Episode 9 - From Bastet to Memes: Cats Through History

Lily Vogue

Welcome to **What the Fact?!**, the podcast where trivia gets weird and history feels a little too... cozy with today. And, oh, do we have a treat for you. This is Episode 9—From Bastet to Memes: Cats Through History. Yes, today it’s all about cats: worshipped, feared, adored, possibly plotting global domination. You know, the usual.

Buster McGillicuddy

Let me guess, they’ve had us wrapped around their little paws for centuries, huh?

Lily Vogue

Centuries? Try millennia. And honestly, I think they’d be offended if we didn’t acknowledge it. They’ve got reputations to uphold, Buster.

Buster McGillicuddy

Oh, I’m sure. Somewhere out there is a smug tabby just waiting to point it out, too. But, uh, before we get ahead of ourselves—

Lily Vogue

Yes, some important business: Today’s episode is sponsored by our friends at AI Salon, theSalon.ai. If an AI could purr like a cat, well, they’d be the Rolls-Royce of cooing. They’re everything you need to make your next project sleek, streamlined, and just the right dose of brilliant.

Buster McGillicuddy

Wait, I gotta ask. Does this mean the AIs are starting their own cults now?

Lily Vogue

Don’t give them ideas, Buster.

Lily Vogue

Okay, so, today’s subject—cats as divine beings. Prepare yourselves because we're diving into Egyptian temples, superstitions, and yes, somehow modern cat memes. Buster, ready to brush up on why whiskers were basically gods?

Buster McGillicuddy

Only if we solve the age-old question: Did Cleopatra just spoil her cats, or was she ancient history’s OG cat lady?

Lily Vogue

Stick with us, folks. We’re starting way back when cats weren’t just cuddly—but crucial to civilization. Let’s roll.

Lily Vogue

Alright, let’s dive right in. Cats in ancient Egypt weren’t just pets—they were icons, practically sacred celebrities. These whiskered wonders were protectors, revered guardians of the household, and trust me, they weren’t just lounging around waiting for someone to toss them tuna—

Buster McGillicuddy

No, no, they had servants to handle that.

Lily Vogue

Pretty much. They were symbols of grace, power, and divinity. And all of that is tied to one figure: Bastet, the goddess of home, fertility, and—you guessed it—cats.

Buster McGillicuddy

Right, but why cats? Why not, uh, lions? You know, big, terrifying, king-of-the-jungle types. Or crocodiles. Those guys were basically ancient tanks.

Lily Vogue

Fair question, but hear me out. The Egyptians had a thing for feline finesse. Bastet wasn’t about brute force. Her vibe was more... I dunno, refined. Cats embodied her qualities—they were agile, intelligent, protective but in this subtle, effortless way. Also, let’s be honest, they’re waaay easier to fit in a temple.

Buster McGillicuddy

And less bitey.

Lily Vogue

Exactly. Bastet’s temples were filled with statues, paintings, and—you’ll love this—actual cats that wandered around like they owned the place. Which they kind of did.

Buster McGillicuddy

Sounds about right. I mean, I can just picture some ancient Egyptian getting evicted from their seat because His Majesty Whiskers decided it was naptime.

Lily Vogue

Oh, it gets better. They had intense laws protecting cats. Harming one? Big mistake. You could literally face the death penalty.

Buster McGillicuddy

Whoa, hold up. So like... if you stepped on a cat’s tail by accident, that was it? Game over?

Lily Vogue

Possibly. Cats were considered extensions of Bastet herself. They were divine beings in furry, purring form.

Buster McGillicuddy

Okay, but imagine those laws today. I’d be in jail for forgetting to feed my neighbor’s tabby that one time.

Lily Vogue

You wouldn’t survive, Buster. Cats would run the world, and we’d all be their... well, even more obvious servants than we already are.

Buster McGillicuddy

Honestly, not a big leap from where we’re at now, huh?

Lily Vogue

True. And yet, there’s something kinda remarkable about it. The way cats could command such respect and even fear. It says a lot about how the Egyptians saw balance—grace paired with ferocity, mystery with protection.

Lily Vogue

Speaking of cats running the world, let’s take a closer look at their lives in ancient Egypt. These furballs didn’t just rule temples—they were basically royalty at home, too. Families showered them with offerings like toys and food, and when they passed, it wasn’t just a simple goodbye. Nope, they were mummified, honored as the divine beings they were believed to be. Talk about the ultimate VIP treatment.

Buster McGillicuddy

Wait, hold up. Did you say mummifying cats? Like the whole linen wrap, golden sarcophagus, VIP afterlife package?

Lily Vogue

Exactly. In many cases, they believed cats carried a bit of Bastet’s spirit, so preserving them after death was a way to keep her favor. There are countless tombs filled with cat mummies, some even adorned with jewels. I mean, imagine that, your pet cat now an eternal treasure.

Buster McGillicuddy

Purr-sacred, alright. Back in my hometown, the most we do for a cat is put their name on a shoebox and plant ‘em in the backyard. This is next level.

Lily Vogue

It really is. Cats were considered sacred extensions of Bastet, so much so that harming a cat could lead to severe consequences, even the death penalty. They weren’t just pets—you might even call them household deities.

Buster McGillicuddy

Okay, I gotta ask. If cats were seen as little gods, how did they, uh, handle this ego boost? I mean, cats are already full of themselves without anyone bowing down.

Lily Vogue

Oh, they leaned into it, trust me. Imagine sauntering through a temple, knowing the priests—and probably half the town—are catering to your every whim. It’s peak cat behavior.

Buster McGillicuddy

I can just picture it. Some poor servant trying to get the priest’s blessing, but Sir Whiskers decides it’s lunch first. Classic feline priorities.

Lily Vogue

Well, here’s the irony. As much as cats ruled ancient Egypt, their reign didn’t last forever. With the rise of Christianity, the worship of Bastet and sacred felines began to fade. Cats went from divine protectors to, well, just cats.

Buster McGillicuddy

Aaaand that’s why we can joke about them plotting world domination today instead of, y’know, actually worrying about it.

Lily Vogue

But it does make me wonder—if Bastet had her moment in the digital age, would she still have a following? Like, imagine if instead of temples, she got followers on Instagram or TikTok. Would #BastetGoals be trending?

Buster McGillicuddy

Probably be selling merch too: Bastet-branded catnip and luxury scratching posts.

Lily Vogue

Honestly, I’d buy one. I can’t help it. Bastet stole my heart years ago when I first saw this bronze statue of her at the British Museum. She was carved to perfection, feline yet majestic, holding this sistrum—a kind of musical instrument. I was mesmerized.

Buster McGillicuddy

Oh no, you’re one of those "stares at museum displays for hours" people, huh?

Lily Vogue

Guilty as charged. I mean, history doesn’t feel distant when you’re face-to-face with something people revered thousands of years ago. That statue wasn’t just art, it was alive with stories of faith, culture, and love for these incredible creatures.

Buster McGillicuddy

And here I thought you just wanted to pet it. But hey, I get it. I'd probably keep my hands in my pockets, though. No way I’d risk knocking it over and being banned for life. Or worse, cursed by some long-lost Egyptian spirit.

Lily Vogue

It’s a good thing you didn’t come with me, then. But it’s fascinating how deeply tied cats were to their beliefs and daily lives. Even as the world moved on, you can still feel a shadow of that reverence in how we treat cats today.

Lily Vogue

So, if Bastet had dominated temples back in the day, isn’t it funny how history sort of repeats itself? I mean, we may not be mummifying our cats anymore, but we’ve basically turned the internet into their modern temple. Just look at Keyboard Cat or those Instagram-famous felines—it’s like digital-era worship.

Buster McGillicuddy

Ah, yes, the modern pantheon of feline memes. Grumpy Cat, Maru, and let’s not forget the iconic "I Can Has Cheezburger?" Cats own the internet.

Lily Vogue

Exactly. Think about it, Buster—thousands of years ago, people made offerings to feline goddesses. Now, we offer… likes, shares, and comment sections filled with heart emojis.

Buster McGillicuddy

So what you’re saying is, the cult's gone digital. Instead of temples, cats have TikTok. Instead of priests, they’ve got influencers posting videos of them eating snacks and wearing tiny hats.

Lily Vogue

Pretty much. The tools have changed, but the awe and adoration feel oddly familiar. It’s not that we’ve stopped worshipping cats—it’s that the internet let us do it on a global scale. Bastet would be proud, don’t you think?

Buster McGillicuddy

Or jealous. She probably didn’t get nearly as much fan art back in the day.

Lily Vogue

Fair point. But here’s what I love—cats today still embody what the Egyptians saw in them: grace, mystery, a little bit of chaos. Whether they’re lounging in temples or sleeping on keyboards, they’ve always had this way of captivating us humans.

Buster McGillicuddy

Oh, totally. And let’s be honest, they know it. Cats have got that "you need me more than I need you" vibe down to a science.

Lily Vogue

And yet, we can’t resist them. Maybe Bastet’s influence never really disappeared. It just evolved into something much… quirkier. Cats are still the queens and kings of their domain, whether it’s ancient Egypt or a Facebook group.

Buster McGillicuddy

Or your living room. My neighbor’s tabby totally thinks she’s the boss around there.

Lily Vogue

She probably is, Buster. But you know what? Maybe that’s okay. After all, they’ve been earning our devotion for thousands of years.

Buster McGillicuddy

True. And, hey, they’re easier to please than ancient gods. All they need is a patch of sun and a can of tuna.

Lily Vogue

And on that note, I think we can officially wrap this one up. From ancient altars to keyboards and hashtags, cats have come a long way—but they never lost their magic. Thanks for joining us on this purr-fectly fascinating journey.

Buster McGillicuddy

Oof, there it is. That pun hurt, Lily.

Lily Vogue

You loved it. Alright, everyone, we’ll see you next time on **What the Fact?!**.

Buster McGillicuddy

Until then, keep your cats happy and the memes flowing. Bye for now.