They were accused of it by (of course) non-Egyptians, and there is plenty of evidence that they really did worship cats, since we have paintings and carvings that show priests bowing to cats, making offerings to cats and, in general, treating the creatures as if they were indeed gods. Religion experts make fine distinctions between “venerating” and “worshipping,” but the average human being doesn’t, in mind or heart, grasp such distinctions. About all we can say for certain is that the ancient Egyptians truly adored cats as they did no other
animal.
