How Cats Became Companions: A Brief History
While we never really need a reason to talk about our feline friends, World Cat Day is as great a excuse to celebrate the close to 90 million domesticated cats in the United States! Get out the catnip and let’s learn a little more about these amazing creatures with a brief history lesson on how they came to be our furry family members.
While we never really need a reason to talk about our feline friends, World Cat Day is as great a excuse to celebrate the close to 90 million domesticated cats in the United States! Get out the catnip and let’s learn a little more about these amazing creatures with a brief history lesson on how they came to be our furry family members.
Cassie, one of our foster cats, loves pets and playtime—perfectly suited to life at home!
The exact timeline of when cats first became domesticated isn’t known, and there are no historical records on how the process took place. In 2004, on the island of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean, a cat was discovered in a 9,000-year-old tomb deliberately buried with a human, which indicated the island’s cats were likely domesticated. A 2007 study based on genetic analyses of cats, published in the research journal Science, posited that all domestic cats were descendants of a Middle Eastern wildcat, and that the domestication process began up to 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region.
The belief is that when the first agriculturally-based societies began to prosper, the storage of surplus crops attracted mice and rats to the area, which resulted in bringing wild cats into town to hunt them. Then began what the authors of the Science study called “one of the more successful ‘biological experiments’ ever undertaken.” While the cats were pleased to find an abundance of prey in these enclaves, the people were pleased with the cats keeping the rodent populations under control. Over time, the mutual relationship led to the breeding of slightly tamer cats compared to their wild cousins, and these cats were encouraged to coexist within these societies using amenities like food and shelter—things far more prevalent in the company of humans than in the wild.
Four of our recent foster kittens made themselves right at home! Photo by Ginny LaRoe.
Simply put, scientists believe ancient cats actually domesticated themselves by adapting to their environment, leading to the house cat breeds we know today. From there, it’s believed humans began bringing cats on shipping and trade routes on both land and sea to help control rodent populations, and along the way, the offspring of these cats spread further and further into the Mediterranean and Europe.
So there you have it! The feline friends we have today are all thanks to the ancient cats that joined human society back then. Interested in bringing one of these amazing cats into your life? Take a look at Cat Town’s adoptable cats and if anyone catches your eye, send an email to info@cattownoakland.org to schedule an appointment with one of our adoption counselors, or drop in during open hours to meet them! Adoption fees are 50% off all month long, so don’t wait—your new best friend could be waiting!
Want to learn more? Check out our resources for in depth info in to the history of domesticated cats.
How Were Cats Domesticated (Mental Floss)
A Brief History of House Cats (Smithsonian Magazine)
Cats Domesticated Themselves, Ancient DNA Shows (National Geographic)
Are Cats Domesticated? (The New Yorker)
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July 2018 Adoptions
Kitten season is the busiest time of year for shelters across the country, and thanks to our community, we've been able to help more young cats find homes this summer. In July, bonded kittens like Alicia and Emma, and Garrus and Wrex were adopted from Cat Town, emptying other shelter cages for Oakland cats in need.
Kitten season is the busiest time of year for shelters across the country, and thanks to our community, we've been able to help more young cats find homes this summer. In July, bonded kittens like Alicia and Emma, and Garrus and Wrex were adopted from Cat Town, emptying other shelter cages for Oakland cats in need.
The summer isn't over yet, so adopting a cat in August from Cat Town, Oakland Animal Services, or your local shelter or rescue, could make a life-saving difference. Reach out to our staff at info@cattownoakland.org and we'll help you find your perfect match.
JULY 2018 ADOPTIONS
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An Unexpected Adventure with the Feisty Sophia
Moving to a brand new environment is never easy to do - unfamiliar sounds, smells and sights can get overwhelming. For Sophia and I, however, being in unfamiliar settings eventually proved to be a blessing in disguise.
I was brand new to the Bay Area. My husband and I had just gotten married, and I moved to be with him. While it was exciting being in a new environment, being home alone while he was at work eventually got very lonely. I missed my family, friends, and my two beautiful family cats that I left behind.
By Yuni Abdul
Moving to a brand new environment is never easy to do—unfamiliar sounds, smells and sights can get overwhelming. For Sophia and I, however, being in unfamiliar settings eventually proved to be a blessing in disguise.
A family portrait of Sophia and her adopters.
I was brand new to the Bay Area. My husband and I had just gotten married, and I moved to be with him. While it was exciting being in a new environment, being home alone while he was at work eventually got very lonely. I missed my family, friends, and my two beautiful family cats that I left behind.
Sophia was surrendered to Oakland Animal Shelter. Losing her human was very stressful, and she responded by shutting down and hiding in her cage. While she eventually warmed up enough to be on the adoption floor, having to cope with unfamiliar cats and people was too much—she started swiping, hissing and growling, which scared off potential adopters. Fortunately, Cat Town recognized her sensitive needs and brought her into their foster program. They uploaded an Instagram post urgently appealing for fosters who could take her in.
That post inspired me to get in touch. I was home most of the time and missed my cats dearly—it seemed like a perfect fit. They warned me that Sophia could be demanding and needed patience, selective petting, no rubbing of her lower body and no other cats in the house; not the warm and friendly lap cat everyone dreams about!
Resting and relaxing at home. Photo courtesy of @the_feisty_sophia on Instagram.
Nonetheless, we let her settle in, hoping that she would warm up to us—and she did! She began taking afternoon naps on my legs, sleeping with us at night, purring and greeting us at the door whenever we came home. I wasn’t lonely anymore.
It took an overseas trip and the news of a potential adopter for us to realize that we couldn’t do without Sophia. We adopted her in August of 2016, and she has since grown in unimaginable ways.
Being avid hikers, we thought it might be fun to bring Sophia along. We started with her in a backpack carrier, and she initially seemed content to gaze at the wildlife through the safety of her mesh window. She had other plans though, and during a visit to the local hiking trail she hopped out of her bag and started walking on her leash! We now walk her regularly, taking the occasional potty break in the bushes. We’ve been on hikes and glamping trips around the Bay Area and beyond, but her favorite spot is San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Regular hikes are a dream come true for Sophia and her family. Photo courtesy of @the_feisty_sophia on Instagram.
With her dislike for other cats and canine-like behavior, I often comment on what an odd cat she is, to which my husband to says, “She’s just like you, stubborn and nonsensical.” Sensitive cats like Sophia that don’t “show” well in a shelter environment deserve a chance too, and I’m thankful that we met—helping each other turn what was an unfamiliar environment into our home.
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Volunteer of the Month: Maureen F.
Cat Town wouldn’t be where it is today without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. From helping with laundry to adoption counseling to event planning, volunteers help make our life-saving work possible.
Maureen F. is one of our rock star volunteers who is heavily involved at Cat Town and has been helping our cats now for more than 3 years. She's connected countless families in that time and helps new volunteers get started in our organization. I talked with Maureen about the magic of Cat Town, and why volunteering is such a rewarding experience.
Cat Town wouldn’t be where it is today without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. From helping with laundry to adoption counseling to event planning, volunteers help make our life-saving work possible.
Maureen F. is one of our rock star volunteers who is heavily involved at Cat Town and has been helping our cats now for more than 3 years. She's connected countless families in that time and helps new volunteers get started in our organization. I talked with Maureen about the magic of Cat Town, and why volunteering is such a rewarding experience.
Maureen (right) regularly helps connect cats and adopters in the Cat Zone.
Larissa C.: How did you get involved with Cat Town?
Maureen F.: I heard about Cat Town when the Kickstarter to open the café was happening. I donated some money by sponsoring a cat, showed up for the soft opening, kept coming back over the next three months, and finally realized I should just volunteer.
LC: Have you been a cat person your whole life?
MF: Yes—one of the very first photos taken of me is me as a baby grabbing handfuls of my family cat Mitsu. I loved her so much and have never lived without a cat. A house is not a home without at least one feline friend.
LC: Do you have cats at home?
MF: I have one lovely kitty named Scylla who was an under-socialized kitten when she first came home. She has been with my husband (official volunteer Cat Town bartender Cody Gates) and I for 10 years now and is a the sweetest, most devoted kitty, who insists on laps and love as often as possible.
LC: What role do you play, or have you played, at Cat Town?
MF: I primarily work in the Cat Zone, both as an adoption counselor, as well as a new volunteer trainer. I also do socializing stints in the Studios and am very excited to have recently been trained in working with our Forgotten Kittens.
Maureen and Buttercup, a Cat Town cat who Maureen helped socialize.
LC: What do you love most about volunteering?
MF: I love two things the most—the moment when an under-socialized cat accepts and likes pets for the first time and when a patron truly understands our mission to help Oakland’s most vulnerable cats. It makes me even happier when I see them return as a volunteer.
LC: Working with vulnerable shelter cats takes time and patience. What other qualities do you think makes for a good Cat Town volunteer?
MF: Animal rescue work is not always easy. I didn’t truly understand just how many animals needed help when I started volunteering and I doubt most of our patrons do either. Folks don’t always get why our cats are extra special or what our mission is when they walk through Cat Town’s door. Taking the time and being willing to teach and educate our visitors takes both compassion and patience.
LC: What is something you’ve learned about under-socialized cats during your time at Cat Town that you think people wouldn’t expect to be true?
MF: I didn’t realize, but LOVE, how much the cats learn from each other. The Cat Zone ends up being finishing school for so many of our under-socialized cats and forgotten kittens. I don’t think any other shelter space would foster this type of modeling so well.
LC: Why would you encourage people to volunteer at Cat Town?
MF: Cats and community. Period. Our cats are special and the feeling of knowing we are saving their lives is truly gratifying. Additionally, the opportunity to learn is amazing with the ground-breaking and unique programs that can only be found at Cat Town. Finally, the community of staff and volunteers is wonderful—I have made friends for life. Cat Town saves special cats but also has a way of attracting the best of humanity.
LC: Why would you encourage people to adopt an under-socialized cat from Cat Town?
MF: Giving an under-socialized cat a chance is rewarding. You can feel good knowing you are giving that cat an opportunity to have a home and live their best life, no matter how social that cat actually becomes. And, more often than not, you will be rewarded with a loving and devoted companion for life. That last part might take longer than with a socialized kitty, but it’s worth the wait.
Maureen during a Cat Zone volunteer shift.
Interested in joining Team Cat Town and helping us save Oakland’s vulnerable and under-socialized cats? Lots of opportunities are available, including helping with transportation, outreach and adoption events, fundraising, and more! You can start with completing a volunteer application form to see how you can get involved and start making a difference.
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KITTEN WIRE: PREVENTING KITTENS FROM BECOMING 'FORGOTTEN'
OAKLAND — Cat Town started the innovative Forgotten Kitten Project to rescue older kittens from shelter cages — the hissy, bolty ones who need specialized attention to help them learn to trust humans.
But what can be done to keep kittens from being forgotten in the first place? The answer comes down to early intervention. And that's what Cat Town is doing a bit more of this year, marshaling resources to intervene where the need is the greatest.
OAKLAND — Cat Town started the innovative Forgotten Kitten Project to rescue older kittens from shelter cages — the hissy, bolty ones who need specialized attention to help them learn to trust humans.
But what can be done to keep kittens from being forgotten in the first place? The answer comes down to early intervention. And that's what Cat Town is doing a bit more of this year, marshalling resources to intervene where the need is the greatest.
One of the young kittens new to Cat Town and soon to be up for adoption. Photo by Cathy Niland.
"Kitten season," is usually the summer months each year where litters of homeless and often orphaned kittens overwhelm shelters and exhaust community resources. Cat Town's model of rescuing the most needy — sick, stressed and shy cats — includes taking in older kittens at risk of euthanasia. Recognizing the acute need with younger cats, Cat Town was able to mobilize resources at the start of this kitten season. That meant taking in those still in that optimal window of socialization to help ensure they don't become forgotten.
A once homeless, possibly feral, mama cat and her litter spent time in one of our Studios while the two little ones were socialized by staff and volunteers. Two other litters of kittens, now age 2 and 3 months, are currently available for adoption in pairs. And we continue to work with the "feral" mom to measure her potential for socialization.
Like all of our rescue efforts, that requires our community's support: foster parents willing to bring litters of kittens into their homes, volunteers dedicated to helping socialize the ones housed at Cat Town, and, of course, the continued financial support to give them the health and routine care they need.
Shelter kittens are ready and waiting for foster parents like you! Photo by Cathy Niland.
Cat Town's mission of giving every cat a loving home will always mean intervening for forgotten kittens, those around 4 months and older and in need of socialization. But thanks to our community's support, we were able to intervene even sooner.
Whether you foster kittens through the Oakland shelter or provide a temporary home to one of Cat Town's older cats, know that we can't do our work without you! Please email info@cattownoakland.org to learn more about fostering.
Cat Town is working to help other rescues across the country replicate our work with Forgotten Kittens thanks to a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund. First visit to the Cat Town blog? Learn more about our Forgotten Kitten Project in our regular Kitten Wire dispatches.
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