Cats in Ancient Rome: Guardians, Symbols, and Companions
Cats have long captured the human imagination, but their role in Ancient Rome often remains overshadowed by the grandeur of emperors, gladiators, and marble monuments. Yet, these enigmatic felines carved out their own unique space in Roman culture. They were more than just pets—they were protectors, spiritual symbols, and quiet witnesses to the rise and fall of one of the greatest empires in history.
The Arrival of Cats in Rome
Although not originally native to Italy, cats made their way to Rome through ancient trade routes. Likely arriving from Egypt or the Near East, these small felines traveled with merchants and sailors. As Rome expanded its territory, it absorbed many aspects of Egyptian culture, including the reverence for cats. Over time, these animals became integrated into Roman households, farms, and religious life.
Feline Guardians of the Home
In Roman society, cleanliness and order were highly valued—especially in urban centers like Rome. Cats naturally fit into this ideal. Their predatory nature made them invaluable for keeping rodents at bay. Grain stores, which were essential for feeding the population, often attracted mice and rats. Cats served as living pest control, earning their keep and the affection of their human companions.
Romans often praised cats for their independence and efficiency. Unlike dogs, who were usually tied to roles of loyalty and labor, cats were admired for their grace and self-reliance. This made them suitable not only for farms and granaries but also for temples and homes.
Symbols of Independence and Protection
Cats in Ancient Rome gradually took on symbolic roles as well. While they never achieved the divine status they enjoyed in Egypt, Roman cats were associated with the goddess Libertas, the personification of liberty and freedom. The feline’s aloof and autonomous behavior mirrored the ideals of personal liberty cherished by the Republic and early Empire.
In Roman art and mosaics, cats occasionally appeared as symbols of domestic life and protection. They were depicted lying calmly at the feet of women or children, serving as subtle markers of both gentleness and vigilance.
Cats and Roman Religion
Though not central to Roman religious practices, cats found a niche in the domestic and spiritual realm. Household shrines, known as lararia, were common in Roman homes. These shrines honored guardian spirits called Lares and Penates, who protected the family and home. While not worshipped directly, cats were often included in these sacred spaces, appreciated for their protective role and quiet presence.
Cats may have also appeared in rites associated with fertility and motherhood. Some scholars suggest that cats, due to their nurturing behavior and prolific reproduction, symbolized female fertility—a trait highly valued in Roman society.
Felines in Roman Literature and Daily Life
While dogs frequently appear in Roman literature and inscriptions, cats are more elusive. However, their presence is implied in various historical accounts and epigraphs. For example, Roman poet Martial references household pets in his epigrams, and some inscriptions found in Pompeii and other archaeological sites suggest that cats were familiar enough to be loved and even mourned.
In the ruins of Pompeii, mosaics have been discovered featuring domestic scenes that include cats, indicating their presence in middle- and upper-class homes. These images portray cats lounging or hunting—offering a glimpse into their everyday interactions with Roman families.
Cats Versus Dogs in Roman Culture
Romans often compared cats to dogs, but the two animals held very different reputations. Dogs were bred for service: guarding property, accompanying soldiers, or aiding hunters. Cats, on the other hand, were quiet observers—stealthy and subtle.
Because of this contrast, cats were sometimes associated with mystery and the unknown. Their nocturnal behavior added to their mystique, especially in a culture where the night was often linked to omens, dreams, and the divine.
Despite this aura of mystery, cats were never fully marginalized. In fact, their ambiguity may have contributed to their survival. They adapted well to both city streets and rural farms, never fully domesticated, yet never fully wild.
The Influence of Egypt and the Goddess Bastet
The Roman fascination with Egyptian culture brought new layers of meaning to the cat’s role. As Rome annexed Egypt in 30 BCE, the worship of Egyptian deities like Bastet—the lion-headed or cat-headed goddess of home, fertility, and protection—began to influence Roman religious thought.
Some Roman citizens, especially those in Alexandria and other cosmopolitan centers, adopted Bastet worship. While the Roman pantheon never fully integrated her, private devotion to Bastet persisted among Roman-Egyptian communities.
Statues and amulets of Bastet have been uncovered in Roman contexts, often near homes or burial sites, suggesting that belief in her protective powers endured far beyond Egypt’s borders.
Feline Burials and Memorials
Although Roman society typically reserved elaborate burials for humans and certain elite animals, there are scattered records of cats being honored in death. Inscriptions found on tombs and household walls reference beloved pets—sometimes even giving them names and human-like attributes.
This practice reflects the emotional bonds that formed between Romans and their feline companions. Much like today, the loss of a cherished pet inspired remembrance and grief.
Cats in Roman Military Camps?
Interestingly, there’s emerging evidence that cats may have accompanied Roman soldiers on campaign. Archaeological remains found at certain Roman forts suggest that cats were present, likely serving as rodent control in storage areas and barracks. Their quiet nature and usefulness would have made them ideal companions during long deployments.
Although not as prominently mentioned as war dogs, cats may have played their own subtle role in maintaining order and morale in military outposts scattered across the empire.
Legacy of Roman Cats in Europe
As the Roman Empire expanded across Europe, so too did the presence of cats. Roman settlements introduced these animals to parts of Gaul (modern France), Britannia (Britain), and Germania. The cultural and practical value of cats was not lost on these regions.
Over time, cats became naturalized in European society, laying the groundwork for their continued domestication throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era.
Final Thoughts: The Quiet Legacy of Roman Cats
Though rarely spotlighted in grand histories of Rome, cats left an indelible mark on Roman daily life. They guarded granaries, kept homes pest-free, and embodied traits admired by the people—independence, grace, and resilience.
Their legacy, though quiet, ripples through time. The Roman cat was not a loud participant in history, but a watchful presence—always observing, always surviving. And in that sense, they were perhaps the perfect companions for an empire that prized discipline, order, and control.
Sources:
Toynbee, J.M.C. Animals in Roman Life and Art (Cornell University Press)
Clark, Gillian. Women in Late Antiquity: Pagan and Christian Lifestyles
MacKinnon, Michael. “Osteological and Zooarchaeological Evidence for the Roman Domestication of Cats”
Beard, Mary. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
- Cats in the Ancient World : https://fussiecat.com/cats-in-the-ancient-world
The Taming of the Cat : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5790555
Other Key References & Links For More Reading
- Cats as pest controllers and army mascots
A detailed overview explains how cats were brought to Europe—first by Phoenician merchants and later by Roman armies—to protect food supplies and equipment in forts, granaries, and dockyards springer.com+12fussiecat.com+12biorxiv.org+12.
🔗 [Fussie Cat – “Cats in the Ancient World”] - Spread of domestic cats during Roman expansion
A peer-reviewed study describes the genetic and archaeological evidence showing how cats, particularly Egyptian breeds, spread to Europe during the Roman period via trade networks com+1worldhistory.org+1en.wikipedia.org+6pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+6modernsciences.org+6.
🔗 [PMC – “The Taming of the Cat” & ResearchGate – “The palaeogenetics of cat dispersal in the ancient world”] - Symbolic associations with liberty and divinity
Experts cite that Romans viewed cats as symbols of freedom, with the goddess Libertas occasionally depicted alongside a cat, and note Diana transforming into one in Ovid’s Metamorphoses net+1pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+1reddit.com+1fussiecat.com+1.
🔗 [Reddit AskHistorians & World History Encyclopedia – Greek & Roman Household Pets] - Influence of Egyptian cat worship on Romans
Roman import of Egyptian cat cults (e.g. Bastet) blended with worship of Diana/Isis, reinforcing cats’ roles as fertility and protection symbols org+3penelope.uchicago.edu+3jstor.org+3en.wikipedia.org+8smithsonianmag.com+8knewz.com+8worldhistory.org+7link.springer.com+7trowelandbrush.com+7.
🔗 [SpringerLink – “The Rise of Cats and Madness: I. The Renaissance” & World History Encyclopedia] - Archaeological finds in Roman contexts
Evidence from sites like Berenice (a Roman port in Egypt) includes pet cemeteries with cats, showing their importance as domestic companions springer.comen.wikipedia.org.
🔗 [Wikipedia – Berenice pet cemetery]
