New DNA evidence reveals the true timeline of when cats were domesticated

Cats inhabit spaces ranging from bustling city convenience stores to isolated islands. However, pinpointing the moment humans first domesticated wild felines has remained difficult. Researchers have traditionally concentrated on Africa and the Middle East, where wildcatsthe ancestors of today's housecatsare native. Archaeological discoveries and studies of ancient DNA have led scientists to believe that early farmers in the Middle East began domesticating cats nearly 10,000 years ago, bringing them to Europe as companions and pest controllers.

Recent DNA studies of a large collection of ancient cat remains, however, indicate that the ancestors of modern domestic cats actually originated in North Africa and only arrived in Europe around 2,000 years ago. The research, published in Science and partially funded by the National Geographic Society, challenges earlier assumptions.

Leslie Lyons, a feline geneticist at the University of Missouri not involved in the study, finds the late arrival of cats in Europe unexpected given their prominent presence in ancient art. She notes that the study offers crucial insights into global cat domestication. Cats are still mysterious, and they reveal their secrets gradually, Lyons comments.

Archaeological evidence of ancient cats is scarce, and distinguishing domestic cats from wild relatives is difficult, unlike dogs, which display recognizable traits differentiating them from wolves. One of the oldest domestic cat findings comes from Cyprus in 2004: a cat skeleton buried alongside a human, dating back to around 7,500 BCE. This supports the idea that cats were domesticated soon after agriculture emerged in the eastern Mediterranean. Later Egyptian artifacts, depicting cats with collars and feline-like deities, suggest domestication by 2,000 BCE.

Early genetic studies, including a 2017 mitochondrial DNA analysis led by paleogeneticist Claudio Ottoni, suggested that cats spread from the Middle East roughly 6,500 years ago. However, mitochondrial DNA only traces maternal lineage. Whole-genome sequencing offers a more comprehensive view by combining multiple ancestral lineages, providing higher-resolution insights.

Genomic Evidence of Cat Domestication

Ottoni's team examined 225 ancient cat specimens along with modern wildcats from North Africa and Israel, radiocarbon-dating some specimens spanning over 10,000 years. They reconstructed 87 genomes from these samples. Their analysis showed that cats living before 200 BCE were genetically akin to European wildcats (Felis silvestris) rather than modern housecats. These cats likely lived near Neolithic settlements or were hunted for food and fur. Although not pets, some were treated with care, such as a Bronze Age cat buried in a vase in Sicily.

The study identified a genetic connection between domestic cats and felines from the last 2,000 years. The earliest remains of ancestral domestic cats in mainland Europe date to the 1st century CE, coinciding with the early Roman Empire. Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos from Washington University in St. Louis confirms that previous estimates of a 6,500-year spread were inaccurate, and whole-genome data provides a more accurate timeline.

Ottoni emphasizes that cats rapid spread over just 2,000 years demonstrates their adaptability to human environments, especially as urban areas expanded during the Roman era. Early domestic cats were genetically similar to modern African wildcats in Tunisia, indicating North Africa as the origin rather than the Middle East. Some North African cats also contributed to the wildcat population in Sardinia. Trade networks of Phoenician and Punic seafarers likely facilitated the movement of these cats across Northern Africa, Sardinia, and southern Iberia, later aided by Roman military expansion.

Ancient DNA has also clarified cat migration elsewhere. Research on cat bones from China shows that domestic cats arrived in East Asia 1,400 years ago, traveling with Middle Eastern traders along the Silk Road. Older local skeletons represent non-domesticated leopard cats, which began frequenting human settlements about 5,400 years ago.

Future research aims to investigate North African cat domestication further, including genetic studies of Egyptian mummified cats. According to Losos, DNA from cats over 2,000 years old is critical for understanding the origins and evolution of domestic cats. Lyons adds that sequencing ancient DNA is challenging, likening it to fighting an African wildcat.

Analysis: Unraveling the True Origins of Domestic Cats

The domestication of cats has long been shrouded in mystery, with early research focusing on the Middle East and Africa. Recent genomic studies, however, challenge previous assumptions and suggest a revised understanding of how and when cats became companions to humans. The groundbreaking work led by Claudio Ottoni and his team offers new insights into the complex history of feline domestication.

For years, researchers believed that early agricultural societies in the Middle East domesticated wildcats nearly 10,000 years ago. However, recent findings highlight that the ancestors of modern housecats actually originated in North Africa. The study's analysis of ancient cat remains shows that cats did not reach Europe until around 2,000 years ago, providing a more accurate timeline of their spread across the globe.

The study's implications are significant, not only for understanding the spread of cats across ancient civilizations but also for rethinking the role of trade and human migration in shaping the modern distribution of species. The researchers' use of whole-genome sequencing offers a more detailed view of the evolutionary process, debunking the earlier mitochondrial DNA studies that were limited to tracing maternal lineages.

Furthermore, the research sheds light on how quickly cats adapted to urban environments. The rapid spread of domesticated cats, particularly in Roman times, underscores their unique ability to thrive alongside humans. It also suggests that cats were more than just passive companions; their presence in ancient urban centers likely played a role in pest control, which in turn influenced their widespread acceptance.

As DNA analysis techniques continue to evolve, future studies on ancient cat remains, particularly Egyptian mummies, will be crucial in further uncovering the secrets of feline domestication. The findings from Ottoni's team have opened up new avenues for understanding the complex relationship between humans and the mysterious creatures that have shared our homes for millennia.

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• When did cats become domesticated? New DNA evidence changes the story.