New study reveals cats were domesticated later than believed

Photo: unsplash.com, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

Cats may be one of the most familiar animals in human homes today, but new scientific research suggests their close relationship with people began far more recently than previously thought. Instead of becoming domesticated alongside the first farming communities about 10,000 years ago, cats appear to have formed lasting bonds with humans only around 3,500 to 4,000 years ago, the BBC reported.

For many years, scholars believed that cat domestication began in the Levant, a subregion of West Asia along the Eastern Mediterranean, linked to the earliest agricultural societies. However, new genetic evidence now points to northern Africa as the true birthplace of domesticated cats. Researchers analyzed DNA from ancient cat bones uncovered at archaeological sites across Europe, North Africa and Anatolia, comparing the samples with the genetic makeup of today’s domestic cats. Their results indicate that the transition from wild predator to household companion happened later and in a different region than once assumed.

All modern domestic cats are descended from the African wildcat, a species that still exists in the wild today. Scientists have long debated how and when these animals lost their independent nature and adapted to life alongside humans. The new findings suggest that this process was not driven directly by early farming but was instead closely tied to ancient Egyptian society, where cats were highly valued, frequently depicted in art and even preserved as mummies.

Once cats became associated with people, they gradually spread across the world. They were especially valued on ships for controlling pests and protecting food supplies, which helped them travel widely. Domestic cats reached Europe approximately 2,000 years ago, much later than previously believed, likely arriving with Roman traders and settlers. From there, they continued moving eastward along major trade routes, including the Silk Road, eventually reaching parts of Asia. Today, cats live on every continent except Antarctica.

Meanwhile, New Zealand authorities are working to control feral cat populations that have spread across coastal regions and islands, posing a serious threat to native species that evolved in the absence of mammalian predators.