Domestication of the cat

An example of a domesticated, indoor cat
A tabby cat sitting on a rock
A domestic tabby cat

The domestic cat originated from Near-Eastern and Egyptian populations of the African wildcat, Felis sylvestris lybica. The family Felidae, to which all living feline species belong, is theorized to have arisen about ten to eleven million years ago and is divided into eight major phylogenetic lineages. The Felis lineage in particular is the lineage to which the domestic cat belongs.[1][page needed]

Several investigations have shown that all domestic varieties of cats come from a single species of the Felis lineage, Felis catus. Variations of this lineage are found across the world, and until recently scientists have found it difficult to identify exactly which region gave rise to modern domestic cat breeds. Scientists believed that it was not just one incident that led to the domesticated cat but multiple independent incidents at different places that led to these breeds. More complications arose from the fact that wildcat populations as a whole are very widespread and very similar to one another. These variations of wildcats can and will interbreed freely with one another when in close contact, further blurring the lines between taxa.[2] Recent DNA studies, advancement in genetic technologies, and a better understanding of DNA and genetics as a whole has helped make discoveries in the evolutionary history of the domestic cat.[3] Archaeological evidence has documented earlier dates of domestication than formerly believed.

  1. ^ Serpell, James A. (2013). "Domestication and history of the cat". In Turner, Dennis C; Bateson, Patrick (eds.). The Domestic Cat. Canmbridge, England, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 83–100. ISBN 9781139177177.
  2. ^ Driscoll, Carlos (2009). "The Taming of the Cat. Genetic and Archaeological findings hint that wildcats became housecats earlier- and in different place- than previously thought". Scientific American. 300 (6): 68–75. Bibcode:2009SciAm.300f..68D. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0609-68 (inactive 1 November 2024). PMC 5790555. PMID 19485091.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  3. ^ Lyons, Leslie (December 2012). "Genetic Testing in Domestic Cats". National Institute's of Health. PMID 22546621.