>Dead cats are taken away to sacred buildings in the town of Bubastis, where they are embalmed and buried; female dogs are buried by the townsfolk in their own towns in sacred coffins; and the like is done with mongooses. Shrewmice and hawks are take

Interesting. Never knew about Bubastis when I visited Egypt. Thought that Serapeum of Saqqara was the largets animal tomb,.
Did Herodotus mention why this was done?