Cats and humans have a long history together. The cat has been important in many different cultures including those of the ancient Egyptians and the New World Aztecs, Maya and Olmec. The cat is also very important in contemporary culture. In the United States, one in every four families owns at least one cat, and cats outnumber dogs as pets. Cats are prominent in art, literature, films and advertising,cat paintings depict cats in their natural environment.