The most interesting thing about the history of cats is that they have been domesticated for thousands of years. Evidence suggests that cats were first domesticated in the Middle East around 9,500 years ago. Cats were revered in ancient Egypt, where they were associated with the goddess Bastet. Cats were also popular in the Roman Empire, where they were kept as pets and used to help control the rodent population. Additionally, cats were believed to have magical powers in medieval Europe, and were sometimes kept as companions by witches.