Scientists have discovered that our beloved house cats (Felis catus), all descended from the African wildcat, didn’t join human society as early as once thought.
In classic cat fashion, they took their sweet time choosing when—and where—to bond with people.
New archaeological DNA analysis reveals that the transition from wild hunter to domestic companion happened only 3,500–4,000 years ago, not 10,000 years ago as previously assumed. And surprisingly, this shift didn’t begin in the farming communities of the Levant, but in northern Africa, most likely in ancient Egypt.
Researchers examined ancient cat bones from Europe, North Africa, and Anatolia, comparing their DNA with that of today’s cats. Their findings point to a later, more localized domestication event.
According to Prof. Greger Larson of Oxford University, cats may dominate our homes, screens, and the internet today, but the human-feline bond is a relatively recent chapter in history—one that truly began in Egypt just a few millennia ago.
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