Genome study reveals milestone in history of cat domestication

[highplainsdem]

Last edited Thu Nov 27, 2025, 08:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

A new genome study is providing some insight into the matter by determining the timing of a key milestone in feline domestication - the introduction of domestic cats into Europe from North Africa.

Domestic cats pounced into Europe roughly 2,000 years ago in early imperial Roman times, the researchers found, probably thanks to maritime trade. Some of these furry trailblazers may have been brought by sailors to hunt mice on ships that plied the Mediterranean carrying grain from the fertile fields of Egypt to ports serving Rome and other cities in the sprawling Roman Empire.

The findings contradict a long-held idea that domestication occurred in prehistoric times, perhaps 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, as farmers from the ancient Near East and Middle East first moved into Europe, bringing cats with them.

"We show that the earliest domestic cat genomes in Europe are found from the Roman imperial period onwards," starting in the first century AD, said paleogeneticist Claudio Ottoni of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, lead author of the study published on Thursday in the journal Science.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/science/genome-study-reveals-milestone-history-cat-domestication-2025-11-27/

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The earliest remains of a domestic cat that they found were at the site of a Roman fort on the Danube. (Cat remains from earlier eras were of wildcats.)

How fitting. Imperial cats...

[tonekat]

1. That is a grand discovery

It really contributes to our knowledge of our furry feline friends!

[Pinback]

2. "The cat skeleton was found near some pottery shards.

Scientists think the cat may have pushed one or more bowls off a countertop onto the tiled floor.”



Interesting findings. Thanks for sharing!

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. That innate urge to test gravity!

Unfortunately, my ass seems to have that test as well.

[Ilsa]

3. Fascinating news! Thank you. nt

[Norrrm]

4. I can domesticate him

1. Some ancient Egyptian about 7500 BC looking at a cat.

2. Some ancient cat about 7500 BC looking at an Egyptian.

[soldierant]

14. Yes, but that was not in Eurpoe.

It seems ridiculously parochial to me, but they are equating "domesticated" with "domesticated in Europe."

[Igel]

21. No, actually they're quite clear that they're not.

At least not in the sense of claiming that "cat domestication" happened only in Europe. But they do date the timing of "cat domestication in Europe", which is quite a different thing. It's the difference between claiming the origin of the specie's domestication versus timing when domestication was introduced into Europe.

... It was a separate dispersal from North Africa about two centuries later that formed the genetic basis of the modern domestic cat in Europe.
The study's findings suggest that there was not a single core region of cat domestication, but that several regions and cultures in North Africa played a role, according to zooarchaeologist and study co-author Bea De Cupere of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences....
The earliest domestic cat in Europe identified in the study - one genetically similar to present-day domestic cats - dated to between 50 BC and 80 AD from the Austrian town of Mautern, site of a Roman fort along the Danube River.
The study, however, does not unravel the timing and location of the initial feline domestication.
"Cat domestication is complex," Ottoni said, "and what we can tell now is the timing of the introduction of domestic cats to Europe from North Africa. We can't really say much what happened before and where."

Then there's another competing study that looks at North Africa:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8dvdp9gn7o

The contribution of which seems to strongly move the locus of early domestication away from Arabia and adjacent areas to North Africa--probably Egypt, but given trade routes you can't really rule out Cyrenica.

[soldierant]

24. I said it poorly but we agree.

Specifically addressing domestication just in Europe does not erase the centuries of Egyptian cat domestication (or worship) But it also doesn't include that period.

[BettyBlueDot]

5. Mine own proofs

My sweets, Wilma and Betty are living proof every single morning of their imperial genes, as they --- Wilma, especially, walk all over me, demanding my fealty... iow, food in the bowls...

[JMCKUSICK]

6. How familiar......hmmm,

Are Cuddles and Petunia related to yours?
Cuddles is lucky I have such sleep problems, especially when it starts getting cold. He thinks I'm the doorman at the Grand Trailer Castle of Vandalia Illinois.
I will credit him for one thing, he's a great tipper, see below

https://imgur.com/a/UmlSweo

He really does come in and say a personal thank you every single morning when he comes in.

[Ziggysmom]

13. Oh I love ginger kitties. They have such cute personalities.

Happy Thanksgiving and best to you, cat daddy

[KS Toronado]

9. Welcome to DU Betty !

[Xolodno]

7. I think its well known that we didn't domesticate cats.

They domesticated themselves. They went into the food stores, fields and said "look at all this easy fat prey!" We just made sure they were taken care of during the off seasons to make sure they stuck around.

I have a Russian Blue and it's believed they got here from Russia via sailors going to what was then Russian controlled Alaska or forts in California. Then they started migrating, but still very much rare.

[Blumancru]

8. Cats were domesticated?

That’s news to me.

[niyad]

10. News to our feline overlords as well!!!

[marble falls]

12. Cats are the only true socialists. If you own it, so does the cat.

[marble falls]

11. I'm surprised. Cats were domesticated in Egypt for centuries before that. Perhaps for 10,000 years in the mideast.

[Martin68]

17. Excellent point. It could explain the difference in temperament between "asian" cats and other breeds.

Tabbies and similar breeds have quite different behavior. Siamese, in particular, have unique behavior compared to other breeds.But this article seems to have a bias towards European history. Cats are far older than that. They were revered and loved in ancient Egypt.

[Stacey Grove]

15. My cat domesticates me

[Martin68]

16. Evidence of a more recent domestication confirms why cat are less inclined to obey, and more inclined to compromise

than dogs.I love dogs, but I find the independence of cats, along with their affection and loyalty, very attractive.

[airplaneman]

22. It takes about five cats to equal the trouble of one dog

[Martin68]

25. Exactly! That's why we have two cats and no dog. We can leave for the weekend, leave plenty of food out for them, and

they do just fine. We occasionally check on them with our video security system. I have to get my dog fix from friends and neighbors who share their dogs with me from time to time.

[LudwigPastorius]

18. Roman playwright Plautus "Nomen est omen"

Roman cat "Nom nom nom"

[da svenster]

19. at one time...

"In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this."
- Terry Pratchett

they remind of us of this daily...
- Me

[3catwoman3]

26. Whenever or wherever domestication began, I'm just so glad...

…it did.