It is estimated that cats were domesticated about 12,000 years ago for the practical purpose of protecting the surplus of crops from mice. The cats were delighted by the abundance of prey and the people were delighted by the pest control. However, humans have since developed a closer bond with the species and thus have felt it necessary to depict the cats in the works of art that they create. Cat art, in one form or another, has been around as long as cats have. Over the centuries, the creatures have been imagined as goddess, hunter, companion and thief. It is common to associate the kitty with kitsch, especially in the realm of Web 2.0, however it is evident in this body of work that they have also marked their territory in the avant-garde. Cats, although they can be slightly judgemental, make great subjects for works of art as they can evoke feelings of security and affection, or distress and discomfort. They can create a personal connection for the viewer, whether that connection is pleasant or unpleasant. The Feline and the Homo-Sapien examines the representation of cat-human relationships in objects produced throughout time.
