Actually, it was more like:
Dark age Xtian fundyism -> plague -> inquisitions -> women burnings -> less cats -> worse plagues -> more inquisitions -> even worse plagues -> even more women burnings -> labour shortage.
Unifications and formations of states -> renaissance -> more plagues -> more women burnings -> even less cats -> etc...
The formation of the various European states had nothing to do with less cats. It was an inevitable result of centuries of feudal warlords going for each others' throats.
The Laminator
For goodness's sake, please vote Democrat this November!