Genome study uncovers significant moment in history of cat domestication

By Will Dunham (Reuters) - Cats of all breeds, from Siamese and Persian to Maine Coon and Domestic Shorthair, number in the hundreds of millions worldwide. Despite their prevalence as companions, the history of their domestication has long been elusive for scientists. A recent genomic study now offers fresh insights, pinpointing when domestic cats first arrived in Europe from North Africa.

The research indicates that domestic cats reached Europe around 2,000 years ago during the early Roman Empire, likely facilitated by maritime trade. Some may have been brought aboard ships to control rodents on vessels transporting grain from Egypt to Rome and other Roman cities.

This finding challenges the earlier assumption that cat domestication in Europe occurred during the prehistoric period, roughly 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, when early farmers migrated from the Near East. "Our data show that the earliest domestic cat genomes in Europe appear from the Roman imperial period onwards, beginning in the first century AD," said paleogeneticist Claudio Ottoni of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, the study's lead author.

The study analyzed genetic material from 225 feline bones, both wild and domestic, from 97 archaeological sites across Europe and the Near East, spanning 10,000 years up to the 19th century, generating 70 ancient cat genomes. Results revealed that prehistoric European cat remains belonged to wildcats, not early domestic cats.

While dogs were the first domesticated animals, descending from ancient wolves, domestic cats emerged later from African wildcats. Marco De Martino, co-author and paleogeneticist at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, noted, "The arrival of domestic cats in Europe marks a pivotal point in their relationship with humans. Cats became intertwined with societies, economies, and even belief systems."

The genome analysis identified two waves of feline introduction from North Africa. Around 2,200 years ago, wildcats were brought to Sardinia, giving rise to the island's modern wildcat population. True domestic cats arrived in Europe roughly two centuries later, forming the genetic foundation of contemporary European domestic cats.

The findings suggest multiple regions in North Africa contributed to cat domestication. Bea De Cupere, zooarchaeologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, explained, "The timing of these genetic introductions aligns with intensified Mediterranean trade. Cats likely traveled as skilled rodent hunters on grain ships and also held symbolic and religious value."

In ancient Egypt, cats held sacred status, with deities and royal households keeping them, sometimes mummifying them for burial. The Roman army and its settlements also played a significant role in spreading domestic cats across Europe, evidenced by feline remains found at Roman military sites.

The study identified the earliest domestic cat in Europegenetically akin to modern domestic catsdating from 50 BC to 80 AD at a Roman fort in Mautern, Austria, along the Danube River. However, the research does not clarify the exact origin or timing of initial cat domestication.

"Cat domestication is complex," Ottoni said. "What we can now determine is when domestic cats were introduced to Europe from North Africa, but the events before that and the original domestication locations remain unclear."

Author's Commentary: Revisiting the Timeline of European Cat Domestication

The new genomic study significantly reshapes our understanding of domestic cats in Europe. Contrary to long-standing assumptions of prehistoric European domestication, evidence now points to domestic cats arriving around 2,000 years ago during the Roman Empire, primarily via maritime trade from North Africa.

Analysis of 225 feline bones from 97 archaeological sites confirms that earlier European cat remains were wildcats, not domesticated. This finding emphasizes that cats’ integration into European societies coincided with Roman urban and agricultural expansion, rather than Neolithic farming migrations.

The study also highlights multiple introduction events, including an initial wave of wildcats to Sardinia and a later arrival of true domestic cats forming the genetic basis of today’s European domestic cat populations. Beyond pest control, cats carried symbolic and religious significance, especially influenced by Egyptian culture, which the Romans helped spread across the continent.

While the research clarifies the timing of cats’ arrival in Europe, the origins of initial domestication remain unresolved. These insights underscore the complex, multi-regional nature of cat domestication and their evolving role in human history.

Sources:

• Genome study reveals milestone in history of cat domestication