Recent research has significantly advanced our understanding of cat domestication, revealing that domestic cats were introduced to Europe from North Africa approximately 2,000 years ago. This new study, which draws on ancient DNA analysis, contradicts previous assumptions that cats became domesticated much earlier, around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, through farmers migrating from the Near East.
The findings, published in the journal Science, indicate that the migration of domestic cats coincided with the early imperial period of the Roman Empire. This period marked the rise of maritime trade in the Mediterranean, where sailors likely transported cats to help control rodent populations aboard their ships carrying grain from Egypt to major ports.
According to lead author and paleogeneticist Claudio Ottoni from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, “We show that the earliest domestic cat genomes in Europe are found from the Roman imperial period onwards,” which began in the first century AD. The researchers analyzed genetic material from 225 cat bones found across 97 archaeological sites in Europe and the Near East, generating 70 ancient feline genomes.
The study revealed that remains from prehistoric sites in Europe belonged to wildcats rather than early domestic cats. In contrast, dogs were the first domesticated animals, stemming from an ancient wolf lineage, while modern domestic cats trace their ancestry back to the African wildcat.
The introduction of domestic cats to Europe marks a pivotal moment in their long-standing relationship with humans. As co-author Marco De Martino, also from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, stated, “Cats aren’t just another species arriving on a new continent. They’re an animal that became deeply integrated into human societies, economies, and even belief systems.”
Two Key Introductions from North Africa
The genomic analysis identified two separate introductions of cats to Europe from North Africa. Approximately 2,200 years ago, wildcats were brought to the island of Sardinia, forming the basis for the island’s current wildcat population. However, these were not domestic cats. A distinct wave of migration occurred about 200 years later, which contributed to the genetic foundation of modern domestic cats in Europe.
According to zooarchaeologist Bea De Cupere of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, “The timing of the genetic waves of introduction from North Africa coincides with periods when trade around the Mediterranean intensified strongly.” Cats likely traveled as efficient hunters of mice on grain ships, and they may have also been viewed as valuable animals with religious significance.
In ancient Egypt, cats held a prominent place in society, revered in a pantheon that included feline deities. Royalty often kept cats as pets and mummified them for elaborate burials. The ancient Roman army, with its extensive outposts throughout Europe, played a crucial role in dispersing domestic cats across the continent, as evidenced by feline remains discovered at Roman military camp sites.
The earliest domestic cat identified in this study, genetically similar to contemporary domestic cats, dates back to between 50 BC and 80 AD from the Austrian town of Mautern, which housed a Roman fort along the Danube River.
Complexity of Cat Domestication
While this study sheds light on the timing of domestic cats’ introduction to Europe, it does not clarify the specifics of their initial domestication. “Cat domestication is complex,” Ottoni noted, “and what we can tell now is the timing of the introduction of domestic cats to Europe from North Africa. We can’t really say much about what happened before and where.”
As researchers continue to unravel the intricate history of domestic cats, this study stands as a significant contribution to understanding how these beloved companions became woven into the fabric of human life across the globe.
