I was inspired to take a look at how animals were kept during Tudor times, and medieval times (since I read a comment by LPC on the "Badger" thread.)
Yes, Queen Elizabeth had a cat burned alive in a wicker basket at her cornonation! How utterly horrible.
But there are some interesting historical facts about cats and dogs in Tudor times here:
http://www.thetudorswiki.com/page/PETS+of+the+Tudors
It shows how Pope Innocent (what a misnomer!) in 1484 was indirectly responsible for the Black Death, by having so many cats killed throughout Europe (believing them -I suppose -to be in league with 'witches' and 'the Devil'.....how utterly stupid!) As a result the rodent population increased and carried the fleas which caused plague.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth had a cat burned alive in a wicker basket at her cornonation! How utterly horrible.
But there are some interesting historical facts about cats and dogs in Tudor times here:
http://www.thetudorswiki.com/page/PETS+of+the+Tudors
It shows how Pope Innocent (what a misnomer!) in 1484 was indirectly responsible for the Black Death, by having so many cats killed throughout Europe (believing them -I suppose -to be in league with 'witches' and 'the Devil'.....how utterly stupid!) As a result the rodent population increased and carried the fleas which caused plague.