Ancient Egyptian cat
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In Ancient Egypt, Cats Were Gods

In ancient Egypt Cats were Revered as Gods, and They Never Forgot ~ Anonymous

Sunday the calico cat sitting upright on a carpet, looking alert with bright yellow eyes.

Who runs our house?

Is it me? Is it my husband Alex? No. It’s Sunday — our smart, stubborn, and totally lovable young calico.

Cats in ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, cats were treated like sacred animals. Some were even buried alongside their pharaohs. Many Egyptian gods were shown as humans with cat heads. Bastet, for example, was the goddess of home, family, and protection. Cats were so important that killing one — even by accident — was punishable by death. Cats weren’t just pets. They were seen as holy. One look at Sunday, and I totally get it.

A decorative black and gold statue of a cat-headed figure, dressed in a long, striped gown with intricate patterns and holding a small object in one hand.

Sunday, the god

Take mealtime. Sunday lets us know it’s time to eat by sitting on her place mat at the dining room table. Sunday sits up straight and looks at us calmly. She doesn’t beg or make noise. She just waits — like a queen expecting her court to arrive.

Sunday controls the windows. When Sunday wants one opened, she jumps up and points toward it. Hot outside? Doesn’t matter. Cold? She doesn’t care. Her comfort comes first. Do we open it? Usually yes — because honestly, we love making her happy.

Bedtime is the same story. Every evening, Sunday curls up on my lap while we watch TV. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day. But when I get tired and try to go to sleep? Not so fast. Sunday has other plans. She races around the living room like a tiny tornado, making it very clear that playtime isn’t over. This actually makes perfect sense. Cats are naturally most active at dawn and dusk. Scientists call this crepuscular behavior. Sunday’s late-night energy isn’t random — it’s just who she is.

And that’s really the whole point. Thousands of years after the ancient Egyptians built temples for cats, Sunday is still living by her own rules. She still expects to be treated like royalty. She still trains the humans around her. In our house, her case is pretty convincing.

Further Exploration

Cats Rule in Ancient Egypt – National Geographic Kids Article

Cat paw - Pawsome Sunday

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