Ancient Egyptians famously loved cats

Ancient Egyptians famously loved cats and held them in very high regard.

Symbolism: Cats were associated with the goddess Bastet (or Bast), the deity of home, fertility, and protection, often depicted as a lioness or a woman with a cat’s head. Because of this, cats came to symbolize grace, protection, and domestic harmony.
Everyday Life: Egyptians kept cats as pets to control mice, rats, and snakes, but they also admired their elegance and hunting ability. Wealthy families often had cats in their households, sometimes adorned with jewelry.
Sacred Status: Harming or killing a cat—even accidentally—was considered a grave crime, sometimes punishable by death. When a household cat died, family members would mourn, sometimes shaving their eyebrows as a sign of grief.
Burials: Cats were often mummified and placed in tombs, either as offerings to Bastet or as beloved companions to accompany their owners in the afterlife. Archaeologists have found entire cat cemeteries, with thousands of mummified cats.