In Ancient Egypt, cats were mummified and buried with jewelry, and harming a cat was an offense that could be punished with death

Domagoj Valjak

                                                        Black Egyptian cat statue

 The Ancient Egyptian religion was a vastly complex system of polytheistic beliefs that included an elaborate mythology and a large number of deities. Many of the deities were frequently represented as animals: the funerary god Anubis was depicted as a jackal; Hathor, the goddess of fertility, was often depicted as a cow; and Horus, the god of sky and kingship and one of the most significant ancient Egyptian deities, was usually depicted as an ornamented falcon. Animals’ significance extended beyond representing the gods; they were an integral part of Egyptian culture and society...https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/02/23/ancient-egypt-cats/