We are fortunate to possess copies of laws mandated in the tenth century by Howel the Good, the ruler of Wales. Howel’s law code stated that a newborn kitten was worth one penny, and an adult cat (able to kill mice) was worth four pennies. If a cat was killed, the owner was recompensed four pennies. Just to let you know the relative value: a mature sheep or goat was also worth four pennies, while a goose or hen was worth only one penny. If a couple divorced and had only one cat between them, the husband got the cat, but if they had two cats, the wife got one, too.
