Whether they are a siamese, Persian, Maine Coon or Domestic Shorthair, there are hundreds of millions of cats living with people around the world. But despite their popularity as pets, the history of cat domestication has remained difficult for scientists to decipher.
A new genome study is providing some insight into the matter by determining the timing of a key milestone in feline domestication β the introduction of domestic cats into Europe from North Africa.
Domestic cats pounced into Europe roughly 2,000 years ago in early imperial Roman times, the researchers found, probably thanks to maritime trade. Some of these furry trailblazers may have been brought by sailors to hunt mice on ships that plied the Mediterranean carrying grain f
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