Researchers have unveiled significant insights into the history of cat domestication through a new genome study. This research identifies a pivotal moment in the introduction of domestic cats into Europe from North Africa, approximately 2,000 years ago during the early Roman Empire. The findings challenge long-standing beliefs that cats were domesticated much earlier, around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, as farmers migrated from the Near East into Europe.
Key Findings on Cat Domestication
The study, led by Claudio Ottoni, a paleogeneticist at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, highlights that domestic cats likely arrived in Europe via maritime trade routes. Sailors may have transported these cats to control rodent populations aboard ships carrying grain from Egypt to various Roman ports.
“We show that the earliest domestic cat genomes in Europe are found from the Roman imperial period onwards,” Ottoni stated. The research utilized genetic data from cat remains retrieved from 97 archaeological sites spanning Europe and the Near East, including a comprehensive analysis of 225 bones from both domestic and wild cats, dating from about 10,000 years ago to the 19th century AD.
Results revealed that prehistoric remains in Europe predominantly belonged to wildcats rather than early domestic cats. The study provides compelling evidence that dogs were the first domesticated animals, descending from a distinct wolf lineage, while domestic cats evolved from the African wildcat.
Implications of the Research
The introduction of domestic cats to Europe marks a significant development in the relationship between humans and these animals. According to study co-author Marco De Martino, cats became deeply integrated into human societies, affecting economies and cultural beliefs. “Cats aren’t just another species arriving on a new continent,” he noted.
The genomic analysis pinpointed two separate introductions of cats from North Africa to Europe. The first occurred roughly 2,200 years ago, when wildcats were brought to Sardinia. However, these were not domestic cats. A significant dispersal, around 200 years later, contributed to the genetic foundation of modern domestic cats across Europe.
Bea De Cupere, a zooarchaeologist and co-author from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, explained that the timing of these genetic introductions coincided with heightened trade activity in the Mediterranean. Cats likely served dual roles as effective hunters of pests on grain ships and as animals of cultural significance.
In ancient Egypt, for example, cats were revered as symbols of fertility and motherhood, with royal families often mummifying their beloved pets for burial. The Roman military also played a crucial role in dispersing domestic cats throughout Europe, as evidenced by findings of feline remains at Roman camp sites.
The earliest identified domestic cat in Europe, genetically akin to contemporary domestic breeds, dates from between 50 BC and 80 AD in Mautern, Austria, a location of a Roman fort along the Danube River.
Despite these discoveries, the study does not clarify the precise origins or timeline of initial cat domestication. “Cat domestication is complex,” Ottoni remarked, emphasizing that while the introduction of domestic cats to Europe is documented, many aspects of their early domestication remain elusive.
This pioneering research, published in the journal Science, enhances our understanding of the complex history of human-animal interactions and the integral role cats have played in various cultures throughout history.
