William S. Burroughs suggests that the domestication of cats originated in Egypt, where their presence was linked to the storage of grain that attracted rodents. Despite this, he points out that there is no evidence to suggest that the same process occurred in Mayan culture, despite the presence of wild cats. This view on cat domestication doesn't fully capture the complexity of their relationship with humans.

Burroughs argues that cats should not just be seen as practical rodent controllers, as other animals perform this task more effectively. Instead, he proposes that cats have historically played a role as psychic companions or Familiars, suggesting that their primary purpose has always been to provide emotional and spiritual support to humans rather than merely pest control.