Bastet

Sources: Wikipedia & Goodreads

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”

―Terry Pratchett

Bastet, according to wikipedia was a fierce lioness warrior goddess of the sun. A protective goddess and defender of the king and consequently of the Sun God, Ra.

Cats make good companions depending on who you ask. Cats can be seen as guardians and protective familiars. In a sense this is true, as they help to keep an eye out for rodents. Rodents that can potentially harbor fleas, which are a vector for diseases such as Yersinia pestis or the bubonic plague.

It is theorized by some that the superstitious extermination of cats prior to the Black Death indirectly led to an increased rodent population. Rodents that harbored fleas. Fleas infected by the Bubonic Plague. A Bubonic Plague that was then transmitted to humans.

However, there are other theories out there.

What about purring? According to wikipedia cats purr to manage pain or soothe themselves. In this context I often times think of chanting or humming in humans as a similar means to soothe the vagus nerve system.