Ancient Egyptians revered cats, viewing them as sacred vessels of divine energy. Bastet, a feline goddess from Egypt, assumed the image of a cat or a feline-headed woman in 2000 BCE Countless representations of a seated cat, cat-headed goddess, or cat with kittens include dedicatory inscriptions addressed to Bastet.
Students at the American University of Armenia share an odd similarity with the ancient Egyptian civilization. Across the campus, a plethora of felines and kittens of varying breeds and colors can be found. Although different from one another, they are all collectively united by one thing: the unwavering love that they get from the community.
On any given day, a student rushing between classes and buildings might pause to scratch a kitty behind the ears. A group gathered near the giant chessboard outside the Student Union might find themselves with a small, uninvited audience. The cats of AUA do not merely inhabit the campus; they belong to it.
They are fed, named and coddled. Some have become icons so familiar that students know their routines as well as their own.
There is a group of tuxedos that roam around the Union and the long staircase near it. They are usually fed by students who are either eating at the local cafés or by those who are often at the Union.
There is another group of tuxedos and a few bombays who hang around at a much quieter place on the campus. Behind the vending machine in the back of the lobby of the Main Building, there is a door leading to an area that is mostly used by the maintenance workers. They, too, share the same love for these fuzzballs. They often leave out food, old pieces of cloth and cardboard boxes for the kitties.
A much rarer sight to behold is the orange tabby in front of the main building, or the brown tabby outside the Najarian Building. When they show up, it is a whole unannounced event!
For many students who are navigating the pressures of adult life, the cats offer something quiet and uncomplicated. A moment of warmth between lectures. A reason to slow down.
Perhaps the ancient Egyptians were onto something.
