Label TextAt some point after it was mummified, this cat was folded in half, which resulted in considerable damage to the skeleton and linen wrappings. During conservation to return the cat to its original shape, traces of fur found indicate that it was an orange tabby, many of which are male. The tomcat, one of the many manifestations of the god Ra, is shown on Middle Kingdom magical knives and in the Book of the Dead fighting the serpent Apep.
One of the most remarkable features of this cat is the painted shroud covering the front of the mummy. The pattern on this shroud mimics a faience bead-net dress, a popular covering for human mummies, particularly during the Roman Period. The cat mummy also has a red linen cloth over its head, a feature typically reserved for mummies of priests.
(Sarah Schellinger, 2018)