Viking cats ranged across the Viking lands. They were important for vermin control, companionship, and possibly fur. How did Vikings get their cats?
Becoming Viking Cats
The prevailing theories on domesticated cats state that cats, specifically Felis sylvestris lybica, developed a symbiotic relationship with humans in the Fertile Crescent and domesticated themselves. Humans created farms, which attracted vermin, which attracted cats. The cats ate the vermin, protecting the humans’ food, and earned the right to stay on the farm.
The first migration of cats likely took place 8,000 years ago, reaching into Europe and across the Middle East. Egyptians revered their cats during this time.
The second migration brought cats in boats and started 1700 B.C.E. The migration accelerated between 400 and 1200 C.E. This is when the Vikings found their new feline friends.
On the Ship
Cats seem to arrive in Viking territory in urban areas first. This points to boats and ships as their primary means of migration. Ships kept cats on board to take care of rats and mice that would otherwise eat the ship’s food supplies. Vikings took their cats to Greenland and may have brought cats to North America.
On the farm
Cats weren’t just famed for their ability to control rodents. They were also prized for their fur. There is evidence that Vikings farmed cats to create clothes from their warm pelts. A well at the Viking fortress of Nonnebakken had the remains of 68 cats in it; their injuries, including broken necks, were consistent with skinning. Freyja is said to have mittens made of cat fur.
Viking Cats in Mythology
According to one legend, Thor gave Freyja two gib-cats to pull her chariot. These cats of blue or gray color took Freyja to the funeral of her son Baldur. Because cats were sacred to Freyja, those who treated felines well could expect blessings from Freyja. The bride at a wedding was said to have “fed the cat well” if there was good weather on the big day.
However, there are only two quotes about the cats in the Prose Edda. One confirms that two cats pulled her in a chariot. The other seems to mean she rides the cats to Baldur’s funeral.
The sound of a cat walking is one of the components of Gleipnir, a chain that restrains the wolf Fenrir. The gods feared Fenrir’s power and penchant for chaos.
Modern Cats
While most domesticated species get smaller with their involvement in human lives, domestic cats today are 16% larger than the Viking cats of old. One more interesting fact, the modern Norwegian forest cat (Norsk skogkatt) descended from Viking cats.
Sources: https://www.lifeinnorway.net/viking-cats/
https://www.norsemythology.org/norse-tales/the-binding-of-fenrir
https://www.history.com/news/viking-cats-discoveryhttps://www.science.org/content/article/viking-cat-skeletons-reveal-surprising-growth-size-felines-over-time
