Cross Breeds

When and where were (house)cats ever wild animals?

You know, regular domesticated housecats. I know there are wild ones out there, but when and where did they first become domesticated? Where were there cats running around as truly wild animals?

Public Comments

1. Great question. I tried to look it up before but had no luck. I really want to be able to tell my son where he is really from! Ha ha. Eygpt..? meow.
2. They were revered in ancient Egypt, but have probably been tolerated around human settlements for millenia, because they kill rats, which would bite human babies. In Australia, they have devastated the indigenous fauna, causing many small marsupial species to become extinct. As a result, feral cats are now trapped, shot, or poison bait is used, and I regard this as being a good thing. In some Asian countries, they are eaten, as are dogs. Fishing line used to be made from catgut, from "catteries".
3. A research paper just came out that says that the domesticated cat originated from a species of wild cat in Northern Africa.
4. The domestic cat is descended from the African wildcat, Felis sylvestris lybica, which is still a common species across much of Africa. They are thought to have been domesticated by the ancient Egyptians to kill the rats and mice which ate a significant portion of grain stores.