The Utilitarian Origins of Animal Companionship

For most of human history, animals we now consider pets served strictly practical purposes. In rural societies across continents, dogs guarded homesteads while cats protected grain stores from rodents. Medieval European philosophers like Albertus Magnus advised against pampering guard dogs, warning that affection would make them poor watchdogs. Similarly, Chinese scholars praised cats for “protecting books” – not through any literary appreciation, but by hunting paper-chewing mice.

This functional relationship reflected economic realities. In subsistence-level societies, no household could afford to feed non-working animals. The very concept of keeping animals purely for companionship emerged only when societies achieved sufficient surplus wealth.

The Aristocratic Beginnings of Pet Culture

The transition from working animals to pets first appeared among elites. In Tang Dynasty China (618-907 CE), the imperial court prized exotic “Fulin dogs” – tiny, intelligent canines imported from Byzantium via the Silk Road. These six-inch tall companions, depicted in Zhou Fang’s “Court Ladies Wearing Floral Headdresses,” represented extraordinary luxury, capable of fetching higher prices than skilled laborers earned in years.

By the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), pet-keeping democratized. Historical records describe urban households keeping dogs for companionship rather than protection. The “Yijian Zhi” chronicles how one distraught owner posted missing posters for his beloved black-and-white dog named “Silver Hooves” – an unmistakable case of Song Dynasty pet parenting.

A Flourishing Medieval Pet Economy

Song Dynasty cities developed surprisingly modern pet industries. Kaifeng’s markets offered specialized products:

– Species-specific foods (fish for cats, sweetened bran for dogs)
– Pet accessories including collars and leashes
– “Gai Mao Quan” services – likely early pet grooming
– Even pet dyeing services using plant-based colors

The sophistication of this market suggests widespread pet ownership across social classes. Poet Lu You’s writings confirm this, describing middle-class families keeping cats they couldn’t afford to feed properly – much like modern college students with impulse-adopted pets.

Feline Favorites and Canine Companions

Song society displayed particular affection for cats. Paintings like Su Hanchen’s “Children Playing in Winter” show cats as pampered household members rather than mousers. Wealthy families prized long-haired “lion cats” – Persian imports too pampered to hunt. When a chief minister’s granddaughter lost her lion cat, authorities arrested hundreds and plastered missing posters across Hangzhou’s tea houses.

Dogs held different cultural status. While beloved, they weren’t “hired” with the ceremonial “pin” (聘) ritual used for cats. This distinction reveals fascinating cultural attitudes – cats were considered family members to be formally welcomed, while dogs remained working companions.

Medieval Pet Scams and Social Commentary

The high value placed on certain breeds invited fraud. Hong Mai’s records describe a couple who chemically dyed a common cat to sell as rare “Qianhong” (乾红) variety to a palace eunuch. When the dye faded weeks later, the schemers had vanished – a cautionary tale about vanity purchasing that resonates today.

Contemporary poetry also critiqued pampered pets. Hu Zhonggang’s verse mocks households that “raise cats like children” despite their mousing incompetence – proving medieval complaints about lazy pets predate modern internet memes by eight centuries.

The Enduring Legacy of Historical Pet-Keeping

The Song Dynasty’s pet culture reveals surprising modern parallels:

– Specialty pet markets anticipating today’s pet store chains
– Pet grooming services mirroring contemporary spas
– Emotional bonds documented in poetry and art
– Even debates about responsible pet ownership

This historical perspective reminds us that our desire for animal companionship isn’t a modern indulgence, but a enduring human impulse that flourishes whenever economic conditions allow. From Byzantine lapdogs to Instagram-famous cats, the journey from working animal to family member reflects humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world – and our timeless need for connection.