* Early Evidence is Limited: While we have evidence of cat domestication dating back thousands of years, records are often incomplete or open to interpretation.
* Cats Were Useful, Not Just Pets: Early humans likely kept cats around for pest control, not just companionship. This makes it hard to distinguish between a "working cat" and a "pet cat."
However, some notable early evidence suggests cats being kept as companions:
* Ancient Egypt (Around 3600 BC): Cats were revered in Egypt, often depicted in art, and were even mummified. This suggests a close relationship between humans and cats.
* Cyprus (Around 9500 BC): Archaeological evidence suggests the presence of cats on the island around this time. These cats might have been kept for pest control, but they indicate early interaction between humans and felines.
The Bottom Line: It's impossible to say definitively which cat was the "first pet cat." However, the ancient Egyptians' veneration and interactions with cats strongly suggest the presence of pet cats in their society, making it one of the earliest known examples.