Transcription: pets. Egyptians kept cats and dogs as pets, much as we do today. They also kept more unusual pets, such as monkeys, pigeons, and gazelles. When merchants traveled, they often returned with these unusual animals. Pets were good companions, and they were often useful. For example, the Egyptians were probably the first people to keep cats as pets. They had a good reason. Cats chased rats and mice away from homes and away from the stored grain. Cats were highly valued because Egyptians liked clean homes and because grain was the primary food source. Egyptians even had a goddess who was represented ...
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