Why were cats useful to early agricultural communities?

Cats were highly useful to early agricultural communities primarily because they served as a natural form of pest control. As humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to agriculture, the storage of grain attracted rodents, which threatened food supplies. Cats were naturally drawn to these rodents, creating a mutually beneficial partnership: humans gained protection for their crops and stored grain, while cats found a reliable food source.12

Over time, this relationship evolved beyond simple utility. Evidence, such as a burial site in Cyprus dating back approximately 9,500 years, suggests that cats were also valued as companions. While they were occasionally a source of meat and pelts, their ability to hunt mice and rats remained a primary incentive for keeping them in human settlements. In ancient Egypt, this role eventually expanded, and cats transitioned from useful predators protecting granaries to revered symbols of divinity.12