Cats are a beloved companion animal, but they’re also known to be fickle. One minute a cat purrs and stretches out for petting, the next she may pounce on your arm with ferocity. This is what’s called petting aggression. And it’s a real thing, though many people don’t realize it.
Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. They’re thought to have been first tamed by the ancient Egyptians, though scientists aren’t sure whether it happened independently or in tandem with dogs. The Egyptians admired cats for their combination of independence and protectiveness. In fact, they even worshipped a feline goddess, Bastet, who was believed to help women through childbirth.
Although today, there are 73 different breeds of cats, they all share some characteristics. For example, most cats have 18 toes (five on each front paw and four on their back paws). Their bodies are lean, yet muscular. And they can jump more than six times their own height. Their vision is superb, and they can hear sounds that are much higher than humans can.
But what’s a little less well-known is that cats are smart. They’re just not as easy to study in the lab as rats or dogs, because they tend to hide from people or refuse to cooperate altogether. Nevertheless, they’re fascinating creatures. Here are some of our favorite photos from LIFE’s iconic 20th century archive that show a few of their quirks.