Over 5000 years ago, the Egyptians began to worship cats as powerful "totem animals", or spiritual protectors. Over time, they began to represent many different aspects of life for the ancient Egyptians. The cat was a symbol of the feminine principle, as well as fertility and motherhood. Also, they consider that the cat was a powerful symbol for the moon.
In the Book Of The Dead, cats are mentioned as a protector against evil gods and spirits. Following this, you often find statues of cats wearing jewellry, or even mummified cats buried in tombs alongside their owners.
So revered was the cats in ancient Egypt that the exporting of cats outside the country was strictly forbidden, and killing a cat would result in an instant death penalty.
It is arguable that the Egyptians took this too far. During a war with the Persians, the Persians kidnapped and hostage thousands of cats, demanding immediate surrender in return the lives of the kitties. Rather than tempt punishment from the gods, the Egyptians immediately capitulated and surrendered their lands to the Persians.
After thousands of years of unending adoration, the fortune of the cat changed in 400 BC, when the population was forbidden from worshipping cats. Since then, cats returned to their status as domesticated animals in Egypt.
However, the air of mystique and spirituality has never left the cat and even today, cats are considered mystical, magical animals.
An Egyptian cat tattoo is a great way of showing your individuality, as well as letting the world know that you have a spiritual mystical side. They also look very exotic, and while they are very traditional they also have a real new-age luck to them.