Ancient Egyptians revered cats, which were known as the Mau. Cats were considered sacred and vital in ancient Egyptian society. Cats were effective for controlling vermin in Egyptian crops and harvests as a wild, untamed species; via exposure, cats became domesticated and learnt to interact with people. People in what would later be known as Upper and Lower Egypt practiced a religion centered on animal worship, particularly cat worship.
The tamed cat became a symbol of grace and poise after being praised for its abilities to control pests and kill snakes such as cobras. Mafdet, the goddess of justice and execution, was depicted as a lion-headed deity. The worship of Mafdet was subsequently replaced by the cat goddess Bast (also known as Bastet), and Bast’s image softened through time, and she became the deity of protection, fertility, and an aphrodisiac.