The Domestic Cat

Cats are found in all corners of the world and are cherished pets in homes everywhere. Domestic cats have been living with people for the last 6,000 years but have managed to retain their independence and natural instincts. Individual cats display a wide range of personalities and behaviors.

Adaptable to almost any living condition, cats are generally easy to care for and make loving companions for people of all ages. With approximately 90 million cats living in U.S. households alone, the cat continues to be a popular pet, and most owners consider their cats to be beloved members of their families.

Cats have a history that dates back millions of years. Paleon­tologists have discovered the remains of a cat with retractable claws who lived about 50 million years ago. However, evidence suggests that cats were first domesticated about 9,500 years ago in regions of the Near East. An ancient grave, complete with commingled cat, mouse, and human bones, was discovered in Cyprus, an area settled by Neolithic farmers from Turkey. Before this discovery, it was believed that feline domestication first took place in Egypt around 6000 BCE, where ancient farmers domesticated the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) to help protect their grain stores from rodent infestation.

Domestic cats made their way to China in 5000 BCE, to India in 100 BCE, and to Europe in 900 CE. Sailors and other explorers throughout history, realizing that keeping cats aboard was a good way to rid their ships of mice, helped spread cats across the world. As European ships circumnavigated the globe, an exchange of cat genes took place as European cats brought to new lands mated with local cats.

By the Middle Ages, however, cats fell out of favor with most of Europe. The Catholic Church connected cats and those who loved them with paganism, devil worship, and witchcraft. It wasn’t until Victorian times that cats were once again warmly welcomed into the home and seen as the loving companion pets they are to this day.

There is only one species of domestic cat, Felis domestica, but that species includes dozens of distinct breeds. These breeds are not as differentiated as various dog breeds can be, but cats still differ by breed in terms of their appearance and personality.