Hebrew/Persian Myth regarding cats

[VoidCat]

In a book I'm reading called Mystic Cats: A celebration of cat magic and Feline Charm it mentions a hebrew legend in how cats were created. I don't know where the legend came from like if theres a text or if it's a word of mouth story. However googling some sources say it's actually a persian myth. Either way here's the story paraphrasing:

Noah was chilling on the ark. He was afraid that the lion would kill the other animals. So God made the lion go to sleep.
But this caused a problem. The mice in the ark reproduced too rapidly. Noah prayed to God about it.
God said: Smack the lion on the nose.
Noah did presumably with a newspaper. Anyway so the lion sneezed.
Two cats popped out.

The end.

 

[VoidCat]

Ah I found one source onn where the myth came from:

Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica

The Encyclopaedia Iranica is a comprehensive research tool dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent

iranicaonline.org

The cat is also not mentioned explicitly in the Koran, although tafsīrs and ḥadīṯ frequently refer to it. According to Muslim mythology the cat was created on Noah’s Ark: Alarmed at the increasing number of mice Noah asked God for help; God ordered him to touch the lion’s head or rub its nostrils, whereupon the lion sneezed out a pair of cats (Jāḥeẓ, V, pp. 347-48; Baḷʿamī, ed. Bahār, I, pp. 140-41; Ḥoqūqī, III, p.25; Danhardt, I, pp. 271f.; Massé, p. 189; this myth may be at the root of the Persian folk belief that the cat is vain because it fell out of a lion’s nose, az damāḡ-e šīr oftāda; Hedāyat, pp.140-41; cf. Thompson, Motif A1811.2 “Creation of cat: Sneezed from lion’s nostrils”). In Islam the cat therefore carried good associations, and even the Prophet is said to have assigned the konya Abū Horayra to one of his companions whose affection for his pet kitten was well known

 

[wellwisher]

One of the oldest breeds of cats, that is still around is the Sphinx, which originated in the region near ancient Egypt. What makes them unique is they are hairless. They evolved in the heat but can get sun burnt. In the winter, you cut off the arm of a sweat shirt and cut two holes for the front legs, and the head come out, where your hand would come out. Instant coat, that they willingly accept.

We used to have Sphinx cats; up to seven at one time; litter, along with a Shar Pei and later a Doberman;. One sphinx in particular was quite unique; She was the matriarch of the other cats, and was called Jackie-Ju. She was the diplomat animal of the family, always welcoming people, cats or dogs; new and old, to the house.

If company stayed over, she would sit on their lap and then sleep with them. She was very calm and disarming even to big dogs. The doberman would leave her be unless she approached to rub against him. The Shar Pei ; Kendal, was allowed by Jackie, to sleep with the cats near the pellet stove. Maybe her wrinkles gave her an edge. Jackie Ju lived until 18 years old, with minimal vet care.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

However googling some sources say it's actually a persian myth.

Then why the "Hebrew/Persian Myth" and a paraphrase pointing to Noah? Was is a tale found among Paersian Jews?

 

[VoidCat]

Then why the "Hebrew/Persian Myth" and a paraphrase pointing to Noah? Was is a tale found among Paersian Jews?

I wrote hebrew cuz the book said it was a hebrew myth. Googling it may actually be a Muslim one. I didn't and still don't know where it originated. It could be a hebrew myth or it could be a Muslim one. Idk. Seems there are Muslim sources I don't know where the book I'm reading got hebrew but some Google sources say hebrew as well.

I'm still looking trying to figure out orgins. But it's either a Persian myth Muslims created or a hebrew one.

 

[VoidCat]

@Jayhawker Soule

That's the first thing that pops up. Then a few links some suggesting it's a hebrew myth and some a Muslim myth. I've tried different variations of searching. The link I posted in post #2 seems to talk about where the idea of it being a Muslim myth came from. Unsure about the idea of it being a hebrew one I can't find where that idea orginated.

I'm getting conflicting sources. As a result I included both in the OP and posted the link to why some say it's a Muslim myth.

It could be both. Idk. Either way that link regarding it being a Muslim myth is on a site documenting Iranian history.

 

[Eddi]

I love pusscats

 

[Tamino]

One of the oldest breeds of cats, that is still around is the Sphinx, which originated in the region near ancient Egypt. What makes them unique is they are hairless. They evolved in the heat but can get sun burnt.

Uuhhmm what? I thought the breed originated in the 20th century. Afaik they didn't evolve by natural selection, but where bred selectively.
Are you sure you're not confusing them with the Egyptian Mau? Am I missing something?

 

[VoidCat]

Uuhhmm what? I thought the breed originated in the 20th century. Afaik they didn't evolve by natural selection, but where bred selectively.
Are you sure you're not confusing them with the Egyptian Mau? Am I missing something?

Yeah the sphinx was selectively breed and came about in the 1960s. The Egyptian Mau however is a spotted cat that dates back to 1400BC and wasn't selectively bred. In fact paintings of cats in ancient Egypt were often spotted.

 

[VoidCat]

Cats in Ancient Egyptian Art | Alberti’s Window

Some spotted cat artwork.
I take back the often spotted part. Just I have a book on cats in ancient Egypt and often the cats had spots in paintings. It could be tho im misremembering the book. Or those were just the ones the author included.