It turns out that domestic cats have a much more complex and tangled origin story than previously thought. Thanks to a large-scale DNA analysis of ancient and modern animals, scientists have traced their journey from North African ancestors to the beloved pets of Europeans and Asians today. These new findings have not only changed our view of cat evolution but also shed light on the role ancient civilizations played in their spread.
A research team led by Claudio Ottoni from the University of Rome Tor Vergata analyzed the remains of 225 cats unearthed at archaeological sites in Europe and Turkey. As a result, they obtained 70 complete ancient genomes, covering a period from the 9th millennium BC to the 19th century. Additionally, the scientists studied genetic material from museum specimens and modern wildcats from Italy, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The earliest domestic cats: when and where did they appear
The earliest sample identified as an African wildcat or domestic cat was discovered in Sardinia and dates back to the 2nd century AD. All earlier finds in Europe turned out to be European wildcats (Felis silvestris). This finding disproves previous hypotheses that domestic cats appeared on the European continent much earlier.
Scientists have concluded that the spread of domestic cats across Europe began only in the past two thousand years. Mediterranean civilizations of the first millennium BC played a key role in this process. It was likely they who brought representatives of two genetically distinct populations of North African wildcats to the islands and mainland.
The Mediterranean and Asia: new routes of feline migration
According to researchers, one of these populations was brought to Sardinia and became the foundation of the island’s modern wild cat fauna. The second group eventually gave rise to domestic cats, which then spread around the world. Genetic data show that cats quickly adapted to life alongside humans, which ensured their success in new environments.
Interestingly, the situation in China developed differently. The team led by Shu-Jin Luo from Peking University studied the remains of 22 cats found in the country dating back more than 5,000 years. DNA analysis revealed that in ancient times, leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis)—a small wildcat species native to East Asia—lived alongside humans.
Leopard cats and the mystery of domestication in China
Leopard cats were likely attracted to human settlements by the abundance of rodents, but never became fully domesticated. Only about 1,300 years ago, during the Tang dynasty, true domestic cats genetically linked to populations from the Middle East and Central Asia arrived in China. It is believed they were brought by traders traveling along the Silk Road.
Thus, the history of cat domestication has turned out to be not only longer but also more complex than previously thought. Genetic research has offered a new perspective on the interactions between humans and animals, as well as the role of trade and migration in shaping today’s populations of domestic cats.
If you didn’t know, Claudio Ottoni is a renowned Italian archaeogeneticist specializing in the study of ancient animal DNA and their migrations. His work has been published multiple times in leading scientific journals worldwide. In recent years, Ottoni has actively researched the origins of domestic animals, including cats, and their spread across Eurasia. Thanks to his studies, scientists have gained new insights into the evolution and dispersal of domestic cats, as well as the influence of ancient civilizations on this process.
