In ancient Egyptian culture, cats were revered and considered sacred. They were associated with the goddess Bastet, who was depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat's head. Bastet was a goddess of fertility, childbirth, pleasure, and protection, and cats were seen as embodiments of these qualities. Killing a cat was considered a serious offense in ancient Egypt, and cats were often mummified after death.
In some Asian cultures, cats are seen as symbols of good luck and prosperity. The Japanese Maneki-neko, or "beckoning cat," is a popular symbol of wealth and good fortune. Cats are also associated with wisdom, knowledge, and mystery in various other cultures.
While cats are not explicitly discussed or given specific biblical meanings in the Bible itself, they have been mentioned in some non-canonical religious texts and commentaries. In some medieval European bestiaries, cats were associated with both positive and negative characteristics. On the one hand, they were seen as symbols of diligence, cleanliness, and independence. On the other hand, they were also linked to cunning, deceitfulness, and witchcraft.
Overall, the symbolic meanings associated with cats in the Bible and ancient cultures are diverse and varied, and they reflect the cultural and historical context in which they were used.