Domestication of the cat

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An example of a domesticated, indoor cat wearing a pet collar and cat bell Domesticated indoor cat WI.jpg
An example of a domesticated, indoor cat wearing a pet collar and cat bell

The domestic cat originated from Near-Eastern and Egyptian populations of the African wildcat, Felis lybica lybica. The family Felidae, to which all living feline species belong, is thought to have arisen about 12 to 13 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] : 84 

Contents

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 the modern domestic cat. It is believed that many separate incidents in different places led to the creation of these breeds. More complications arose from the fact that wildcat populations are very widespread and are very similar to one another. These variations of wildcats 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, have added to the evolutionary history of the domestic cat. [3] Archaeological evidence has provided earlier dates for domestication than were previously suggested.

DNA and phylogenetic evidence

A European wildcat, one of the less likely ancestors of the modern domestic cat Felis silvestris silvestris.jpg
A European wildcat, one of the less likely ancestors of the modern domestic cat

Current taxonomy tends to treat F. silvestris , F. lybica , F. catus , [4] and F. bieti as different species. A 2007 study of feline mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites of approximately 1,000 cats from many different regions (including Africa, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the Middle East) showed five genetic lineages of the wildcat population. [5] These lineages included:

This study showed that African wildcat (F. s. lybica) included domesticated cats and that wild cats from this group were almost indistinguishable from domesticated cats. [5] Along with DNA analysis, phylogenetic studies were also conducted to narrow the evolutionary history. Phylogenetic trees were generated based on mitochondrial DNA analysis.

In each study Bayesian, maximum likelihood and parsimony maximum likelihood trees all produced identical results. They each showed that F. s. ornata, F. s. cafra, and F. s. lybica were all very closely related to a common ancestor. It also showed that this group of variations was monophyletic, meaning that they shared a common ancestor not shared by other groups. The trees also helped to show that F. s. lybica gave rise to the domesticated cats of today. F. s. silvestris showed a very early branching from the other groups, but still shared a very early common ancestor with the rest of the clades. [5]

Domesticated cats originated [11] in near-eastern and Egyptian populations of F. s. lybica. In the near-east they gathered around human agricultural colonies themselves, while in Egypt (~1500 BC) they seem to have been mainly attractive because of behavioral traits. They started to spread during Neolithic times, but did not become widespread in the Old World until classical antiquity. [12] A newer study from 2018 moved their earlier origin to Southwest Asia. [13]

Genetic technologies

5 week old (left) vs 5 month old (right) Maine Coon Fig the Maine Coon.jpg
5 week old (left) vs 5 month old (right) Maine Coon

Scientists and veterinarians have developed an important tool known as race and breed identification panels to learn more about the specific genetics associated with these dominant regions from which domesticated cat breeds originate. [14] While the primary lineages are listed above with their respective regions, this form of genetic technology made it possible to distinguish certain areas of these regions. For example, it was found that the Maine Coon breed came predominantly from Western Europe, while the Siamese breed was dominant in Southeast Asia. [14] Tests to show the DNA markers for genetic discrepancies can be purchased by an owner for individual use. [15]

There is an abundance of accessible sources that provide breed identification panels for personal use to determine the genetic makeup of a domesticated cat. The known genetic distinction within the Felidae family means that "this international cat parentage and identification panel has a power of exclusion comparable to panels used in other species, ranging from 90.08% to 99.79% across breeds and 99.47% to 99.87% in random-bred cat populations." [15] With such a high power of exclusion, the possibility of genetic similarities occurring within certain cat breeds can be shown to be more uncommon than others.

Traits

A 2014 study compared cat genomes with tiger and dog genomes. Genomic regions under selection in domestic cats included those involved in neuronal processes (fear and reward behavior) and in homologous recombination (increased recombination frequency). In addition, the KIT mutations responsible for the white-spotted phenotype were identified. [16]

The blotched tabby cat trait (Aminopeptidase Q mutation) arose in the Middle Ages. Wild-type cats have a mackerel pattern. [12]

Archaeological evidence

Archaeological and behavioral studies support the discovery that F.s. lybica was the common ancestor of domesticated cats. A study of domestic cat skulls provides evidence that F.s. lybica was their ancestor. Domesticated cats have a smaller cranial volume than F.s. lybica, suggesting that domestication played a role in their evolution. [17] Fragments of cat teeth and bone found at burial sites across the world have all been connected by DNA analysis to F.s. lybica, some dating to 7,000–8,000 years ago.

Egyptian populations were originally credited with the early domestication of cats approximately 3,600 years ago, but later archaeological evidence has disputed this hypothesis. [2] In 2007, archaeologists working in Cyprus found, in a Neolithic burial site approximately 9,500 years old, a 30-year-old man buried with a cat. [18] Cats were not native to this area, which meant that the people must have brought cats to the island. This finding suggests that people from the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East began keeping cats thousands of years before the Egyptians. [2]

Behavioral evidence

Behavioral analysis of F.s. silvestris (the European wildcat), which was thought to have been a common ancestor of domesticated cats, showed significant differences between the two. The European wildcat tends to be more aggressive than domestic cats even when raised from kittens around humans. European wildcats are also more territorial and show aggressive behavior within their own species. Hybrids between domesticated cats and silvestris showed less aggressive behavior and a more docile temperament, leading the scientist to believe that the behavioral difference was genetic and probably due to a difference in species. [1] : 85  This evidence suggested that F.s. lybica was likely to have been the common ancestor of all domesticated cats.

Domestic cat breed differentiation

Unlike other domesticated animals which have been bred for different physical traits to help with such tasks as hunting, security or providing food, modern cat breeds have mostly originated within the last 150 years from breeding for aesthetic physical traits. [19] Another difference from other domesticated mammals is that as a result of greater intermixing with wild cats, domesticated cat breeds have fewer genetic differences from their wild counterparts. [20] Domesticated cat breeds are also unique in that there are only 40–50 genetically distinct breeds, while other domesticated animals can have anywhere from 65 to 100 genetically distinct breeds. [19]

Contemporary breeds

A Sphynx cat, one of the cat breeds resulting from human breeding practices during the last century and a half Sphynx - studio portrait photographs of cats.jpg
A Sphynx cat, one of the cat breeds resulting from human breeding practices during the last century and a half

In 1871 only five cat breeds were recognized by an association in London. Today the US-based Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) recognizes 41 breeds [21] and The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 57 breeds. [22] Most of these breeds are defined by phenotypic, or visible, characteristics, most of which are single gene traits found at low to moderate levels in the non-pedigree cat. These characteristics are rare and not seen in the common house cat. Unlike most pet dogs, which come from a mixture of pure-breed lineages, cats started as a mixture of many wildcat variations and have been selectively bred by humans for certain traits that have led to modern breeds. This has allowed for a large increase in the number of breeds in a shorter amount of time. This is also the reason why associations that classify cat breeds use the word "pedigreed", as domestic cats do not have true purebred forms. [22]

DNA studies have been conducted to connect the pedigree lines of cats to those which freely bred at random. These studies were conducted using the same techniques as mentioned above and mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites were examined to find the common ancestor. All cat breeds were found to have originated in eight different regions of the world and then were selectively bred and relocated throughout history, leading to approximately 45 modern breeds. These eight lineages included Europe, Egypt, India, Southeast Asia, Arabian Sea, East Asia, and the Mediterranean. [23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Serpell, James A. (2014). "Domestication and history of the cat". In Turner, Dennis C.; Bateson, Patrick (eds.). The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behavior (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 83–100. ISBN   9781107025028.
  2. 1 2 3 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 12 July 2025). PMC   5790555 . PMID   19485091.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  3. ↑ Lyons, Leslie (December 2012). "Genetic Testing in Domestic Cats". National Institute's of Health. 26: 224–30. doi:10.1016/j.mcp.2012.04.004. PMC   3541004 . PMID   22546621.
  4. ↑ "Felis catus domestic cat". Animal Diversity. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Driscoll CA, Menotti-Raymond M, Roca AL, Hupe K, Johnson WE, Geffen E, Harley EH, Delibes M, Pontier D, Kitchener AC, Yamaguchi N, O'brien SJ, Macdonald DW (July 2007). "The Near Eastern Origin of Cat Domestication". Science. 317 (5837): 519–23. Bibcode:2007Sci...317..519D. doi:10.1126/science.1139518. OCLC   808298830. PMC   5612713 . PMID   17600185.
  6. ↑ Dewey, Tanya. "Felis silvestris (wild cat)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  7. ↑ "Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti) Classification / Taxonomy". Wild Cat Family. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  8. ↑ "Wildcat | mammal, Felis silvestris". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  9. ↑ "Felis silvestris cafra (African wild cat)". www.biodiversityexplorer.info. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  10. ↑ "African Wildcat". wildcatconservation.org. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  11. ↑ "How did cats become domesticated?". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  12. 1 2 Ottoni, Claudio; Van Neer, Wim; De Cupere, Bea; Daligault, Julien; Guimaraes, Silvia; Peters, Joris; Spassov, Nikolai; Prendergast, Mary E.; Boivin, Nicole; Morales-Muñiz, Arturo; Bălăşescu, Adrian; Becker, Cornelia; Benecke, Norbert; Boroneant, Adina; Buitenhuis, Hijlke; Chahoud, Jwana; Crowther, Alison; Llorente, Laura; Manaseryan, Nina; Monchot, Hervé; Onar, Vedat; Osypińska, Marta; Putelat, Olivier; Quintana Morales, Eréndira M.; Studer, Jacqueline; Wierer, Ursula; Decorte, Ronny; Grange, Thierry; Geigl, Eva-Maria (19 June 2017). "The palaeogenetics of cat dispersal in the ancient world" (PDF). Nature Ecology & Evolution. 1 (7): 0139. Bibcode:2017NatEE...1..139O. doi:10.1038/s41559-017-0139. S2CID   44041769.
  13. ↑ Geigl, Eva-Maria; Grange, Thierry (2018). "Of Cats and Men: Ancient DNA Reveals How the Cat Conquered the Ancient World". Paleogenomics: genome-scale analysis of ancient DNA (PDF). Population Genomics. pp. 307–324. doi:10.1007/13836_2018_26. ISBN   978-3-030-04752-8. S2CID   134576106.
  14. 1 2 Lyons, Leslie (December 2012). ""Genetic Testing in Domestic Cats"". National Institutes of Health.
  15. 1 2 Lipinski, M.J. (2007). "An international parentage and identification panel for the domestic cat (Felis catus)". Animal Genetics. 38 (4). et al.: 371–377. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2007.01632.x. PMC   1974777 . PMID   17655554.
  16. ↑ Montague, M. J.; Li, G.; Gandolfi, B.; Khan, R.; Aken, B. L.; Searle, S. M.; Minx, P.; Hillier, L. W.; Koboldt, D. C.; Davis, B. W.; Driscoll, C. A. (2014). "Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111 (48): 17230–17235. Bibcode:2014PNAS..11117230M. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1410083111 . PMC   4260561 . PMID   25385592.
  17. ↑ Lesch, R.; Kitchener, A. C.; Hantke, G.; Kotrschal, K.; Fitch, W. T. (2022). "Cranial volume and palate length of cats, felis spp., under domestication, hybridization and in wild populations". Royal Society Open Science. 9 (1) 210477. doi:10.1098/rsos.210477.
  18. ↑ Vigne, Jean-Denis, Early Taming of the Cat in Cyprus , PubMed, May 2004, retrieved 28 March 2025
  19. 1 2 Montague, Michael J.; Li, Gang; Gandolfi, Barbara; Khan, Razib; Aken, Bronwen L.; Searle, Steven M. J.; Minx, Patrick; Hillier, LaDeana W.; Koboldt, Daniel C. (2014-11-10). "Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111 (48): 17230–17235. Bibcode:2014PNAS..11117230M. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1410083111 . ISSN   0027-8424. PMC   4260561 . PMID   25385592.
  20. ↑ Ottoni, Claudio; Van Neer, Wim; De Cupere, Bea; Daligault, Julien; Guimaraes, Silvia; Peters, Joris; Spassov, Nikolai; Prendergast, Mary E.; Boivin, Nicole (2017-06-19). "The palaeogenetics of cat dispersal in the ancient world" (PDF). Nature Ecology & Evolution. 1 (7): 0139. Bibcode:2017NatEE...1..139O. doi:10.1038/s41559-017-0139. ISSN   2397-334X. S2CID   44041769.
  21. ↑ "Breeds – The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc". cfa.org. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  22. 1 2 Kurushima, J. D.; Lipinski, M. J.; Gandolfi, B.; Froenicke, L.; Grahn, J. C.; Grahn, R. A.; Lyons, L. A. (2012-11-22). "Variation of cats under domestication: genetic assignment of domestic cats to breeds and worldwide random-bred populations". Animal Genetics. 44 (3): 311–324. doi:10.1111/age.12008. ISSN   0268-9146. PMC   3594446 . PMID   23171373.
  23. ↑ Kurushima, Jennifer Dawn (2011). Genetic analysis of domestication patterns in the cat (Felis catus) : worldwide population structure, and human-mediated breeding patterns both modern and ancient. University of California, Davis. ISBN   9781124907475. OCLC   861518845.
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