5
The original domestic associations between cat
and man seem to have occurred in Ancient Egypt.
The deified cat was revered and not allowed to
be taken out of the country under pain of
death. Consequently when some did reach Rome
they were treated as 'rare and exotic animals
from the East, prized by ancient kings'.
Colchester as Camulodunum was the Roman capital
in Britain before they developed London to
become the centre of provincial government and
trade. By the time London assumed its
importance Essex had many Roman roads and
settlements, and the route between capital and
former capital running through Romford and
Chelmsford must have seemed the most used in
this outpost of empire. Many wealthy Romans
retired to villas in and around Colchester, and
a number would have kept cats as pampered pets
in house and courtyard. When Boudicca's
hoards swept down on this then unwalled and
unprotected Colonia in the Iceni revolt of
AD60/61 Colchester was completely burnt and the
surviving cats would have scattered to the
surrounding countryside. London at this time
was also unwalled, and by then already an
important provincial town, and so was attacked
and destroyed by fire The appalling
circumstances have more than an echo in the
Blitz.. The events were devastating for people
and buildings, and as during World War II
when many cats took to the streets after their
homes were bombed, a number would have been
dispossessed during the sudden slaughter and
burning of Londinium. The town was rebuilt
under Julius Classicianus, the Procurator,
and then continued to grow into a city.