After all, cats may have been domesticated much later than thought. Before, these felines have been eaten and transformed into clothes.
The origins of domestic cats and their travels with ancient humans are as enigmatic as the feline himself.
As you write, researchers theorize that lap cats (Sus scrofa) derived from African wild cats (Fells Lybica). But when and where wild cats first accepted the human company is more complicated to know.
One of the prevailing hypotheses is that the cats were domesticated in the Levante, a region of the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea during the neolithic period, 12,000 to 5,000 years ago.
The theory suggests that when humans have gone from a lifestyle of hunter-colector to agriculture, rodents have become a problem. The cats were attracted by the rodents, and since the felines were eating their pests, the humans were happy to cohabit with them.
This theory is based on the discovery of a cat buried at a human’s feet in Cyprus.
“The first test of human association with a cat comes from Cyprusabout 10,000 years”, He explained Jonathan Lososevolutionary biologist at the University of Washington in St. Louis, Live Science.
New studies launch doubts
However, two studies recently in the BIORHIVIVE They bring new perspectives on how cats may have been coexisting with humanity and spreading around the world.
The new articles release doubts about the previous “cipriot” idea, suggesting that the Cat domestication occurred much later and that the remains of cats that suggest previous interactions were actually wild cats.
In one of the new studies, researchers have made genetic analyzes in old cats, which revealed that felines found in Europe and Turkey between 11,000 and 2,300 years ago were not the direct ancestors of current domestic cats.
Instead, were European wild cats (Felis) – explained to live science Marco De MartinThe, paleogeneticist at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the main author of the first study.
“They were probably exploited for food, skin or ritual practices“He added.
According to this study, Kittens were not pets -They were intended for Pan of the stews or the collars of luxurious cloaks or as offerings to deities.
Instead, researchers suggest that cat domestication occurred in North Africa.
In turn, based on evidence of iconography and extensive cat mummification, theororiza that Egypt was probably the main center of cat domestication.
Although felines may have been attracted to rodent agricultural production, a variation in the hypothesis suggests that they were created for the production of mummies used in devotional rituals.
Then the large -scale creation operations may have started the domestication process.
It is likely that cats have moved after Egypt to Europe through the commercial routes.
