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.
27 Articles
27 Articles
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.
The house cat came to Europe only about 2000 years ago from North Africa and thus clearly later than thought. This is shown by gene analyses of cat finds from almost a hundred archaeological sites in Europe and Anatolia in Turkey, as reported by the Bavarian State Natural Science Collections on Thursday evening in Munich. So far it was assumed that cats with Neolithic farmers and cattle breeders from the Near East reached Europe about 7000 years…
Two recent studies significantly change the understanding of the timing and origin of cat (Felis catus) domestication. Genetic analyses suggest that the process of cat domestication was slower and more complex than previously thought, originating in North Africa, not the Stone Age Near East.
Genome study reveals milestone in history of cat domestication
Whether they are a Siamese, Persian, Maine Coon, or Domestic Shorthair, there are hundreds of millions of cats living with people around the world. But despite their popularity as pets, the history of cat domestication has remained difficult for scientists to decipher.
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