Egyptian Cat Hieroglyph

It marks a cat-related word; it is not an alphabet letter. Egyptologists write the ancient Egyptian word for “cat” in Latin letters as miw; E13 follows its written consonants as a determinative, a sign that clarifies meaning.

Clear cat representations are documented from the second millennium BCE. New Kingdom scenes show cats as household companions, while religious objects from the Late and Ptolemaic periods make their association with Bastet especially visible. Cats were valued for hunting rodents and snakes; Bastet was associated with protection, fertility, and the home.

Why does the cat hieroglyph follow the word?

It points to meaning rather than sound. Egyptian hieroglyphic writing leaves many vowels unwritten, so different words can share the same written consonants. A determinative is not read aloud; it follows a word and points to its meaning. With miw, the seated cat narrows the reading to “cat.”

Egyptian writing has separate signs for other animals: 𓃦 is used for dogs or other four-legged animals, while 𓃭 represents lions and other large felines. They are related animal signs, not alternate forms of the cat sign.

What does it mean when someone sends the cat hieroglyph?

Read it as a cat reference with Egyptian styling. By itself, it does not tell you whether the sender means a literal cat, Bastet, or Egyptian writing; the surrounding message or imagery decides.

A font draws this text character. If a device lacks a font with Egyptian hieroglyph support, it may show a box or blank; another font can give the same character a different outline.