Because we were just doing feline-borne parasites, check out this article about cats in the Science Times:
Some 10,000 years ago, somewhere in the Near East, an audacious wild cat crept into one of the crude villages of early human settlers, the first to domesticate wheat and barley. There she felt safe from her many predators in the region, such as hyenas and larger cats, and the rodents that infested the settlers’ homes and granaries were sufficient prey for her.
Seeing she was earning her keep, the settlers tolerated her, and their children greeted her kittens with delight.
At least five females, of the wildcat subspecies known as Felis silvestris lybica, accomplished this delicate transition from forest to village, scientists have concluded, based on new DNA research. And from these five matriarchs, all the world’s 600 million housecats are descended.
That’s right, scientists are now theorizing that cats and humans go back 10,000 years. That’s way before the Egyptian empire existed to immortize its felines in onyx, back to the beginnings of argiculture. I’ve always loved the notion that cats have been with us since the dawn of civilization, guarding our storehouses from the rats and mice. Maybe without these allies, the whole settling-down-and-farming thing wouldn’t have worked, and we’d still be hunter-gatherers.
There are two new finds of interest:
1) A cat was recently found buried with its human owner in Cyprus, in a 9,500-year-old grave. So they’ve been domesticated long enough.
2) Housecat mitochondrial DNA has been traced back to five original females. So the alliance may have started in a single village!
I’ve already covered cat-human alliances in Risen Empire and Peeps. But wouldn’t a novel set in a stone-age village, about the first cats to tie their destinies to humanity’s, be kinda cool?
wow, thats so cool. where DID you find that article? so cats have been, like, atatched to humans since the dawn of the first day! sweet 🙂
and im one of first posts!
the first post! awsome! best ive done yet
second posts thats the closest ive goton yeah!!!! cant wait for the fisrt pg of EXTRAS!!!!
i mean tird
Woah. Cat’s are so cool they domesticated themseles (or so the link says). Bow down, dog lovers; cats are clearly superior. Oh, and that picture made me nearly “lol”. But it came out as more of a snort.
So does the fact that two series’ plots are losely dependant opon cats point to Scott being a cat person?
Huge laugh at the lolcat.
Cats are so smart. Way better than dogs. *hugs cat* I wonder which cat mine is descended from?
I have a mostly-joking theory that cats are so smart, they were aware that if they remained wild, they would be exterminated by humans eventually, so they settled into villages.
A book about domesticating cats? I think you’ve got a whole trilogy there.
CATS
DOGS
RODENTS
That should be enough room for the whole “which is cooler: cats or dogs?” debate.
And Cicely? If cats are so smart, why are there no sniffer cats for customs official, sheep cats for farmers, or guide cats for blind people?
*dog person*
why David Witteveen, because they are so smart (and lazy) they know that would take work and most people dont like work
and that would be a lovely idea of books both you and scott
Fawesome idea Scott. Sounds like a best-seller. “Stone Age Cats”
Oh Kailyx, you just posted my comment!
Cats are definately superior.
And i definately snorted at that pic.
Hehe.
Scott MUST be a cat person.
We are the best kinds of people.
And uh, yeah– Impatiently waiting the first page of Extras!!! Why tell us that then leave us hanging??? Yeeeeeshhh.
Yes, a novel like that would be awesome. You know, like set up like Peeps is and from a human’s point of view. I’d read it!
Go ahead and write that book Scott! I always knew that cats were kool and I’m also wondering what cat mine is descended from too. Hmmmnn………………
cats are okay, bt i like dogs better *serious dog person here* although i’m biased seeing as im highly allergic to cats. as in sneezing to death if the hives and fever dont kill me.
i got this in an email and i think its pretty accurate. =]
COMPARISON OF DOG AND CAT DIARIES
EXCERPTS FROM A DOG’S DIARY
Day number 180
8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm – OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!
Day number 181
8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm – OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!
Day number 182
8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm – OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
1:30 pm – ooooooo. bath. bummer.
4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!
EXCERPTS FROM A CAT’S DIARY
DAY 752 – My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.
DAY 761 – Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded; I must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair…must try this on their bed.
DAY 765 – Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was…Hmmm. Not working according to plan.
DAY 768 – I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called “shampoo.” What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.
DAY 771 – There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I as placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call “beer.” More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of “allergies.” Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
DAY 774 – I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured.
But I can wait, it is only a matter of time..
a strange coincidence: I just read The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton and one of the covers for it has the same picture on it as the Australian Peeps cover (see the sept. 28 blog of last year)
weird.
oh that would be way cool! (well, anything you write is going to be cool!) i’m really not surprised that cats have been around that long. i’m a total cat person and have always thought that if they could talk they could tell us more about ourselves than we even know. i’ve had 3 cats now and all of them just seem to know what i’m saying.
Uh, thanks for sharing, Amy. Sheesh.
Anyways, its neat to know that cats have been with us for so long. Our feline friends are way cooler then dogs’ll ever be! Meow!
-Topaz
If cats are so smart, why are there no sniffer cats for customs official, sheep cats for farmers, or guide cats for blind people?
-x-
Cats are smart, but they don’t like to follow orders.
did scott post the 1st page of EXTRAS yet, i just got back from camp
GASP. Write that book, Scott. Write it! I would read it, at least.
Cicely: Cats don’t follow the rules which makes them ten times cooler than dogs. Dogs aren’t rebels at all! Ha!
Makes Psychokitty seem a bit more friendly, doesn’t it? Maybe it just had Jess mistaken for a mouse?
Admittedly, my cat is sort of dumb (but I love her anyway). If she was in the road and a car was coming, she would duck down and freeze.
But she’s smarter than any dog. Cats can use litter boxes. Dogs need to be walked. Cats can wash themselves. They can climb trees. And they’re sooooooooo cute! *hugs cat*
i have two dogs and one cat. i grew up with cats. here is how many pets i’ve had!
two cats(ghost and gizmo)
gizmo dies
ghost dies
2 kittens (chip and lasey)
5 days later they both die
1 cat(nelly)
another cat(rocky)
then we get a dog(cj)
rocky dies
we get a chuhuahua (raven)
so now i have nelly, cj, and raven!
(nelly is my favorite!)
even though i like my cat better, i’ not so sure about a cat book!
SORRY CAT PEOPLE
i have a cat and a dog.
my cat is going to turn 9 years old in august.
my cat sometimes goes into our living room and taunts our dog who is a year old, because she knows that we will not let the dog get her.
smart cat.
but she can also be dumb. she got stuck behind our wall desk unit.
dumb cat
our dog is pretty smart.she knows that if we are sitting down for supper and i have not fed her yet, food is on its way.
smart dog.
she can also be dumb. she is scared of taking a bath. and she is scared of a rake, the vacume, plastic bags, a broom, and water.
dumb dog.
cicley: cats just want to speak there own mind, just like americans.
dogs can be easily brainedwashed.
cat:Boots-black with white paws.
dag:Candi-doberman pincher
all typs of cat are the same lions tigers house cats oh my!
the biggest cat i’ve ever pet is a liger! a liger is a cross between a lion and a tiger. they wouldn’t happen naturally in the wild so some poeple think they are “wrong”. i think they are pretty cool!
i don’t accuaqly own a cat because my dad dosen’t like them but i would say im a cat person.
awhile ago my dad brought home some kittens that had been hanging around his work and i gave them away. on to my cuzin and two to my brother. my cuzins cat (boomer) is the sweetest cat ever and hes really funny. he loves water, when u flush the toilet he goes and plays in the water going down. if u are running bath water he goes on the side of the tub and paws at it. he nos when he gets feed. he nos when your playing with him, when your sad he cames and rubs up aginst u and he is just all together sweet.
so boo u dog people *sticks out tongue*
oh and go for that book i’ll read it.
OO cool. Im allergic 2 cats!!! Like really really allergic!!
yeah i think i like Dod better (no offence to the people that like cats) but it’s true what (Cicely) said.
*Cant wait for the first pg of EXTRAS…(Happy dance)
♥ANA♥
I expect to see the book in the library soon
Oooh, cool Scott. You could definately make it work.
I’m definately a dog person though. Cats are meh, but dogs are awesome.
So first page of Extras?
WOW! i leave for.. 2 or 3 days and gah! lolol! anywho, cool.. i like my friends cat, but noone elses
you no, normally i think that a book about the stoneage cats would be totally bogus boaring, but if you write it, then i might give the book a shot. (that is if there was one.)
you no, normally i would think that a book about stoneage cats would be totally bogus boaring, but if you wrote it then i might give it a read. (that is if there was one.)
and i would like to read the first page of extras. whos idea was that anyway? throw the the guy a bone!
hey sorry about the two comments that are almost exactly the same. i thought that it didnt work the first time. my bad.
a whole book about cats? scott when you are old you will be one of those crazy cat ladies, only you shall be a man.you will have fifty cats all with names like ‘pumpkin’, ‘cuddles’ and ‘fluffy.’ how sad scott
no talking cats in a cat book just thinking cats
and im reading the named and it is like what was in the post about alternet worlds you should read the book i like it
http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/?p=222
Amy-la? why did your kitties die in five days??? thats kinda really depressing. my three-year-old cat died from the cat food recall on christmas 2006. it was really sad. but i mean… five days? wow.
oh and i would definitely read a book about cats. i have five, two of which are happy-making kitties. not that the other three aren’t equally as happy-making.
And Cicely… the one and only problem with cats is when you’re reading and they decide they want some more attention. then they sit on your very interesting book, interupting you mid-sentance and possibly crumpling the pages.
Other than that, my cats are light, so when they sit on me when i’m sleeping they’re not nearly as heavy as fourteen pound Cornelius(from peeps).
cute kitty!
oh by the way amy, love the diary. hilarious!
Ohh, nice. I like that idea xD Cats of the stone age xD That’s AWESOME! I wrote a story about cats once o.o
But it was this little short story that I wrote when I was ten that I THOUGHT was long at the time, but is only like . . . 3 and a half pages long xD Longest story I’ve ever completed though 😀 That’s SOMETHING, at least. Anyways, I think the story is the LAMEST thing I’ve ever actually written now =P It’s called “Kimberly’s Quest” The title thanks to some random person who decided the main characters’ names should be Kimberly and Bridget and I agreed ^^
But yeah – story about stone age cats – SWEEEEEET! I’d totally read it and FORCE everyone else to read it too =P –disappears back into meh music–
Heh heh…Yeah. I think the stone age cat story would be amusing.
i’m a cat person, but i must admit that i do like dogs better. but i really want a snake. a really big one. im into to BIG animals so a cat is kinda not my type, but i love to pet and cuddle with them!!they’re sooo soft!!i haev 3 cats and one dog. they HATE each other. i wonder why that is. you should make the book fiction and make up a reason for why dogs and cats fight. that’d be REALLY kool!!
You should write it, Scott. Felines are cool and I’m curious to see your writing with a setting of a non-gadgety world.
And Amy, I love the diary!
stone age cats? sounds…. you.
“But wouldn’t a novel set in a stone-age village, about the first cats to tie their destinies to humanity’s, be kinda cool?”
Yes.
(Like you need me to tell you this!)
dude that is so wierd… and it was posted on my birthday