If you’ve ever wondered where cats come from, you’re not alone. The world of cats is huge and varied, and we can trace its origins back to the ancient Egyptians, the Romans, the African wildcat, and even the Island cat populations. But what exactly happened to these animals? In this article, we’ll talk about how they were domesticated, the evolution of their food habits, and their evolution into a domesticated animal.
Ancient Egyptians
If you’ve ever wondered where cats come from, the answer is in Ancient Egypt. Cats were important to the Ancient Egyptians during many dynastic periods and were even regarded as divine. They were even used as daily reminders of the gods. But the true origin of cats is not entirely clear. This ancient culture did worship cats for their intelligence, loyalty, and beauty. But do you know how these cats got their names?
Romans
Cats have been in Rome since ancient times. Eventually, they became a useful pest control measure, and even became a furry companion for the Roman elite. Roman women with cats appear in frescoes from Pompeii. Romans believed the Goddess Libertas, or the cat goddess, represented the independence of the feline spirit. Moreover, cat-like creatures are associated with the goddess Diana, the goddess of freedom.
African wildcat
The African wildcat is a relatively small feline with a sand-colored coat and black stripes along the tail. It is similar in size to the domestic tabby cat but has less color variation. This nocturnal hunter weighs between three and six kilograms and has long legs and a thin tail. Although it may not have the intelligence and stamina of its European counterparts, it is an excellent mimic for domestic cats.
Island cat populations
While island cat populations are mostly untouched by human impact, there is considerable genetic variation between them and mainland populations. This diversity has led scientists to propose that island cats are more similar to their native relatives than mainland populations are. The underlying reason for this is that island cats have fewer opportunities to interbreed with mainland cats, leading to greater genetic variation among islands. Moreover, genetic variation between island cat populations has been reported to correlate with population size.
Modern hybrids
A modern hybrid cat is a cross between a domestic cat and a wild one. While both breeds are domesticated, they have their own distinctive personality and behavior. Hybrid cats are large and sometimes mentally confused, and they show the worst traits of both species. Hybrid cats are marketed as being easy to care for, despite the fact that they aren’t. They eat cat food and use cat litter boxes, but they’ll fight over defrosted meat in the sink. Children and the elderly are particularly at risk, and hybrids are often aggressive towards other pets.
Origins of domestic cats
While domestic cats today have become one of the world’s most popular pets, their evolution is not clear. While they were once wild, domestic cats are now widespread on all continents except Antarctica. The modern domestic cat is a descendant of the wild cat Felis silvestris lybica, or lyb cat. Cats were first domesticated by farmers in Turkey as a way to protect their grain from rodents.
