Domestication

The domestication of animals for human use/companionship was a very long process. Since humans began forming civilizations and societies, many animals chose to stay close to human settlements to feed on any food scraps that were left behind or carelessly placed. This unintentionally recruited rodents to settlements that would not only eat people's food supplies but bring disease with them. People noticed that cats were very good at catching and killing bothersome rodents, and would entice them with food into living with/near them. Most domestication processes begin like this, with the animal in question providing a benefit for humans and in turn being rewarded with food or shelter.