06.30.07

DNA reveals Adam & Eve of domestic cat

Posted in Cat News, Cat Articles at 1:39 pm by pawpathblog

Above: The Felis silvestris on the left, and the Felis catus (Bambi trying to look fierce…or bored, not sure which). See a family resemblance? We do!

New research shows that the domestic house cat is descended from the Middle Eastern Wild cat, uncovering proof of how and when cats first came to supervise so many homes for humans.The DNA of 979 cats throughout the world were analyzed and found that all feral and domestic cats today have a common ancestor: the Near Eastern Felis silvestris.

It is conjectured that cats chose to start living with people around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, when farmers started growing grain, and cats started to prey on rodents amongst the grain, developing a mutually beneficial relationship with humans. Cats were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, an area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, and then cats were transported around the world by humans.

The earliest archaeological evidence for cats and people living together was found in Cyprus, dating to 9,500 years ago.

These new findings will greatly aid in the conservation of today’s wildcats.

Read more about this:

• Science Magazine - link to abstract of scientific article, “The Near Eastern Origin of Cat Domestication” - subscription required to read entire article
• CNN.com: House cat descendent of Middle Eastern wildcat
• Guardian Unlimited (UK): DNA research identifies homeland of the domestic cat
• ABC News: First domestic cat purred in the Middle East

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