History

Over 10,000 years ago in what is now West Asia, cats and humans shared their humble beginnings. It was during this time that people were just beginning to abandon their nomadic lifestyles and settle in farming communities. Wild cats took this to their advantage. They were smart enough to attach themselves to communities that would often toss them food scraps and provide them with shelter. This is exactly how feral cats operate today. 

As little as 100 years ago, cats were still independent animals who lived almost entirely outside. So how have cats transitioned to being the indoor companions we know today?

In the 20th century, before the invention of cat food, it was very expensive to feed and take care of indoor cats. They require a very high protein diet, but many households couldn’t afford fresh meat and fish for themselves, let alone for cats. Because of this, cats lived feral lives outside until quite recently. They lived among nature, hunting for their own food and using the great outdoors as their litter box.

During the early 20th century, many cat owners used pans of dirt or newspaper as makeshift litter boxes since kitty litter had not yet been invented. However, the invention of kitty litter in the 1960s turned things around. The convenience of it brought a great rise in popularity of cats as indoor pets.