Summary
Highlights
Cats are mysterious and unreadable pets, with biologists and archaeologists now unraveling their secret histories. Behavioral genes have evolved to make domestic cats more docile and friendly with humans. Discoveries in neuroscience explain their appeal, showing that a cat's meow triggers an emotional response similar to a baby's cry. This suggests cats have learned to hijack human emotions for care.
Cats are not as expressive as dogs due to a lack of specific facial muscles, making it difficult for humans to read their emotions. However, scientific research indicates cats can subtly communicate pain through facial changes, though these are hard for the average owner to detect. Cats are also capable of differentiating between human expressions, reacting more positively to smiling faces, especially from their owners.
Domestic cats belong to a larger family of felids, originating from the Proailurus 25 million years ago. DNA and fossil evidence show that our domestic cat's ancestor, Felis silvestris (the wildcat), appeared 3.4 million years ago. This wildcat relied on stealth and surprise, explaining some of our pets' behaviors, like hiding and seeking high places. Genetic research identifies the North African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) as the direct ancestor.
The earliest evidence of a human-cat encounter dates back 9,500 years in Cyprus, where a man and a cat were buried together. This suggests early human-cat interaction, especially since Cyprus had no native wildcats, meaning they were brought by humans. Around 10,000 years ago, as human societies transitioned to farming in the Fertile Crescent, grain stores attracted rodents, which in turn attracted wildcats. Cats' superior hearing and hunting skills made them valuable pest controllers, leading to a symbiotic relationship with humans.
Domestic cats have evolved the ability to digest some plant matter, unlike their strictly carnivorous wild ancestors, due to their diet of human scraps. Genetic predisposition for less fearful, more docile wildcats led them to stay near human settlements, eventually resulting in genetic changes that made them friendlier. Egypt played a significant role in cat domestication, with images of cats appearing 4,000 years ago. Egyptians valued cats for pest control, both rodents and snakes, elevating them to a divine status as the goddess Bastet.
The worship of cats in Egypt led to mass breeding, and even cat sacrifice. This intensive breeding program may have changed the physical appearance of some cats, notably the emergence of ginger cats, which were rare before. Egyptian cats, particularly the ginger mutation, spread across the world via trade ships, notably with Vikings. The Siamese cat, a natural breed from Thailand, evolved independently, losing the tabby coloration due to a thermosensitive mutation, illustrating genetic drift in isolated populations.
The late 1800s saw a boom in cat breeding, with Europeans selecting for unique varieties from around the world. In the U.S., breeds like the Maine Coon and Ragdoll emerged. Despite thousands of years of domestication, cats retain their wild instincts, evidenced by feral cats. Feral cats, often former house pets or their descendants, revert to wild behavior if they miss the crucial socialization window between two to eight weeks of age. Programs like 'trap, neuter, release' are essential to control feral populations and prevent disease.
Cats are trainable, but unlike dogs who seek to please, cats require strong motivation, typically food. Samantha Martin's Acro-Cats demonstrate that cats are intelligent and capable of complex tricks through operant conditioning. The future of cats includes designer hybrid breeds like the Bengal (domestic cat + Asian leopard cat), Chausie (domestic cat + jungle cat), and Savannah (domestic cat + serval). These breeds blend the exotic appearance of wildcats with the temperament suited for human companionship, bringing a 'bit of the wild' into homes.