Cats

For more than 2,500 years, cats (felines) were omnipresent in social and religious practices of ancient Egypt. They were believed to be magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them. To-an-extent that several deities were depicted and sculptured with cat-like heads, representing justice, fertility, and power, respectively. (Malek 1997)

Cats are almost absent from the Hebrew Bible, and it's speculated that they are because the Egyptians worshipped them. In the Bible, they are symbolic of?the best and worst traits of humankind, encompassing the gamut — jealousy, anger, fierceness, power, strength, majesty, and protector, all of which we see in them, and ourselves, today.

Cats are often shown in Christianity icons of Annunciation and of the Holy Family?and, according to Italian folklore, on the same night that Mary gave birth to Jesus, a cat in Bethlehem gave birth to kittens.

Long ago, in China, the image of a cat was believed to mean fortune and long life. “Mao” (the Chinese name for cat) means '80 years'.

In Japanese folklore, cats are often portrayed?as supernatural entities, or "Kaibyō" (strange cat). The "Maneki-neko" (beckoning cat) of Japan is a figurine often believed to bring good luck to the owner.

Hindu mythology makes sparing mention of the cat. But it does play an essential part for the "Goddess Shashti" (a figure of worship, particularly in North India). The Goddess of fertility and protector of children uses a cat as her mount.

In Islam, cats are viewed as a revered animal, and above all, admired for its cleanliness. They're thought to be ritually clean, which is why they're allowed to enter homes and even Mosques, including Masjid al-Haram (also known as the Grand Mosque of Mecca).

Food sampled by cats is considered Halal (lawful or permitted), in the sense that their consumption of the food does not make it impermissible for Muslims to eat.

According to authentic narrations, one may make ablution for prayer with the same water that a cat has drunk from.

Muslim scholars are divided on the issue of neutering animals. Most, however, maintain that neutering cats is allowed (as long as there is some benefit in neutering the cat and if that will not cause its death).

Cats have been esteemed for centuries in Muslim culture and considered 'the quintessential pet'. Some Muslims believe that having a pet cat?brings angels into one's home. So-much-so, that one of Prophet Muhammad's (?) companions "Abu Hurairah" was proverbially known as ("father of the kittens") for his attachment to cats.

Many Muslims believe that "Muezza" (or Mu?izza) was Prophet Muhammad's (?) favorite cat. Story has it that the Prophet awoke one day to the sounds of the "adhan' (call for prayer). Preparing to attend, he began to dress himself; however, he soon discovered his cat Muezza was sleeping on the sleeve of his prayer robe. Rather than wake her, he used a pair of scissors to cut the sleeve off, leaving the cat undisturbed.

The most famous yet the oldest of the Turkish Angora cat breed dating back to the days of Prophet Muhammad (?) (c. 570–632 CE).

According to many hadith, Prophet Muhammad (?) prohibited the persecution and killing of cats.

Legend has it that, Abu Saeed al-Khudri 's cat saved Prophet Muhammad (?) from a snake (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2364).

It is contended that, Prophet Muhammed (?) said, "A woman entered the Hell because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth." (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3318)

Prophet Muhammad's (?) fondness for cats is conveyed in a hadith, "Affection for cats is part of Iman (faith)." (Maqasid al-Hasanah; al-Sakhawi)

A Hadith quotes Prophet Muhammad (?) as saying: “A good deed done to an animal is as meritorious as a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being.” (Mishkat al-Masabih; Book 6; Chapter 7, 8:178.)

In certain regions of Spain it is believed that cats have seven lives, meanwhile, some Turkish and Arabic legends say cats have six lives. Nine has traditionally been considered a magic number, which could also help to explain why cats are associated with the nine lives myth...

Food for thought!