It was probably women, not girly men who domesticated cats. It helped to have cats hanging around the cave to eat rats and mice and play with the children. It was usually dumb conservative men in power who ordered killing of cats and dogs when the plague was active, thus giving rats and their fleas greater opportunity.
I'll have a hit of whatever you're on. :^) How was your T-giving?
And btw, dogs and cats domesticated humans, not the other way around. :^)