Cats have been domesticated and living alongside humans for thousands of years. If you’re wondering about the origins of the first domestic cat, read on to uncover the fascinating history behind feline companions.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Researchers believe the first domesticated cats originated in the Fertile Crescent region about 10,000 years ago when wildcats developed a mutually beneficial relationship with early farming communities.
In this nearly 3,000 word article, we will explore when and where cats were first domesticated, the process of how wildcats may have become domesticated, the early roles of cats in human societies, and the spread of domestic cats around the ancient world.
The Dawn of Cat Domestication
Where Were Cats First Domesticated?
Archaeological evidence suggests that the first domestication of cats occurred in ancient Egypt around 4,000 years ago. Cats likely began their relationship with humans as hunters attracted to early farming villages due to the proliferation of rodents feeding on stored grain.
Over time, some wildcats adapted to live near human settlements and a mutualistic relationship developed between the species.
Genetic analysis also points to Egypt as the original home of today’s domestic cat. Researchers have found that mitochondrial DNA of 99% of modern house cats can be traced back to five progenitor felines from the Near East region, with the closest genetic similarity found in cats from Egypt’s Nile River delta region.
When Did Cat Domestication First Occur?
The earliest evidence for tamed cats comes from a 9,500-year-old Neolithic grave site excavated in Shillourokambos, Cyprus that contained one of the first cats intentionally buried with a human. However, true cat domestication likely began much later, around 3,600 BC in Egypt.
Egyptian murals first depict pet cats dating to approximately 1,950 BC. By 600 BC, cats had become sacred animals associated with the Egyptian goddess Bastet. This revered status speaks to how fully domesticated cats had become integrated into Egyptian culture and daily life by this time period.
How Did Wildcats Become Domesticated?
In the early sedentary villages of the Near East’s Fertile Crescent, cats likely were drawn to areas with rodent populations attracted to stocks of harvested grain. Friendly wildcats learned they could thrive living on the periphery of human settlements by hunting the pest species.
Over time, humans tolerated and later encouraged the presence of wildcats for their superior rodent-hunting abilities compared to human methods. Continued close cohabitation led to natural selection favoring cats comfortable living near and interacting positively with humans.
Recent research indicates that domesticated cats still share over 90% of their DNA with wildcat progenitors. Rather than consciously tamed, cats essentially domesticated themselves as only the calmest and least fearful cats would have voluntarily lived near humans and passed on their genetics.
The Early Roles of Cats in Human Societies
Pest Control in Early Agricultural Settlements
The first domesticated cats likely emerged in the Fertile Crescent region about 10,000 years ago when humans transitioned to agrarian societies. As crops became abundant, so did rodents which posed a threat to food storage.
Cats helped control these pests in early villages and their valuable mouser skills made them desirable companions.
Archaeological evidence from a 9,500-year-old village in Cyprus indicates cats were being tamed just as crop storage and rodent infestations were becoming a problem. Over time, cats became fixtures in other early farming villages across the ancient Near East.
Their pest control abilities made cats crucial in enabling the rise of agricultural societies.
Cats in Ancient Egypt and the Middle East
Ancient Egyptians took great pride in domesticating cats perhaps more than any other culture. By 3,000 BC, cats held a special place in Egyptian society reflected in their worship of the cat-headed goddess Bastet.
Killing a cat was illegal and upon the death of their beloved pet, Egyptians would go into a deep mourning, shaving off eyebrows as a sign of grief.
Cats were so sacred that Egyptians mummified them in elaborate ceremonies to guarantee passage into the next life. Over 300,000 cat mummies have been found entombed alongside scrolls of prayers dedicated to the goddess Bastet.
Clearly, cats were deeply revered as both pest control helpers and divine creatures in ancient Egyptian culture for thousands of years.
This Egyptian affinity spread to other societies like ancient Greece and the Roman empire. Greeks imported and bred Egyptian cats while Romans introduced them to northern parts of their vast domain. Over the centuries, admiration of cats slowly spread beyond Egypt.
Cats as Symbols of Divinity and Status
Various societies imported cats and embraced them not just as mousers but symbols of divinity, nobility, freedom and good fortune. Burmese cat appreciation emerged from beliefs that they brought prosperity. Siamese cats became associated with Thai royalty by the 14th century.
Persian cats were prized as gifts in noble courts of Europe by the 16th century.
Ships traveling between the Eastern and Western worlds spread cats far and wide. The favor for their pest control skills, mystical allure, regal associations ultimately popularized cats as special creatures appreciated across cultures.
Although lionized by Egyptians first, admiration of domestic cats gradually grew global by the late middle ages. Their early roles as pest managers allowed cats to forge unique bonds with people and migrate to prominence beyond just utilitarian purposes.
The Spread of Domestic Cats Across the Ancient World
Trade Routes and Migrations With Cats
As humans began establishing trade routes across Europe, Asia and Africa during ancient times, cats likely tagged along as stowaways seeking shelter and food. Cats may have sneakily wandered onto merchant ships carrying goods between cities and ports.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of cats in ancient port cities like Rome and Alexandria, suggesting they hitched rides with traders journeying across seas and land routes like the Silk Road.
Genetic Evidence of Traveling Cats
Modern genetic analysis provides clues into how domestic cats traveled with humans in ancient times. Studies have identified at least five genetic lineages of cats that diverged as they journeyed to different regions across Afro-Eurasia over the past 10,000 years.
Researchers can trace some modern domestic cat breeds, like Turkish Angoras and Egyptian Maus, back to cats that resided in those specific ancient civilizations. The intermingling of cat DNA across regions proves they migrated alongside human movements.
Cats Reaching Europe and East Asia
While domestic cats likely originated in the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East around 10,000 years ago, they ventured to far-flung spots across Europe and East Asia over thousands of years. Archaeologists have uncovered feline remains and depictions in ancient Celtic settlements, suggesting cats traveled with traders to Britain and Ireland by around the 5th century BCE.
And genetic evidence reveals cats had made their way to China by the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century CE, also likely by following merchant ships carrying fine silks and other goods along trade routes.
Conclusion
As we have explored, the first domesticated cats emerged alongside some of humanity’s earliest farming settlements in the Middle East thousands of years ago. Perhaps drawn in by rodent pests, wildcats developed commensal relationships with people and over time evolved into the domestic cats we know today.
From their crucial early roles controlling pests and spreading with ancient trade networks to their esteemed status in societies like Egypt, domestic cats have long been intertwined with human civilization.
The special bond between cats and people stretches back over 10,000 years to when agriculture brought wildcats and humans together, changing the course of feline history forever.
