When was the cat invented? - briefly
The domestic cat as we know it today was not "invented" but rather selectively bred from its wild ancestor, Felis silvestris lybica, around 10,000 years ago in the Near East. This process began when early farmers started to domesticate cats to control pests and vermin that threatened their crops.
When was the cat invented? - in detail
The domestic cat, as we know it today, is not an invention in the traditional sense but rather the result of a long process of evolution and domestication. To understand when the cat was "invented," one must delve into its ancient origins and the complex relationship that humans have had with felines over thousands of years.
The earliest known ancestor of the domestic cat is the African wildcat (Felis lybica), which still roams parts of Africa and the Middle East today. This species shares a close genetic relationship with modern domestic cats, indicating that the domestication process likely began with these animals. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans first started interacting with African wildcats around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East.
The process of domestication is believed to have begun when early agricultural communities started storing grains. This attracted rodents and other small animals, which in turn attracted wildcats that preyed on these pests. Over time, humans likely began encouraging these wildcats to stay near their settlements by providing food scraps or shelter. This mutualistic relationship between humans and cats is thought to have driven the initial stages of cat domestication.
One of the earliest pieces of evidence for domestic cat ownership comes from Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean. In a Neolithic site dating back to around 9,500 years ago, archaeologists discovered the remains of both humans and cats buried together. This finding suggests that cats were already considered companions or pets by this time, indicating that the domestication process was well underway.
As human societies became more complex and began trading with one another, domestic cats spread across various cultures and continents. By around 6,000 years ago, cats were present in Egypt, where they were revered and often depicted in art and literature. The ancient Egyptians valued cats for their ability to control pests and even worshipped some feline deities, such as Bastet, the goddess of fertility and motherhood.
Throughout the centuries, cats continued to spread across the globe, accompanying humans on voyages and migrations. They became integral parts of many societies, serving various roles from companionship to pest control. It is essential to note that while the exact timeline of cat domestication may be difficult to pinpoint, the process was gradual and occurred over thousands of years.
In summary, the "invention" of the domestic cat is not a singular event but rather a culmination of ancient interactions between humans and wildcats. This relationship began around 10,000 years ago in the Middle East and has since evolved into the diverse array of cat breeds we see today. The journey from African wildcat to beloved pet has been shaped by mutual need, cultural appreciation, and the passage of time.