Humans domesticated some animals for food, clothing, work and as companion animals. The cat became a human companion rather late, as recently as 4,000 years ago in Egypt. It is not clear why the Egyptians domesticated the wild cat. They may have tamed it for practical reasons, as the cat controlled rodent pests that plagued grain stores and warehouses, or for religious reasons, as the cat played an important role in the Egyptian religion as a representation of the goddess Bastet.Today they live all over the world and delight millions of people who enjoy them as pets.