Pilchuck Veterinary Hopsital cat page



cats

dogs

cows

horses

goats & sheep

llamas & alpacas

animal stories

"Time spent watching a cat is not deducted from your span on Earth."
-Richard Beban

Worshipped in ancient Egypt, in other times and places they were regarded as agents of the Devil. Cats have been both revered and reviled for their particular aloofness, their elegance, and self-contained natures. These solitary, long-tailed creatures represent the ultimate in detached love. Their proud and mysterious characters have won legions of ardent supporters. Those who love cats do so loyally and passionately. The French author Colette wrote that "by associating with the cat, one only risks becoming richer."

What’s in a name? Called koshka by Russians, il gatto by Italians, kissa by Finns, quttah by Egyptians, le chat by French (and Quebecois), neko by Japanese, mao by Chinese, a gata by Portugeuse, die kat by Afrikaners (and Dutch) and ikati by Zulus. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot instructs the reader that every cat has three names. The third being "his ineffable, effable, efineffable deep and inscrutable singular name." Described as "the name that no human research can discover—but the cat himself knows, and will never confess."

Cats were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians as early as 2500 BC. Cats were first brought to North America by French Jesuit missionaries settling in Canada in the seventeenth century. Only a small percentage of house cats in the US are pedigreed or registered with one of the official registering bodies. The largest is the Cat Fancier’s Association, sponsor of more than 675 local clubs.

Just for fun, visit the Cats House or Why Cats Paint. Or visit Bad Pets for a look at the lighter side of being owned by pets (but don’t tell your cat that they feature dogs there too.)