---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Evidence indicates that cats were first…"
description: "\"Evidence indicates that cats were first tamed in Egypt. The Egyptians stored grain, which attracted rodents, which attracted cats. (No evidence that su..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/william-s-burroughs-528_accurate_evidence-indicates-that-cats-were-first_1214670.png"
---

#  Evidence indicates that cats were first tamed in Egypt…

![“Evidence indicates that cats were first tamed in Egypt. The Egyptians stored grain, which attracted rodents, which attracted cats. (No evidence that such a thing happened with the Mayans, though a number of wild cats are native to the area.) I don't think this is accurate. It is certainly not the…” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/william-s-burroughs-528_accurate_evidence-indicates-that-cats-were-first_1214670.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/william-s-burroughs-528_accurate_evidence-indicates-that-cats-were-first_1214670.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/william-s-burroughs-528_accurate_evidence-indicates-that-cats-were-first_1214670.png)

> “Evidence indicates that cats were first tamed in Egypt. The Egyptians stored grain, which attracted rodents, which attracted cats. (No evidence that such a thing happened with the Mayans, though a number of wild cats are native to the area.) I don't think this is accurate. It is certainly not the whole story. Cats didn't start as mousers. Weasels and snakes and dogs are more efficient as rodent-control agents. I postulate that cats started as psychic companions, as Familiars, and have never deviated from this function.”

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cats may have been domesticated for companionship and spiritual roles rather than purely for pest control.

**In simple terms:** Cats likely began as mystical companions, not just hunters.

Key Takeaway

Consider cats as spiritual partners.

Themes

domestication mythology human‑animal bonds culture history

Mood

curious analytical speculative

Type

historical anthropological

When to use this quote

- archaeology
- anthropology
- pet ownership
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

psychic companionship familiars symbolic roles

Questions to Reflect On

- What cultural factors influence how we view animal roles?
- How does myth shape our understanding of domestication?

A Different Perspective

Evidence is limited and interpretations vary; other animals also served pest control.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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