticated cat species and can thrive on all continents except Antarctica. It can thrive in almost any climate and habitat and is one of the most ecologically aggressive species in the world. It is currently estimated that the number of cats in the world, including pet cats, stray cats and wild cats, is between 200 million and 600 million. Where there are humans, there are most likely cats.
It is believed that humans living in the agricultural regions of North Africa and the Near East domesticated African wild cats (Felis lybica) between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago. Archaeologist Magdalena Krajcarz and his colleagues pointed out that the way cats are domesticated is a complex and unresolved problem, many of which involve the chronicle of cats’ expansion in agricultural society and the evolutionary relationship between cats and humans. specialty. It is possible that the grains and garbage dumps stored in the village attracted rodents and pests, which in turn attracted wild cats that feed on rats. The cats have since started a new reciprocal relationship with people, which has flourished.
From these villages, cats found a world suitable for them. Authors Lee Harper and Joyce L. White wrote that ancient sailors soon saw the advantage of having cats on ships during long voyages: they could protect their food supply from rodents. damage. Trade and commerce helped cats spread from the Middle East to ports of call in Europe, the Far East, the East, and the Americas. In this common history, cats are both abused and respected by humans.
In medieval Europe, some religious institutions considered cats to be evil, leading to the slaughter of thousands of cats. However, the Black Death spread by fleas on rats helped to save the cat. Harper and White noticed that humans desperately need these cats to develop their expertise in catching mice. The cat's reputation was restored. Cat keeping is popular again.
The ancient Egyptians believed that cats and their gods had many characteristics in common. Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty and fertility in Northern Europe, driving a cat-drawn chariot. In medieval Japan, a pair of cats were often kept in temples to protect precious manuscripts of Buddhist scriptures from being destroyed by mice. In the Kingdom of Siam, Thailand today, Buddhist monks welcome cats into their temples, where they are protected as Maeo Wat (temple cats).
On the cover of this December issue of the professional magazine "Emerg Infect Dis." published by the American CDC, a painting is published: "Two lucky cats to support leadership)" (see picture below). This painting is derived from a monograph on cats published in Thailand in the 19th century, which was acquired by the British Library in 2011.
These manuscripts on cats have been made for cat breeders in Thailand since at least the 18th century, although it is believed that the breeding of cats in Thailand can be traced back to the early days of the Ayutthaya kingdom in the 14th century.
This monograph has 12 pages, showing a total of 23 different types of Thai cat illustrations, and is accompanied by short explanatory text. Author and researcher Martin R. Clutterbuck pointed out that in this Thai monograph (and similar papers), these cats are considered to be symbols of luck and can bring good luck and status to their owners. , Prosperity or health. Other cats are considered unlucky. As is usually the case with manuscripts from this period in Thailand, the author or illustrator has not been recorded, and the specific creation time cannot be determined. All cats in the monograph are depicted on a small pedestal. It is a symbol of respect for gods, monks, and the royal family. The sacred white elephant is often depicted on the pedestal.
On the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the monographs and papers on cats praise, the positive aspects of raising cats are recognized. Studies have shown that cats can provide emotional support, improve mood, and help improve the overall morale of the owner. Cats are also believed to promote the socialization of the elderly and people with physical or intellectual disabilities. As mentioned earlier, cats have historically helped control the spread of rodent-borne diseases among humans.
Nevertheless, living with cats also brings some health risks. Cats can transmit a variety of zoonotic diseases, including Campylobacter (Campylobacter) infection, cat scratch disease, cryptosporidiosis (cryptosporidiosis) disease, hookworm infection, plague, rabies and salmonellosis.
Cats are the only animal that can complete the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii in its body. For example, people who are in close contact with cat litter are at risk of toxoplasmosis, and pregnant women may also transmit toxoplasmosis to their fetus. Even less common is the spread of diseases from humans to animals, such as the suspected case of severe acute respiratory syndrome type 2 coronavirus transmitted from humans to cats reported in this issue of "Emerg Infect Dis." As a result, both the owner and the cat recovered.
Timely detection and scientific response to emerging zoonotic diseases is a major challenge faced by decision makers in the public health sector. Historically, cats and humans have an indissoluble bond: cats can not only help humans control certain infectious diseases under certain conditions, but they may also spread a variety of zoonotic diseases. It is necessary to fully understand the relationship between cats and humans, make full use of the positive role of cats in the control of infectious diseases, and scientifically prevent the risks of diseases that it may cause.
Refs:
Breedlove B, Igunma J. In Consideration of Our Mutual Relationship with Cats, Emerge Infect Dis. 2020;26(12):3108-3109. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2612.ac2612
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