The veneration of cats in Ancient Egypt, who they called "Mau" (a word simply meaning 'cat' or 'he/she who mews'), stemmed from a powerful combination of practical utility and profound religious symbolism, elevating them to a special, protected status.

Practical and Protective Role

The cult surrounding cats originated, in part, from their exceptional hunting abilities. As Egypt developed into a primarily agrarian society, the storage of grain became vital.

  • Pest Control: Cats naturally preyed upon rodents (like rats and mice) that threatened to destroy essential food stores. They were crucial to the economic stability and well-being of the population.

  • Protection from Snakes: Cats were also effective at killing venomous snakes, particularly cobras, which were a constant danger to people in homes and fields.

  • Symbol of Benevolence: This protective function transformed cats into symbols of grace, vigilance, and benevolence toward humans, valued for safeguarding both crops and homes.

The domestication of the African wildcat (Felis lybica) began in the Pre-dynastic period (c. 4000 BC) and was well-established by the end of the Middle Kingdom (c. 1650 BC), with domestic representations becoming common during the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BC).

Religious and Divine Association

Feline representations were common in the Egyptian pantheon, signifying various divine qualities:

  • Goddess Bastet: The most famous association is with the goddess Bastet (or Bast).

    • Evolution: Initially, from the early Dynastic period (c. 2890 BC), she was depicted as a fierce lioness, often conflated with the more warlike goddess Sekhmet.

    • The Cat Form: By the New Kingdom, and more predominantly in the Late Period (c. 1070 BC onwards), Bastet evolved to be depicted as a domestic cat or a woman with the head of a domestic cat.

    • Roles: In this form, she was a reassuring and protective goddess associated with the home, domesticity, fertility, childbirth, music, and pleasure. The domestic cat embodied her gentler, nurturing aspects while retaining a link to the protective fierceness of the lioness.

  • Other Feline Deities: Other deities also took feline forms:

    • Mafdet: An earlier feline deity (First Dynasty) associated with protection against snakes and scorpions, sometimes depicted with a house cat, leopard, or cheetah head.

    • Ra, the Sun God: In one myth, the sun god Ra appears as the "Great Tomcat" to defeat the evil serpent Apep, who sought to stop the sun's journey, further linking cats to light and cosmic order.

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