My Cat's Breath Smells Like Cat Food

An article in yesterday's New York Times offers a bit of depth on the history of the housecat. DNA links to the Near East Wildcat indicate that the domestication of the cat coincided with the development of agriculture in ancient Mesopotamia - it did not, as long believed, occur in Egypt. Here's the best part - the local cats were adapting to the presence of human cities, moving in of their own accord to hunt the rodents that human civilization drew. The Sumerians did not set out to domesticate the wildcats, but tolerated and soon began to welcome their presence. The cat, for all intents and purposes, domesticated itself.

This explains so much.

Dogs were actively domesticated - they were wolves brought into the cave and specifically bred for desirable traits. Cats just kind of showed up and said, "Here we are!" This explains why dogs act like loyal servants and cats act like you'd be lucky to be able to consider yourself their equal.

This explains why your cat thinks of you as furniture that happens to feed it and scratch its ears. This explains why your cat reacts with utter indifference when you call it. This explains why your cat walks on the coffee table and kitchen counters even though he's not supposed to. This explains why your cat always seems to be finding subtle ways to remind you that she's doing you an enormous favor by deigning to remain in your unworthy presence.

Your cat is sort of akin to the guest who shows up uninvited, stays indefinitely, eats all your food and drinks all your booze.

Fortunately for them, they're also awfully cute.