Page 18 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Cats: from tigers to tabbies

Domestic cats

What started as a means of crop protection
turned into a 10,000-year companionship
Cats have captured the world’s hearts, a fact reflected in

the number of pet cats outnumbering dogs three to one in
the UK, and in the internet’s wealth of cat-related content.
They’re neurotic and fickle, yet despite their independent

nature we all love them. It seems the more standoffish our

kitties are, the more we want them to love us. But they can’t
help staying aloof – cats are only really semi-domesticated
despite a long history of living alongside humans.
It’s most likely that farmers welcomed cats as they
controlled the rodent population feasting on their crops. In
return, farmers probably offered the cats rewards and treats
to tempt them into sticking around. Humans would have
naturally selected their furry companions based on their
friendly and docile nature. The cats, clever enough to realise
that good behaviour meant food and security, were kept for
longer and fed more often.
The earliest evidence for wildcat taming comes from
9,500-year-old Neolithic graves excavated in Cyprus. It’s
thought farmers brought cats with them from the Middle
East, as there are no native cats in Cyprus. Fast forward
4,000 years to the Ancient Egyptians, and it seems by
looking at paintings and inscriptions that cats were somewhat
domesticated by this time. As all domestic cats evolved from
the African wildcat, this trend spread from North Africa, to
the Middle East, India, and China, but did not reach Europe
until the Romans introduced them much later.

“Cats are only really semi-
domesticated, despite a long

history of living with humans”

Wild at heart Y o u r c at m a y l i k e t o c u d d l e , o r r u n a w a y at t h e s i g ht o f a v a c u u m c l e a n e r ,
Your cat may like to cuddle, or run away at the sight of a vacuum cleaner,
but they have actually retained many of their wild relatives’ behaviours
but they have actually retained many of their wild relatives’ behaviours

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Crepuscular Hunting Scratching furniture
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Cats are most active at dawn and dusk Even pet cats love to stalk and pounce Every cat needs to mark their territory
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Wild cats hunt at dawn and dusk, meaning Domestic cats show hunting behaviour even In the wild, tigers and lions will often scratch
they are crepuscular. Domestic cats mirror this when they’re not hungry. Pouncing can release trees as a way of communication. They will
behaviour. Many cat owners report being kept feel-good hormones and they must do this to stand up on their hind legs and scratch the
awake at night or being woken up early by avoid frustration. The mechanics of creeping bark with their claws, to give the impression a
their pet mewing and scratching at the door, or up on a victim, whether its prey or a cat toy, much bigger cat has left the mark. So the next
running up and down the hallways. They’re most are very much the same, suggesting that even time your little lion is ruining your furniture,
active at these unsociable hours, just like their though domestic cats don’t need to hunt for remember they’re just following their instincts
big cat relatives. food, they still have the instinct. and protecting your home from bigger cats.
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