Make no mistake about it- pets were prized in the medieval era. After all, they were useful. Cats were kept as pest control agents, and dogs helped in hunting and herding. If you were able to keep a pet just for companionship, that was sign of wealth. However, that doesn't mean these pets were treated well. Cruelty to animals wasn't advised, but certain customs and advice handed down through generations sound like cruelty to us modern pet owners. For example, if you wanted to keep your dog from growing too big, you should give it only dirty water. Maybe it worked, but it couldn't have been great for the dog. To keep a cat from wandering away, "turn the cat three times around the pot hook, then rub its legs against their chimney wall." Or just put butter on the cat's legs, which is a folk tale that was still around in the 20th century. I was always told to put butter on a cat's paws when you move house, because it keeps them busy and distracted.
Mental Floss has dug up 22 bizarre pieces of advice about pets from medieval times, with a warning to not follow them. You can read them in a list or watch a video, both presented here. Then you'll know what to do when your monkey bites you.
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