Ever wonder how cats went from desert hunters to divine house gods? In this episode of For the Love of History, host TK digs her claws into the fascinating history of cats — from their mysterious beginnings in the Fertile Crescent to their worship in ancient Egypt and beyond.

Meet Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats who went from lioness warrior to goddess of home, music, and pleasure. Sail down the Nile to the ancient city of Bubastis, where people once threw wild festivals in her honor (think: ancient Coachella with more fur and fewer rules).

Then, follow the whiskers east to Japan to meet Maneki Neko, the lucky cat statue that isn’t Chinese at all, but a beloved Japanese symbol of prosperity with a legend that began during the Edo period.

You’ll also meet Crimean Tom, a war hero tabby who saved lives during the Crimean War, and Tomiu, the first-named cat in recorded history — a fur baby so loved that she received her own limestone sarcophagus.

Whether you’re a lifelong cat devotee or just tolerate your feline overlord’s 3 a.m. zoomies, this episode will convince you that cats have always been — quite literally — divine.

You’ll Learn:

When and where cats were first domesticated (hint: not Egypt!)

Why Bastet ruled ancient Egypt as both warrior and nurturer

The real history behind Japan’s beckoning Maneki Neko

The heroic and heartwarming tales of real-life historical cats

As Carl Van Vechten wrote in The Tiger in the House, “I do not wonder that some people love cats. I am only surprised that all people do not love cats.”

After this episode, you might just agree.

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