The history of the world according to cats - Eva-Maria Geigl

Summary

The story of Unsinkable Sam, a cat who survived the sinking of the Bismarck and several other ships, highlights the long history of cats working alongside humans. From ancient wildcats helping Neolithic farmers with pest control to becoming revered companions in Egypt and vital sailors on seafaring ships, cats have played an essential role in human life. Despite millennia of domestication, modern cats remain genetically similar to their wild ancestors, showcasing their fierce, independent nature. This video explores how cats went from solitary hunters to integral parts of human history and culture.

Takeaways

• 😀 On May 27th, 1941, the German battleship Bismarck sank, leaving only 118 survivors, but one unlikely survivor—a cat—emerged from the wreckage.
• 😀 This cat, later known as Unsinkable Sam, survived multiple shipwrecks, eventually becoming a symbol of resilience aboard British vessels.
• 😀 Cats have been working alongside humans for thousands of years, often helping with pest control and providing companionship.
• 😀 The domestication of cats began over 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, where they helped protect grain stores from rodents.
• 😀 Wildcats, particularly the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), were initially attracted to human settlements due to the abundance of prey in grain stores.
• 😀 Over time, wildcats became more tolerant of humans and other cats, forming a symbiotic relationship with farmers who benefitted from pest control.
• 😀 Cats migrated with Neolithic farmers, spreading from Anatolia into Europe and the Mediterranean, becoming essential companions on ships to control vermin.
• 😀 Egyptians domesticated their local cats, revered for their ability to kill venomous snakes, catch birds, and control rats, eventually mummifying them alongside their owners.
• 😀 Egyptian ship cats were instrumental in holding venomous river snakes at bay on the Nile, and they eventually began traveling on larger vessels across the Mediterranean.
• 😀 Cats continued to spread across the globe, from the Roman Empire through Viking seafaring ships, eventually reaching distant lands like Australia and the Americas.
• 😀 Despite the widespread domestication and migration of cats, modern house cats are still genetically similar to their ancient wild ancestors, retaining their natural hunting instincts and independent behavior.

Q & A

What is the story of Unsinkable Sam?

Unsinkable Sam was a cat who survived the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941. After the ship sank, Sam was found clinging to a plank, and later, he served on several other ships that also sank. Despite these disasters, Sam survived and became a symbol of resilience, eventually retiring at the Belfast Home for Sailors.

How did cats first become domesticated?

Cats were domesticated over 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent. Neolithic farmers, who began storing surplus grain, attracted rodents. Wildcats (*Felis silvestris lybica*) came to hunt these rodents and gradually learned to tolerate humans in exchange for food, leading to the domestication of cats.

What role did cats play on ships throughout history?

Cats played a crucial role on ships, primarily as pest controllers. They helped protect provisions from rodents and prevented damage to ropes and supplies, making them valuable companions for sailors during the Age of Exploration, the Roman Empire, and even later periods like the Vikings.

Why were cats so important to ancient Egyptians?

In ancient Egypt, cats were revered for their ability to catch venomous snakes, birds, and rats. They also had religious significance, symbolizing protection and mystery. Cats were often mummified and buried alongside their owners, and Egyptian ship cats helped control river snakes along the Nile.

How did cats spread across different regions of the world?

Cats spread with Neolithic farmers from Anatolia into Europe and the Mediterranean. Over time, they traveled across the seas on ships, reaching places like Egypt, the Baltic Sea, and eventually Australia and the Americas.

What distinguishes modern domestic cats from their wild ancestors?

Modern domestic cats are genetically very similar to their wild ancestors, *Felis silvestris lybica*, and have not undergone the extensive selective breeding seen in dogs. While domesticated cats tend to be more social and docile, they retain many of their natural instincts as independent and fierce hunters.

What is the significance of cats' ability to adapt to human settlements?

Cats' ability to adapt to human settlements was crucial to their domestication. The abundance of prey in food storage areas drew wildcats closer to humans, and the mutual benefits—pest control for food—led to a lasting partnership, with cats gradually becoming integral to human societies.

What historical evidence suggests that cats were used on ships before the Roman Empire?

Before the Roman Empire, cats were already used on ships, especially in ancient Egypt. Egyptian ships carried cats to protect against river snakes on the Nile, and these cats helped spread the practice of keeping cats on ships as they traveled across regions like the Mediterranean.

How have modern house cats remained genetically similar to their wild ancestors?

Unlike dogs, which have been selectively bred for specific traits, modern house cats have remained genetically similar to their wild ancestors. Their natural behaviors, such as hunting and independence, have been largely unchanged, with humans only influencing their social behaviors to a small extent.

Why are cats considered independent despite their domestication?

Cats are considered independent because, unlike dogs, they were not bred for specific roles and have retained much of their wild instincts. They are solitary hunters and do not see humans as their keepers, making them more autonomous and less reliant on human direction than other domesticated animals.