Domestication of the cat

The domestic cat originated from Near-Eastern and Egyptian populations of the African wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica. The family Felidae, to which all living feline species belong, is theorized to have arisen about 12 to 13 million years ago and is divided into eight major phylogenetic lineages. The Felis lineage in particular is the lineage to which the domestic cat belongs.
Several investigations have shown that all domestic varieties of cats come from a single species of the Felis lineage, Felis catus. Variations of this lineage are found across the world, and until recently scientists have found it difficult to identify exactly which region gave rise to modern domestic cat breeds. Scientists believed that it was not just one incident that led to the domesticated cat but multiple independent incidents at different places that led to these breeds. More complications arose from the fact that wildcat populations as a whole are very widespread and very similar to one another. These variations of wildcats can and will interbreed freely with one another when in close contact, further blurring the lines between taxa. Recent DNA studies, advancement in genetic technologies, and a better understanding of DNA and genetics as a whole has helped make discoveries in the evolutionary history of the domestic cat. Archaeological evidence has documented earlier dates of domestication than formerly believed.
Current taxonomy tends to treat F. silvestris, F. lybica, F. catus, and F. bieti as different species. A 2007 study of feline mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites of approximately 1,000 cats from many different regions (including Africa, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the Middle East) showed 5 genetic lineages of the wildcat population. These lineages included:
This study showed that African wildcat (F. s. lybica) included domesticated cats and that wild cats from this group are almost indistinguishable from domesticated cats. Along with DNA analysis, phylogenetic studies were also conducted to narrow down the evolutionary history. Phylogenetic trees were generated based on mitochondrial DNA analysis.
In each study Bayesian, maximum likelihood, and parsimony maximum likelihood trees all produced identical results. They each show that F. s. ornata, F. s. cafra, and F. s. lybica were all very closely related to a common ancestor. It also showed that this group of variations are monophyletic, meaning they share a common ancestor not shared by other groups. The trees also helped show that F. s. lybica gave rise to the domesticated cats of today. F. s. silvestris showed a very early branching away from the other groups, but still shares a very early common ancestor with the rest of the clades.
Domesticated cats originated from near-eastern and Egyptian populations of F. s. lybica. The former gathered around human agricultural colonies themselves, while the latter (~1500 BC) seems mainly attractive in behavioral traits. They started spreading during neolithic times, but did not become widespread in the Old World until classical antiquity. A newer study from 2018 moves the earlier origin to Southwest Asia.
Scientists and veterinarians specifically have incorporated an important tool known as race and breed identification panels to learn more about the specific genetics that align with these dominating regions domesticated cat breeds originate from. While the primary lineages are listed above with their respective regions, this form of genetic technology made it possible to simplify and distinguish certain areas of these regions. For example, the Maine Coon breed was predominately from Western Europe, while the Siamese breed dominated in Southeast Asia. Tests showing the DNA markers that are used to distinguish genetic discrepancies in a forensic manner can also be purchased by an owner for individual use.
An abundance of accessible sources that incorporate breed identification panels can be utilized for personal use by breeders and owners to determine the genetic workup of a domesticated cat. Due to the highly known genetic distinction within the Felidae family, "this international cat parentage and identification panel has a power of exclusion comparable to panels used in other species, ranging from 90.08% to 99.79% across breeds and 99.47% to 99.87% in random-bred cat populations." With such a high power of exclusion, it is to say that the possibility of genetic similarities occurring within cat breeds are more uncommon than others.
A 2014 study compares many cat genomes with tiger and dog genomes. Genomic regions under selection in domestic cats include those involved in neuronal processes (fear and reward behavior) and in homologous recombination (increased recombination frequency). In addition, the KIT mutations responsible for the white-spotted phenotype were identified.
The blotched tabby cat trait (Aminopeptidase Q mutation) arose in the Middle Ages. Wild-type cats have a mackerel pattern.
Scientists also used archaeological and behavioral studies to help further solidify the discovery that F.s. lybica was the common ancestor to domesticated cats. Fragments of teeth and bone found at burial sites across the globe have all been connected by DNA analysis to F.s. lybica, some dating as far back as 7,000–8,000 years ago. Originally the Egyptian populations were credited with the early domestication of cats approximately 3,600 years ago but archaeological evidence also disputed the hypothesis in 2004.
In 2007, archaeologists working in Cyprus found an even older burial ground, a Neolithic site that is approximately 9,500 years old, of a 30-year-old man buried with a cat. Cats are not native to this area, which means the tribe must have brought the cats with them when they established residence on the island. This finding suggests that people from the Middle Eastern region of the Old World began keeping cats thousands of years earlier than the Egyptians.
Behavioral analysis of F.s. silvestris (the European wildcat), which was thought to also be a common ancestor to domesticated cats, showed that there were significant differences between the two. F.s. silvestris has a tendency to be very timid and aggressive even when they are raised starting as kittens around a human population. This group was also very territorial and showed aggressive behavior within their own species as well. Hybrids between domesticated cats and silvestris showed less aggressive behavior and more docile temperament, leading the scientist to believe that the behavioral difference was genetic and most likely due to a difference in species. This evidence suggests F.s. lybica is likely to be the common ancestor of all domesticated cats today.
Unlike other domesticated animals, which have been bred for different physical traits to help with tasks, such as food, hunting, or security, modern cat breeds originated mostly within the last 150 years from breeding for physical traits with no differentiation in functionality—just aesthetic differences. Also different from other domesticated mammals, domesticated cat breeds have very few genetic differences from their wild counterparts due to constant intermixing, with thousands of years of genetic exchanges in both directions. The few genes that control physical characteristics such as hair color and pattern are what differentiate the modern wildcat population from domesticated cats. Domesticated cat breeds are also unique in the fact that there are only 40–50 genetically distinct breeds while other domesticated animals can have anywhere from 65 to 100 genetically distinct breeds.
In 1871 only five cat breeds were recognized by an association in London. Today the USA based Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) recognizes 41 breeds and The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 57 breeds. Most of these breeds are defined by phenotypic, or visible, characteristics, most of which are single gene traits found at low to moderate levels in the non-pedigree cat. These characteristics are rare and not seen in the common house cat. Unlike most pet dogs, which come from a mixture of purebreed lineages, cats started as a mixture of many wildcat variations and have been selectively bred by humans for certain traits that lead to modern breeds. This has allowed for a large increase in the number of breeds in a shorter amount of time. This is also the reason why associations that classify cat breeds use the word "pedigreed", as domestic cats do not have true purebred forms.
DNA studies have been conducted to connect the pedigree lines to those which freely bred at random. These studies were conducted using the same techniques as mentioned above, mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites were examined to find the common ancestor. All cat breeds were found to have originated in eight different regions and then selectively bred multiple times throughout history and relocated multiple times, leading to the approximately 45 modern breeds. These eight lineages include Europe, Egypt, India, Southeast Asia, Arabian Sea, East Asia, and the Mediterranean.