Ancient cat DNA analysis reveals tabby coat patterns didn't emerge until medieval times.

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", a team of international researchers led by physical anthropologist Joachim Burger from the University of Mainz have shed new light on the history and impact of domestic cats on humans. The study, which surveyed the DNA of over 200 cats spanning the last 9,000 years, offers insights into the domestication process, the emergence of tabby coat markings, and the spread of cats across the globe.

Cats, one of the most popular pets in the world, with as many as 74 million cats living in U.S. homes, were domesticated without undergoing significant changes compared to their wild counterparts. The study suggests that cats likely started hanging around farming communities in the Fertile Crescent about 8,000 years ago, where they settled into a mutually beneficial relationship as humans' rodent patrol. Mice and rats were attracted to crops and other agricultural byproducts being produced by human civilizations, and cats followed the rodent populations and frequently approached the human settlements.

As the relationship between humans and cats evolved, cat fanciers in the 19th century began selecting cats with particular traits to create fancy breeds. However, it was not until the Middle Ages that the distinctive stripes and dots of the tabby cat, a popular coat pattern among domestic cats today, emerged. The study reveals that the tabby coat gene originated in the Ottoman Empire in Southwest Asia and spread to Europe and Africa, becoming common by the 18th century.

The comprehensive study also captured a glimpse of how the animals were changing even before humans started to cart them across the globe. By comparing the DNA of cats throughout history, the study reveals that the ancestors of today's domestic cats spread from southwest Asia and into Europe as early as 4400 B.C. A second lineage, consisting of African cats that dominated Egypt, spread into the Mediterranean and most of the Old World beginning around 1500 B.C.

The study of cats' genetics is shedding light on the domestication process and the history of these beloved pets. It suggests that prehistoric human populations probably began carrying their cats along ancient land and sea trade routes to control rodents. This Egyptian cat probably had behaviours that made it attractive to humans, such as sociability and tameness.

As we continue to learn more about the history and genetics of domestic cats, we gain a better understanding of the relationship between humans and these fascinating creatures. Domestic cats, while looking similar to wildcats, are not solitary, tolerating both humans and other cats. They have become an integral part of our lives, providing companionship and rodent control for thousands of years.