The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed human-cat relationships as people moved from rural to urban environments. Cats adapted to industrial settings, with factory cats becoming common in textile mills, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities.

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The London docks employed thousands of cats to control rat populations in grain warehouses and shipping facilities. These working cats developed strong social structures and territorial systems that informed later understanding of feline social behaviour. The success of dock cat colonies demonstrated that cats could thrive in group settings when proper resources and space were provided.

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Victorian society began keeping cats primarily as companions rather than working animals, leading to the development of cat breeds and the first cat shows. The Crystal Palace Cat Show of 1871 marked the beginning of organised cat appreciation as entertainment and social activity, presaging modern cat cafe experiences.