Felines . . . walking over humans since the beginning of time, or at least since the 15th century

[fleur-de-lisa]

Link to tweet

National Geographic article:

While thumbing through the medieval manuscript in July 2011, Emir O. Filipović, a teaching and research assistant at the University of Sarajevo, discovered pages of the book stained with the inky paw prints of a cat and snapped a picture—something he planned on sharing with colleagues and students for a laugh.

"I never could have imagined the attention that those prints would subsequently receive," Filipović wrote in an email.

Filipović sent the photo to fellow historian Erik Kwakkel via Twitter in September 2012, but it wasn't until earlier this year that the paw prints saw a flurry of reblogging, retweeting, and sharing.

In the course of his research—which Filipović started in 2008—he's come across small doodles, strange fungi, elaborate decorated initials, holes presumably drilled through the manuscripts by worms or other pests, and even carefully crafted watermarks. While it makes for an interesting cat meme, Filipović hopes the photo will move beyond a fun find and inspire more interest in the medieval Mediterranean.

https://relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/news/2013/03/130326-animals-medieval-manuscript-books-cats-history

[Fla Dem]

1. That is so cool. Cats were worshiped in Ancient Egypt

[libdem4life]

2. My gray tabby allows me to inhabit her home. She is so magnanimous.

She asks for more food by jumping up into my lap and giving me snuggles and the magnanimous opportunity to scritch her ears, neck and pet her back and chest. She let's me know when the sun is out and it is time to start my daily duties...first of which is fill her food dish, while cleaning out her cat box. From there, she sits longingly looking out the sliding glass door to the balcony...second story...so she can rule over the parking lot and pedestrians below and meow approvingly to my neighbors as they come and go on the stairs.

Then, she settles in on my blue fuzzy blanket, whether folded up or on my lap and settles down for her nap...it's been a long morning. Unfortunately, when my coffee is gone, we need some changes...not totally approved, I tell you. But the trip to the kitchen for a coffee refill and breakfast ends well...she eats her food, I fix my food and we convene on the recliner.

Should I need to go somewhere outside our little catdom, when I return she is sitting in my recliner. Not necessarily welcoming me, because she takes up the whole seat area. So the little readjustment to make room for my behind is often off-putting, so she finds a private space to sulk. Or, she expects that I might do what I often do...get the treat bag. That always does it. Except she now doesn't even wait for me to leave the house...just a trip to the kitchen or bathroom...there she is. Is it treat time?

But, she gallantly allows me to stay...even if I'm not perfectly in tune with all of her requests...obvious or not obvious.

She's also the light of my life !!!

[Yavin4]

3. That's because stoopid hoomins still don't understand the concept of food time! n/t