Which wild cat is the most domesticated? - briefly
The most domesticated wild cat is the African wildcat (Felis lybica), as it is considered the primary ancestor of the modern domestic cat due to its historical and genetic proximity.
Which wild cat is the most domesticated? - in detail
The wild cat species that has shown the greatest potential for domestication is the African wildcat (Felis lybica). This small feline, native to Africa and parts of the Middle East, is widely regarded as the direct ancestor of the modern domestic cat (Felis catus). Genetic studies have confirmed that domestic cats share a nearly identical genetic makeup with the African wildcat, indicating a long history of close association with humans. Unlike many other wild cat species, the African wildcat exhibits a natural tolerance for human presence, which likely facilitated its initial domestication around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent. Early agricultural societies benefited from the African wildcat's ability to control rodent populations, and over time, selective breeding and cohabitation led to the development of the domestic cat. While the African wildcat remains a wild animal, its behavioral traits, such as its relatively docile nature and adaptability to human environments, make it the wild cat species most closely associated with domestication. Other wild cats, such as the serval or caracal, have been kept as exotic pets, but they require extensive socialization and specialized care, and they do not exhibit the same level of natural compatibility with humans as the African wildcat. Thus, the African wildcat stands out as the wild cat species with the strongest historical and biological connection to domestication.