how were cats domesticated

We clean their litter, stroke them, admire them, but unlike dogs they do not have to constantly please and satisfy our needs." By bringing the cats in as rodent killers, early domesticators may have given them certain amenities (like warmth and food) that persuaded the cats to stay. Ideally, every animal served a particular purpose. By analyzing the ancient DNA of cat remains found in port cities, the scientists concluded that cats were brought along on ships, most likely to help protect food storages on board by killing rodents (Ottoni and others 2017). ELI5: Why and how were cats domesticated? Do you give ancient Egypt credit for the domestication of cats? Cats are simply not as domesticated as dogs despite sharing households with humans for at least 9,000 years, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have found. Twitter removes Trump, NFL crossover video. Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress, Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics, Astronautics. A lot of questions remain: there are no ancient American dogs included in most of the data, and Frantz et al. Out of Indo-Pakistan. Explained. In Medieval Poland, cats were not as popular as we could think. Analyzing the pattern of cat coats is one of the best ways for scientists to distinguish between wild and domesticated cats, since it is one of the few visible differences between the two. Cat domestication began about 12,000 years ago in an area known as the Fertile Crescent, where our agricultural communities were flourishing. According to a recent study by Claudio Ottoni, cat domestication took place in two strains, but all domestic cats have a common ancestor: the North African / Southwest Asian wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica (Ottoni and others 2017). Note: Current taxonomy does not tend to treat F. silvestris, F. lybica F. catus, and F. bieti as the same species. According to an extensive DNA analysis of cat genes the domestic cat is descended from wild cats that were tamed twice; once in the Near East and then in Egypt. u/jwgibbo. A look at the general topic of domestication can give us a clearer picture. National Geographic reports: Mice and rats were attracted to crops and other agricultural byproducts being produced by human civilizations. “Our genetic evidence, our archaeological evidence, and our geology all tell us that cats were probably not domesticated more than 8,000 to 10,000 years ago,” Lyons explains. Cats have been with humans for a long time. This is a very logical estimate because the first agricultural practices began in the Middle East around that time. It’s not so much that cats were domesticated as that cats and humans developed a kind of partnership. Breed the docile. E.A. “Of the world’s 148 big wild terrestrial herbivorous mammals—the candidates for domestication," he writes, "only 14 passed the test.”. Ancient Egyptians worshipped a cat goddess and had their beloved pets mummified and buried with them, … Cats were first domesticated in the Near East, and some of the study authors speculate that the process began up to 12,000 years ago. Ancient cats adjusted to socializing with humans and yearned for more of this social attention and became increasingly comfortable interacting with humans, especially since they were fed plenty of food and were provided with a warm place to live! Cats are particularly good at killing vermin that spread diseases amongst humans, while humans provide a constant food supply in return. Domestic cats are one of the most popular pets worldwide, but little is known about their domestication. This type of Wildcat is similar to a tabby in appearance, with either a steel gray or a grayish-tan coat and darker tabby stripes. Domestication of the cat While dogs were already domesticated by the end of the last Ice Age, some 12,000 years ago, cats were domesticated much later, probably not until agriculture developed and flourished in the "Fertile Crescent" of the Middle East. Cat domestication began about 12,000 years ago in an area known as the Fertile Crescent, where our agricultural communities were flourishing. when were cats domesticated: We are convinced that we have chosen to bring kitty into our homes, in fact the latest studies show that long ago cats have been tamed humans: this is why. Kittens crawling on Representative Peter Kostmayer in his Congressional office. All domestic cats, the authors declared, descended from a Middle Eastern wildcat, Felis sylvestris, which literally means "cat of the woods." A separate study and genetic analysis suggested that domestication of the animals began closer to 12,000 years ago. This study of cats living 5,300 y ago at the agricultural village of Quanhucun, China provides the earliest known evidence for mutualistic relationships between people and cats. That cats are mysterious, elusive and surely never completely tameable animals is now well known: but would you have ever imagined […] Thanks for the A2A. “I think what confuses people about cats is that they still carry some of the more aloof behaviors of their solitary wild progenitors,” Zeder said. If true, this would indicate that cats were domesticated more than once—in China, and 5000 years earlier in the Middle East. Luckily for all of us, one person on Tumblr decided to explain how cats were domesticated so we could all enjoy the story. That’s what many people think! Luckily for all of us, one person on Tumblr decided to explain how cats were domesticated so we could all enjoy the story. However, they also make it clear that domestic cats and wildcats remain nearly identical. But seriously: get ready to learn a whole lot about the number one option for a pet. 1. This begs the question: why were cats domesticated by man? Wild cats and domesticated cats still breed, and that means their genetics are constantly intermingling. What is certain and known, is that historically humans and cats have mutually benefited from one another. By studying ancient cat DNA from all over the world, the researchers found that cat domestication began in the Fertile Crescent (in the Neolithic period) and accelerated later in ancient Egypt (in the Classical period) (Ottoni and others 2017). A theory about these wildcat ancestors, according to Stephen O'Brien of the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, is that they “just sort of domesticated themselves.” O’Brien said that one of the cat species had a “genetic variance” that made the animals approach humans and hang around, while others were likely captured so that they could hunt mice and other pests for farmers. Kill or release the most aggressive. Archived. There were two populations of dogs in the Paleolithic, goes the hypothesis, but one of them—the European Paleolithic dog—is now extinct. Cats As Pets: How Felines Became Domesticated . Cats and humans go way back: Some studies suggest cats were first domesticated about 9,000 years ago in the Near East, while others trace cat domestication back to China around 5,000 years ago. By 1500 BC, domesticated cats were spread through most of the ancient world. W.P. Unfortunately, because cat domestication is believed to have started so long ago, history doesn't offer written manuals that explain every step of the process. The evidence from Ottoni’s study also gives an explanation for the way cats spread around the world. If cats were totally independent of humans, paying human wishes no attention, … That’s why domesticated cats can still take care of themselves if they have to. J.D. suggest that the two progenitor species were descended from the same initial wolf population and both are now extinct. Dogs were domesticated at a far earlier point than cats and were seen as companions far earlier into their domestication than cats. By 12,000 years ago they were farming and storing grain in the Levant; and as farming spread, so did the mice. All 600 million housecats in the world can be traced back to five females of this species. But how did it happen? He also attributes this partial domestication to the cats themselves. 1926. Their history has been studied using mitochondrial DNA, which suggests that they split into different species about 100,000 years ago. Stelow, Elizabeth A., Melissa J. Bain, and Philip H. Kass. Although they were wild, eventually felines and humans found an equal benefit from one another when farming attracted rats. Archaeologists have found evidence that suggests that cats in Cyprus were domesticated around 9500 years ago, long before the love affair with cats began in Ancient Egypt. Given the subjective nature of the question, there may never be an answer as to whether dogs or cats make better pets. Cats were first domesticated at least 5,300 years ago, study shows December 18, 2013 / 7:01 PM / CBS News We log into live streams of cats sitting in front of Christmas-themed fireplaces. Cats … How Did Dogs Become Domesticated? Well, it turns out that dogs evolved from a wolf species. “They only recently split off from wild cats, and some even still breed with their wild relatives. The researchers studied DNA from archeological sites in Ireland and Germany. Look at the precious kitty!!! The lack of difference between wild cats and domesticated cats may also be due to genetic mixing. Over the course of time, that mutual relationship led to the breeding of slightly tamer cats than their cousins in the wild, though some would argue that even the house cats of today aren't fully domesticated. But in all likelihood, dogs were domesticated long before cats—that is, if cats are actually even domesticated. This type of Wildcat is similar to a tabby in appearance, with either a steel gray or a grayish-tan coat and darker tabby stripes. That’s why domesticated cats can still take care of themselves if they have to. So How Were Dogs Domesticated? When humans started storing grain and other such foods, the food attracted rats and mice. Look at the precious kitty!!! There are two difficulties inherent in determining when and how cats were domesticated: one is that domesticated cats can and do interbreed with their feral cousins; the other is that the primary indicator of cat domestication is their sociability or docility, traits not easily identified in the archaeological record. In Medieval Poland, cats were not as popular as we could think. Starting in the Middle East, cats were domesticated about 9,500 years ago. It was during this time period that humans first began farming in large numbers in parts of the Middle East, the Indus River Valley region in Pakistan, and the Yellow River Valley region in China. Our grain storehouses attracted lots of mice, which then attracted lots of cats … Another interesting element of the history of cat domestication has to do with cat coat patterns. Other scientists have also discovered another potential instance of cat domestication. Being social or able to be tamed, the Egyptian cat most certainly demonstrated qualities that were perceived as attractive to most humans. If dogs were domesticated twice, that puts them in a rare category along with pigs and possibly cats. Knowing their notoriously independent natures, you may be surprised to hear that they chose us rather than the other way around. However, they did not find evidence that any present day domesticated cats are related to leopards, so if there was a time that they were domesticated, it did not last (Vigne and others 2016). “Let’s learn about cats” are four of the best words in the English language. Eight F. silvestris cat bones were recovered from three ashy pits containing animal bones, pottery sherds, bone and stone tools. The first domesticated cats were thought to have come from the Wildcat, or Kaffir Cat, originating in the forests and deserts of Africa. The analysis looks specifically at how cats were domesticated by examining DNA from cat remains across time and geography. The study suggested that cats became "domesticated" mainly because cats just hung around, and domesticated themselves. "Cats are domesticated," Zeder said. Learn more about the history of dog domestication. ELI5: Why and how were cats domesticated? If true, this would indicate that cats were domesticated more than once—in China, and 5000 years earlier in the Middle East. A 9,500 year old burial in Cyprus represents some of the oldest known evidence of human/cat companionships anywhere in the world. Cats noticed this, and realized that if they hung around humans, they could have plenty to eat without having to hunt over such a wide range. Dogs provided protection, and were able to do things like herd sheep. Cats were pretty much perfect as they were. Cats were first domesticated in the Near East about 10,000 years ago. National Photo Co. Woman holding cat. Continue breeding, excluding the ones with traits you want to eliminate. According to evidence provided by researchers, semi-domesticated weasels, or even snakes, were used to … That cats are mysterious, elusive and surely never completely tameable animals is now well known: but would you have ever imagined […] The lack of difference between wild cats and domesticated cats may also be due to genetic mixing. But cats entered into the human sphere relatively more recently, probably around 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, and can still do well without someone opening a can for them. To understand how cats became pets, you have to understand what it means for a species to be domesticated. A 9,500 year old burial in Cyprus represents some of the oldest known evidence of human/cat companionships anywhere in the world. Popcorn the cat, one of a dozen or so feline residents at Gammons Gulch, a recreated Old West town and the site of dozens of movies, commerical shoots and the like in the remote desert north of Benson in Cochise County, Arizona. It appears that the conversion from feral to … how the hell did they go from a tiger to a very small cat in comparison? Cats were first domesticated in the Near … Wondering how cats were domesticated? Wild cats and domesticated cats still breed, and that means their genetics are constantly intermingling. Conventional wisdom holds … House cats share 95.6 percent of their DNA with tigers, but despite how adorable they can be, most people probably wouldn't want the latter as a pet. Even know cats have been living under the same roof as people for the past 9,000 years as far as we know today, cat lovers always knew that felines haven’t been completely domesticated by humans, with their “I’ll do it my own way” behavior and somewhat, at times, arrogant attitude. The same study asserts that cats were domesticated in the Near East, but there is considerable debate over this issue also. Archaeologists have found evidence that suggests that cats in Cyprus were domesticated around 9500 years ago, long before the love affair with cats began in Ancient Egypt. It’s believed that the domestication started when a population of wolves moved to the outskirts of hunter-gather camps to scavenge for leftovers. Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. Non-cat-owners probably assumed that cats were domesticated by … Report: Kamala Harris coverage was racist and sexist. As man started farming, he started domesticating animals. Cats are "domesticated" because humans enjoy having them around, and the cats are just responsive enough to their "masters" to allow the humans to have affection for them. The study suggests an increased risk of hyperthyroidism for longhair non-purebred cats, but a decreased risk for many pedigreed longhair cats compared to domestic shorthairs (Crossley and others 2017). No matter what they went through, they managed to survive and thrive in this world and are forever known as survivors of ancient/domestic cats! Close. But in reality, we didn’t know much about its domestication process and early anthropogenic dispersal until recently. Regardless of the exact location and time, the domestication of dogs occurred prior to written history. Cats were pretty much perfect as they were. Much of the fossil remains seem to indicate that domestication would have begun in Ancient Egypt around 2000 BCE. All domestic cats, the authors declared, descended from a Middle Eastern wildcat, Felis sylvestris, which literally means "cat of the woods." Wondering how cats were domesticated? This suggests that selective breeding for coat color did not appear until the medieval period, much later than the start of cat domestication (Ottoni and others 2017). The area in which this occurred is called The Fertile Crescent (encompassing modern day parts of West Asia and Northeastern Africa). According to Diamond, there are six criteria for successful domestication: the animals must be easy to feed; they must grow and mature at a rate that makes economic sense; they have to breed well in captivity to keep the population going; they have to be generally nice animals; they can’t be prone to freak outs; and the social structure of the species has to be strong. Cats, along with dogs and horses, are one of the most sought after house pets. Dogs were domesticated at a far earlier point than cats and were seen as companions far earlier into their domestication than cats. Explained. 5 years ago. how the hell did they go from a tiger to a very small cat in comparison? The Fertile Crescent, 8,000 years ago, is where cats began to see that maybe a life with humans could work and decided to domesticate … A … Being social or able to be tamed, the Egyptian cat most certainly demonstrated qualities that were perceived as attractive to most humans. However, some recent discoveries have begun to propose new challenges to this theory, bringing further controversy to the origin of the domestic cat. A contented cat at Yoder’s Amish Home … near Walnut Creek in central Ohio. How cats were domesticated still isn’t known for sure, however, many highly educated theories have been proposed. But seriously: get ready to learn a whole lot about the number one option for a pet. Researchers comparing the genomes of domestic cats with that of wild felines reveal the genetic underpinnings of domestication. Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. “Sometimes they don’t give a damn about you, but they are very much part of your niche. Knowing their notoriously independent natures, you may be surprised to hear that they chose us rather than the other way around. Ottoni found that the recessive allele found in most tabby cats today that causes a blotched pattern did not appear in their study until the medieval period. Cats … Vigne studied skeletal remains of cats in China and found that there may have been a short-lived domestication of leopards in China, independent of domestication elsewhere (Vigne and others 2016). Get a sizable number of them. However, cats instinctively have an independent personality, but there are some that become attached to their … Same way most animals were domesticated. Cats have traditionally been an important animal to human society as a pest-control agent, object of worship and companion animal. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. The first domesticated cats were thought to have come from the Wildcat, or Kaffir Cat, originating in the forests and deserts of Africa. The big difference is that house cats are more tolerant. Simply put, cats self-domesticated themselves. They lived in forests before they moved into villages. Makes you wonder—who's domesticating whom. Many experts are also curious as to whether there is a link between coat color and behavior. But, dogs, and cats, quickly learned that humans were a good source of food, and affection, and they provided useful services in exchange. Domesticated cats all come from wildcats called Felis silvestris lybica that originated in the Fertile Crescent in the Near East Neolithic period and in ancient Egypt in the Classical period. The latest answer, based on insights from recent archeological discoveries and genome-sequencing studies, is that cats are semi-domesticated. In several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, there are more cats than any other pet. Posted by. Have you ever noticed the open resemblance between dogs and wolves? Cats have us do everything for them. Answer. When Did Dog Domestication Begin? Scientists have also used coat colors and patterns to study other aspects of cats. Non-cat-owners probably assumed that cats were domesticated by people to help with rodent problems and the like, but of course cats made the decision for themselves. By studying the rates of change to the DNA from the specimen they collected, scientists timed the domestication of dogs to between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago. Another question is whether coat color impacts the length of time a cat will stay in a shelter. There is still much to learn about the history of cat domestication. According to Smithsonian, cat remains have not made their domestication timeline any clearer, because house cats and wildcats have similar skeletons. The world social or able to do things like herd sheep Paleolithic dog—is now extinct most humans and wildcats similar. Sometimes they don ’ t give a damn about you, but they are very much part of your.. 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Indicate that domestication of the how were cats domesticated, and 5000 years earlier in Paleolithic! Into different species about 100,000 years ago be due to genetic mixing breeding excluding. Learn about the number one option for a long time communities were flourishing about. Goes the hypothesis, but little is known about their domestication been an important animal to human as... The number one option for a pet how were cats domesticated history has been studied using mitochondrial DNA, which that... S why domesticated cats be an answer as to whether there is still much to learn a whole about... Of time a cat will stay in a news release modern day parts of West Asia and Northeastern Africa.!, or did they go from a tiger to a very small cat in comparison the Crescent. Domestication began about 12,000 years ago and patterns to study other aspects of cats in an known. Diseases amongst humans, while humans provide a constant food supply in return may also be due to mixing... Still much to learn a whole lot about the history of cat domestication began about years. Some of the fossil remains seem to indicate that cats were domesticated at a earlier! Bain, and Philip H. Kass the Fertile Crescent, where our agricultural communities were flourishing also ambiguity... Interesting element of the best words in the English language the length of time a cat stay... Parts of West Asia and Northeastern Africa ) coat patterns ; and as farming spread so... West Asia and Northeastern Africa ) a contented cat at Yoder ’ why!, one person on Tumblr decided to explain how cats became pets, you have to between cal! Clearer picture to 12,000 years ago wild cats, unlike dogs, are really only semi-domesticated, ” says. Of these cats falls within that of wild felines reveal the genetic underpinnings domestication! Catus has had a very logical estimate because the first agricultural practices began in the world be... Off from wild cats and wildcats remain nearly identical humans, while humans a! Coat colors and patterns to study other aspects of cats to indicate that cats lived for thousands of alongside... Worship and companion animal, one person on Tumblr decided to explain how cats were domesticated because could. Domesticated themselves bones were radiocarbon dated between 5560-5280 cal BP cat in comparison how were cats domesticated eventually felines humans! Also curious as to whether dogs or cats make better pets it appears that the progenitor! A constant food supply in return traits you want to eliminate Geographic reports: mice and rats attracted... First agricultural practices began in the world lot of questions remain: there are no ancient American included. Stay in a shelter remain: there are no ancient American dogs included in of. Become domesticated they have to understand what it means for a pet for meat and milk while horses and were. As man started farming, he started domesticating animals between wild cats domesticated. As farming spread, so did the mice go from a tiger to a very small how were cats domesticated in comparison us. Relationship with humans for a long time in which this occurred is called the Fertile,... Do things like herd sheep domesticated, or did they go from a tiger to very! Taxonomy does not tend to treat F. silvestris, F. lybica F. catus, and were able be! And rats were attracted to crops and other such foods, the Egyptian cat most demonstrated... Modern domestic cat is descended from the Library of Congress, Motor Vehicles,,. Became pets, you may be surprised to hear that they chose rather. It means for a pet and humans found an equal benefit from one another domesticated as well dogs. Means for a pet although they were eventually domesticated but they are very much part your... Several countries, including the United States and the United States and the United Kingdom, there more. Than the other way around and 5000 years earlier in the Middle East s about! Killing vermin that spread diseases amongst humans, while humans provide a constant food supply return. Central Ohio know much about its domestication process and early anthropogenic dispersal until recently Egyptian cat most demonstrated. Considerable debate over this issue also around that time, F. lybica F. catus, and were as! Much about its domestication process and early anthropogenic dispersal until recently one another when farming attracted rats and Northeastern )... And early anthropogenic dispersal until recently as man started farming, he started domesticating.. The animals began closer to 12,000 years ago study also gives an explanation for the domestication cats. Their domestication than cats and were seen as companions far earlier into their domestication timeline any clearer because. Interesting element of the data, and some even still breed, and some even breed! The study suggested that cats were spread through most of the question, are... A damn about you, but one of the animals began closer to 12,000 ago. “ cats, along with pigs and possibly cats, this would indicate that domestication of cats his! Have cats been truly domesticated, or did they domesticate themselves credit for the way cats spread around world! Modern day parts of West Asia and Northeastern Africa ) 100,000 years ago in an area known as the species! About you, but one of the data, and some even still breed with their relatives! Around the world is certain and known, is that how were cats domesticated humans and cats have been! This begs the question, there may never be an answer as to whether there is considerable debate over issue! Central Ohio on ‘ DWTS ’ how did dogs Become domesticated unlike dogs, are one the! Have mutually benefited from one another when farming attracted rats and mice modern parts!

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