New DNA evidence shows domestic cats originated in North Africa and spread to Europe and East Asia only in the past 2000 years, later than previously believed. Earlier assumptions placed their roots in the Levant around 9600 BC. Separate findings reveal that in China, leopard cats lived near humans for over 5000 years but never became domesticated.
Researchers have upended the timeline of cat domestication through ancient DNA analysis. Claudio Ottoni at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and colleagues examined 225 ancient cat specimens from nearly 100 sites across Europe and modern-day Turkey. They sequenced 70 ancient genomes covering more than 10,000 years, from the ninth millennium BC to the 19th century AD, plus 17 genomes from museum specimens and contemporary wildcats in Italy, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The study identified the earliest African wildcat or domestic cat in Europe as a specimen from Sardinia, Italy, dated to the second century AD via radiocarbon analysis. Prior to this, all European cats were genetically European wildcats (Felis silvestris). This indicates domestic cats dispersed far later than thought, driven by Mediterranean civilizations in the first millennium BC. Two distinct populations were involved: one from northwest Africa introduced to Sardinia, establishing local wildcat groups, and another that evolved into modern domestic cats (Felis catus), descended from the African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica).
"At the beginning of the domestication process, cats were probably very good at adapting to the human environment," Ottoni explained. "Their ecological plasticity made them very successful. They could thrive with humans in different conditions, urban and suburban contexts, accompanying them across long journeys, and this marked their evolutionary success."
In parallel research, Shu-Jin Luo at Peking University analyzed 22 feline remains from China spanning over 5000 years and 130 genomes from modern and ancient Eurasian cats. Surprisingly, leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), native to East Asia, coexisted with humans more than 5000 years ago, attracted to settlements by rodents. "These cats frequented human settlements, likely drawn by rodents, but they were never truly domesticated," Luo noted.
Domestic cats reached China around 1300 years ago during the Tang Dynasty, likely via Silk Road traders from the Middle East and Central Asia. Despite a commensal bond with leopard cats lasting over 3500 years, they eventually reverted to wild habitats. Luo advises against pet attempts: "I often get curious questions from the public about whether these cute leopard cats could be kept as pets, especially if raised from a kitten. My answer is simple: don’t bother. Our ancestors tried it for over 3000 years, and they failed."
These findings, published in Science and Cell Genomics, highlight cats' adaptability and reshape our understanding of their global journey alongside humans.