1. The Importance of Cats to Egyptians By Aisha and Sarah

2. Why were cats so important? In Ancient Egypt cats were believe to be the descendants of Bast (the goddess who protects against evil). Because of this they were treated like royalty. They were used to control vermin and able to kill harmful snakes e.g. cobras.

3. Why Bast? Bast replaced the lion headed goddess Mafdet. Mafdet was known for justice and execution. When Bast replaced Mafdet, Bast was known from Mafdet. However Bast was found to be her own goddess with a softer image. She is now the goddess of motherhood, protection and fertility.

4. Cat Laws Cats in ancient Egypt were protected under certain laws and these laws were strict. If an someone hurt a cat, purposely or not, hen the punishment is death. People in ancient Egypt would gather around and kill the person them selves because they were so important.

5. Cat Laws In ancient Egypt, there were laws that were forbidding the cats from being exported. When cats were illegally exported, armies would be sent out to get the cats back. The ancient Egyptians had a strong love for cats, so strong that they surrendered to the Persians to protect their cats.

6. Cats death When cats died, they were be mummified, just like humans were. They would be put in their tombs. Cat cemeteries can still be found lining the River Nile. When a cat died, all the people who stayed in the house with the cat would go in mourning and shave their eyebrows, to show respect.