CAT'S CONQUER OVER THE WORLD WAS SUPPORTED BY VIKINGS
In contrast to cats, which have historically been more complicated, dogs
have long been revered as humans' devoted friends. Viking cat domestication
has a negative side, according to recent studies. The hunting prowess and
hair of cats were highly prized by the Vikings. These cats were expected to
be expert mouse catchers, and if they didn't, they would suffer the terrible
destiny of being turned into capes or jackets.
Cats have unquestionably risen to the top in recent years, despite early
difficulties with becoming pets. In terms of lavish spending on gourmet
food, snacks, and toys, cats are currently among the most pampered pets on
the globe, rivalling dogs in terms of luxury. The Vikings did, however,
thrive with cats in one particular area: transport.
Unintentionally, cats' conquest of many regions of the world was aided by
the Vikings.
TERRIFIC RIDER AND THEIR PRECIOUS KITTENS
The Vikings developed a reputation as maritime raiders throughout the Dark
Ages, plundering and causing devastation throughout the British Isles,
Europe, Iceland, Greenland, and North America. As the unhappy Irish monks of
Lindisfarne discovered firsthand, they enjoyed mayhem, in contrast to our
modern concept of a cosy civilization.
One would think they'd give up pets completely or choose for more
intimidating animals like wolves given their casual approach to violence.
Something with a "metal" aura, if you will. That wasn't actually the case,
though. The fluffy kittens were more popular among the Norse raiders.
To begin with though, how did cats get to Scandinavia? According to a
recent study of feline DNA from ancient sites dating from 15,000 to 2,700
years ago, the progenitors of modern cats spread around the world during two
independent eras separated by millennia. The first migration event brought
them from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, where local farmers eagerly
welcomed these four-legged critters for their efficient rodent control
services in fields and grain storage facilities.
THE SECOND WAVE OF THE FELINE MUSCLES' MOVEMENT
Cats finally migrated to modern-day Denmark from the Mediterranean, despite
it being a long way from Northern Europe. Over a period of countless years,
a second wave of migration from Egypt spread throughout the world. This
time, sailors who wanted to prevent rodents from contaminating their ships
offered support to the cats. The finding of cat DNA that resembles that of
felines from ancient Egypt at a Nordic location in Germany provides proof
that some of these seafarers were Vikings.
Egyptians worshipped cats, but Romans and Vikings helped them conquer the world pic.twitter.com/UUGawpJqjg
— Insider Business (@BusinessInsider) March 10, 2019
Around 1700 B.C., the second cat migratory wave started, and by the 400s
A.D., it was gaining strength. Animal bones in the Zoological Museum, dating
from the Bronze Age to the 1600s, were analysed by experts like Julie
Bitz-Thorsen from the University of Copenhagen to reveal this insight.
They discovered horrific evidence when examining these bones, indicating
the cats had roles other than being pets or hunters. A small-scale,
do-it-yourself fur business was built around them. "You can see signs of
skinning—cut marks, or the neck being broken," Bitz-Thorsen adds.
FROM FUR PRODUCERS TO LOVED (AND PLEASANTLY PLUMP) PETS
The physiological changes that cats suffered throughout the ages was one of
the most remarkable discoveries made by Bitz-Thorsen and her colleagues.
Animals usually reduce in size when they are tamed. In comparison to its
wolf forebears, the typical domestic dog is around one-fourth smaller. In
addition, teacup toy poodles and small pinschers are not even taken into
consideration.
But when it comes to cats, the DNA shows an astoundingly different story.
Cats "domestication" did not lead them to shrink, but to flourish. (Enter
Garfield!) Although there is still disagreement about how far they
have been domesticated, the scientific data shows that they have grown
significantly since becoming associated with people. Wim Van Neer, an
archaeozoologist, states that "To my knowledge, such a shift has never been
documented elsewhere." In essence, the Vikings gave their cats a very good
diet, passing the custom on to succeeding human generations.
It's a fantastic story of ongoing interspecies collaboration. The
continuation of this increasing tendency, however, would be worth taking
into consideration. Domestic cats have a desire to kill people, and if they
were stronger and bigger, they probably would succeed in doing so, according
to a 2015 University of Edinburgh research. It appears that their feline
buddies caught a little of that strong Viking energy!
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