Cat Origin Story Rewritten: Tunisia, the Unexpected Cradle of Domestic Felines
Two large-scale studies are rewriting the history of domestic cat origins. By analyzing genetic data and archaeological evidence, researchers found that cats didn't accompany early farmers into Europe as previously thought. Instead, Tunisia is pinpointed as the origin point, with cats arriving in Europe in multiple waves starting around the 1st century CE. Religious and cultural factors played a crucial role, with the veneration of cats in ancient Egypt and their representation in Greco-Roman and Norse mythology driving their spread. The research also reveals competition and hybridization between domestic cats and native European wildcats, leading to a decline in wildcat populations. This discovery significantly alters our understanding of one of humanity's most familiar companions.