Why Ancient Egyptians Treated Cats Like Royalty – Literally!

In ancient Egypt, cats weren’t just pets — they were divine.

Felines were worshipped as sacred animals linked to gods and goddesses, most famously Bastet, the goddess of home, fertility, and protection. She was often depicted as a lioness or as a woman with a cat’s head. To honor her, Egyptians kept cats in their homes and even built temples where cats were cared for and revered.

Killing a cat, even by accident, was a serious crime — sometimes punishable by death. When a family cat died, entire households would go into mourning, shaving their eyebrows as a sign of grief. Some cats were even mummified and buried in tombs beside their owners.

Cats also played a practical role. They protected homes and grain stores by hunting snakes, rats, and mice. Their usefulness, combined with their divine status, made them untouchable — literally and spiritually.

So yes, in ancient Egypt, cats weren’t just companions —
they were royalty with whiskers.