Earlier generations of humans may have kept cats as pets, but the question of how many people were keeping them in homes still remains. Interestingly, cats were quite valuable to early farming communities, where they served as effective rodent-killers. Deputy news editor at Science magazine, David Grimm, examines our relationship with dogs and cats. In the 1800s, cats and dogs were not only pets, they were also useful for killing rodents.
Who was the first to domesticate cats?
Who was the first to domesticate cats? There are a number of theories, but many scientists agree that humans first domesticated cats in the 1800s. Cats may have been introduced to Europe as far back as 9,000 B.C., but archaeological evidence from Israel and Pakistan suggests they were already domesticated before that. Whether or not this was the case remains to be seen, but cats certainly were important in the evolution of human civilization.
Some researchers believe domestication began about 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, an area that stretches from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea to the land surrounding the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The development of manmade structures and grain storage attracted wild cats to humans. Once cats became accustomed to humans, they began to make homes among humans, and domestication spread across North Africa and the Middle East. The Romans introduced domestic cats to Europe as well.
What was the first cat in history?
Ancient Egyptians are credited with domesticating cats around 3,600 years ago. However, a 2004 excavation in Cyprus unearthed a human burial with a cat in it. Cats are not native to Cyprus, and were likely transported by boat from the nearby Levantine coast. Regardless of the exact timing of the cat’s domestication, the cat had a tough job ahead of it. The cradle of western agriculture, the Fertile Crescent, was also the first region in which cats were domesticated.
Although dogs were domesticated before cats, they still proved to be useful companions for humans during the hunt. Cats also made great helpmates for humans when they settled down and started to harvest and store surplus crops. Mice would often inhabit grain stores, which naturally attracted cats. Cats could then hunt mice that lived there, which would in turn attract wild mice. Cats were a perfect solution for the mice problem and people appreciated their pest control capabilities.
What did domestic cats evolve from?
There are various theories about where domestic cats came from. Some suggest that they originated from the African Wildcat, but others believe they came from another species. Regardless of where they originated, domestic cats are considered to be close relatives of the wildcat. A close comparison of two species of wildcats would reveal some surprising similarities and differences. In general, the domestic cat is more docile and less aggressive than its wild cousin.
Most of today’s domestic cats are not truly domesticated. They are descendants of wild cats, which humans recruited and bred from the wild. In contrast, domestic cats evolved by choosing to live with humans. Ultimately, they’re still wild, but they’re not feral and still exhibit characteristics of wild cats. And because they’re so social and intelligent, they may have been genetically programmed to be tame.
As the cat evolved, it spread across the world, and was eventually domesticated. By 2,000 years ago, it was in the Orient where it was known to survive and spread. Ancient ships often carried cats as vermin-control agents, and medieval ships were forbidden to travel without them. Once the cat reached the Orient, it had its own trajectory, and a small group of Oriental domestic cats began to evolve in its own ways. Some of these cats acquired different coat colors, and mutations that were unique to their origins. Genetic drift is the process whereby fixed traits are lost and others are gained.
Where do domestic cats come from originally?
While domestic cats are not native to North America, they are related to wild cats and have been bred for their distinct coat patterns. Domestic cats came to be with the 19th century and were first selectively bred. Cats were first domesticated in Europe, where they shared similar genes with wild cats. Later on, in the Ottoman Empire, tabby cats were developed. They became so popular that they became recognized as distinct breeds.
Archaeological evidence and genetic analyses prove that domestic cats originated in the Middle East. This was a place where mice invaded human settlements to find food, attracting wildcats to them. Early farmers recognized the benefits of cats in controlling the rodent population, and selective pressure enhanced their rodent hunting and taming skills. Cats were then domesticated in the Mediterranean and subsequently migrated throughout the world.
The earliest evidence of domestication dates back about 9,500 years. The ancient Egyptians even mummified a cat and buried it with human remains. In the ancient world, cats were not new domestic pets, as the Ancient Egyptians revered the cat goddess Bastet. During this time, cats were traded by Greek and Phoenician traders. In ancient Rome, cats were even brought to cities in baggage during marches.
When did cats first appear on Earth?
The ancestors of modern cats lived nearly 20 million years ago. In Asia, the ancestor of all cats crossed the Bering land bridge. Then, it wandered to Europe, Asia, and North America, where it evolved into a wide variety of species. Their descendants include tigers, lions, and domestic cats. The researchers analyzed DNA, fossil evidence, and 10 intercontinental migrations to arrive at a conclusion.
Scientists believe that these early big cats evolved from nimravids and barbourofelids, which were related to modern cats. Other marsupials tried to imitate cat behavior and eventually developed a distinct line of cats. The first big cat fossil, discovered in 1887, is called P. blytheae, and the team is continuing to look for the animal’s fossils.
The origins of the cat are controversial. Although the origin of the species is uncertain, researchers can infer the location of their migrations by studying the skeletons of cats. They have determined that cats migrated through Anatolia, Cyprus, Crete, Greece, and Ancient Rome. Then, cats migrated to North America, where they were adopted by Celts and Germans. They are a very flexible species, and their DNA reveals many differences that were present long before humans arrived on the planet.
Where did all cats evolve from?
While there’s no definitive answer, it’s safe to say that all cats originated from a common ancestor. The earliest fossils of a panther-like ancestor first appeared in Southeast Asia at about 10.8 million years ago. While feline fossils are very difficult to distinguish, researchers Warren E. Johnson and Stephen J. O’Brien studied DNA from 37 living species of cats to determine their distinct evolutionary lineages.
Because felines were never domesticated, they’ve evolved to coexist with humans. The species that we know as house cats is an offshoot of the felid lybica, which lived alongside humans 12,000 years ago in parts of the Near East. It preyed on rodents attracted to stored grains and seeds and consumed waste meat from slain animals. This is the basis for house cats, although they have been known to migrate widely across continents and even within the same continent.
Ancient Egyptians kept cats as pets about 3,600 years ago. But archaeological discoveries and genetic research have changed that theory. These findings have led to fresh insights into the domestic cat’s ancestry and its relationship with humans. However, there’s no conclusive proof that cats and humans coexisted before this point. It’s not clear when this fusion of ancient human culture took place. In fact, ancient Egyptians started to treat cats as a sacred animal.
Where did domestic cats originate from?
While the origin of domestic cats is unclear, it is believed that they evolved in ancient Egypt. As they became more domesticated, these cats spread through Europe. As the Roman Empire grew, they were brought from Egypt and later spread to other parts of Europe. During this time, the Egyptians considered cats to be sacred, and they were hunted and killed in large numbers. As Europe colonized the world, cats spread to almost every country in the world.
Archaeological evidence and genetic analyses have dated domestic cats to the Middle East. The first domestication of domestic cats was probably done at these settlements because of mice’s propensity to infest human habitats. Humans were attracted to cats because they were adept at hunting mice, and early farmers cultivated them for their rodent-killing ability. In the course of time, the cats adapted and followed humans around the world.
When was the first domesticated cat found?
The first domesticated cat lived in ancient Egypt and was known as the Egyptian Mau. Interestingly, the Egyptian Mau was found mummified alongside pharos. Apparently, cats were considered to be companion animals in the afterlife, and they were beloved pets even before 1500 B.C.E. Several theories have been proposed for the domestication of cats, including the fact that they diverged from their wild relatives as they adapted to living with people and hunting vermin around human settlements. However, the truth lies somewhere in between.
Archaeologists have been searching for clues as to when cats were domesticated. The skeletal remains of domesticated cats and wild cats are very similar. In fact, some archaeologists believe that domestication may have started more than 8,000 years ago. Nevertheless, there are still many questions that remain about the history of domestication. Regardless, there is a definite connection between cats and humans.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.