US EditionDomesticated cats may have arrived in the West much later than previously thought: Study
Genomic analysis shows domestic cats spread rapidly across Europe from North Africa about 2,000 years ago, overturning earlier beliefs of Neolithic arrival 6,000 years ago.
- On Thursday, two studies in Science and Cell Genomics reported domestic cats descend from North African wildcats and spread to Europe and East Asia within the past 2,000 years.
- Using nuclear DNA and radiocarbon dating, researchers who sequenced ancient and modern cat genomes analysed 225 ancient cat specimens to produce higher-resolution ancestry timelines.
- The team obtained 70 ancient genomes and 87 genomes overall, showing a Sardinia specimen radiocarbon-dated to the second century AD and Roman military sites in Austria, Serbia and Britain with feline remains matching modern domestic cats.
- Trade and maritime routes appear to have carried cats, with Mediterranean trade networks and ancient sailors and grain ships aiding rapid spread within 2,000 years, Marco De Martino said.
- In China, genetic evidence shows leopard cats lived alongside people over 5,000 years ago but were not domesticated, while true domestic cats arrived around 1,300–1,400 years ago via the Silk Road.
39 Articles
39 Articles
An Italian scientific study reconstructs the diffusion of the current kitty, refuting the previous theories. The origin is North-African. Until now it was thought that they had arrived from the Levant
The Story of Cat Domestication Just Got a Major Twist
Despite oodles of data on dog domestication, the exact origins of our feline friends have long remained fuzzy. We do know that pet cats retained many of their wild cat ancestors’ characteristics. This—perhaps not surprising many cat caretakers—makes pet cats technically “semidomesticated.” But scientists have squabbled over precisely where and when such changes came about. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . The f…
House cats could only have arrived in Europe much later than previously thought. New analyses indicate that their direct ancestors came from North Africa only with the Romans. By J. Nestlen.[more]]>
A new study contradicts the belief that domestic cat has come to Europe through the Middle East. It concludes that there may have been several "home care centres" with an essential role in North Africa.
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