Cats and humans have had a close relationship for thousands of years. While cats began the process of domestication on their own, living in and around human settlements, over time they underwent significant changes to become the household pets that are popular in many countries today. Unlike dogs, which were intentionally bred by humans for different purposes like hunting, herding, and companionship, cats largely domesticated themselves initially. However, humans did eventually influence cat breeding, especially with the rise of distinct pedigree cat breeds in the 19th century.
In this article, we will explore the origins of cat domestication, how they differ from dogs, key physical changes during domestication, the increasing popularity of cats as pets, the rise of cat breeds, and modern cat breeding. The evidence shows cats independently started the domestication process but humans later intentionally bred them as well. Through this long process cats transformed from wild predators to the pets we know and love today.
Origins of cat domestication
According to The History of Cats: All Your Questions Answered, cats first approached human settlements in the Near East/Fertile Crescent around 10,000 years ago. As populations grew with the advent of agriculture, small rodents became an issue in grain stores. This drew wild cats to settlements to hunt the rodents. Over generations of exposure to humans, the cats became more socialized. Cats that were less afraid of humans could get closer to the rodent-filled grain stores and thus had an evolutionary advantage. Dogs also likely played a role in cats’ early association with humans as their cohabitation led to cats tolerating human presence more. While the exact timeline of cat domestication is unclear, archaeological evidence and DNA analysis show it began in the Near East several thousand years ago before spreading slowly across the world.
Cats domesticated themselves
Wildcats likely approached human settlements in the early Neolithic period, around 10,000 years ago, drawn by the proliferation of mice and rats around grain stores. Cats proved adept at hunting and controlling rodent populations, providing a mutually beneficial relationship with humans. Archaeological evidence shows wildcats buried alongside humans in burial sites dating to 9,500 years ago in Cyprus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_the_cat).
This commensal relationship allowed cats to thrive by utilizing human settlements as a resource for food. Over time, wildcats became more comfortable living in proximity to humans and became the domesticated house cats we know today. Unlike dogs and other domesticated species that were intentionally bred by humans, the modern house cat domesticated itself through natural selection, as cats living near humans benefited from ample food and shelter. No direct evidence suggests humans actively tamed cats until thousands of years after the initial commensal relationship had developed.
Differences between cat and dog domestication
Compared to cats, dogs underwent more intensive selective breeding by humans throughout history. According to Live Science, archaeological evidence shows that humans actively bred dogs for certain traits like hunting, herding, and guarding from over 19,000 years ago. In contrast, cats largely domesticated themselves around 10,000 years ago when they realized living near humans provided easy access to food. While humans eventually bred some cat bloodlines to produce distinct pedigreed breeds, cats did not experience the same degree of intensive artificial selection over thousands of years that dogs did.
This difference in selective breeding partially explains why there are far more genetically and physically distinct dog breeds compared to cat breeds today. For example, breeds like Chihuahuas, Great Danes, and Pugs display much greater diversity in size, coat colors, body proportions, and more relative to different cat breeds. As People magazine notes, if all dog breeds were lined up side by side, their differences would be easily apparent. But a lineup of various cat breeds would showcase fewer drastic variations since human-guided breeding was not as extreme.
Human influence on cat domestication
While the initial domestication of cats was likely driven by natural selection and the cats’ own behavior, humans did facilitate and accelerate the process in some key ways. As humans began to settle in agricultural communities 10,000-12,000 years ago, they created new abundant food sources that attracted cats in the form of rodent populations drawn to grain storage areas. Cats that were less afraid of humans gained a competitive advantage by sticking around human settlements to prey on the rodents. Humans tolerated and even encouraged the presence of cats as they helped control pests. Over time, this created an interdependent relationship where cats relied on humans for food and shelter while providing rodent control in return (The Atlantic).
Some experts believe the earliest phase of cat domestication was mainly natural selection at work, but human civilization created conditions that strongly favored cats willing to live near people. Once early farmers began more intentionally housing cats, actively caring for kittens, and even breeding small numbers, human influence on cat domestication grew substantially. The symbiotic pest control/companionship dynamic laid the groundwork for cats being fully domesticated and popularized as pets in more modern times.
Physical changes during domestication
As cats gradually adapted to living with humans over thousands of years, their bodies and temperaments underwent some key changes compared to their wild ancestors. According to How Did Cats Domesticate Themselves? A Look at the History of Feline Domestication, some of the most notable physical alterations in domesticated cats include decreased adrenal glands and more docile behavior.
The adrenal glands produce hormones related to stress response and aggression. Over generations, domesticated cats developed smaller adrenal glands, which reduced their “fight or flight” reactions. This change allowed cats to be calmer around humans and less reactive to things that would provoke a wild feline. According to Domestication of Cats, the decreased adrenal glands contributed to an overall more docile temperament in domesticated cats compared to undomesticated relatives.
Rise of cat breeds
Pedigreed cats only appeared in the last 150 years, with the first cat show held in 1871 in London, England (History of Cat Breeds: Where Did Cat Breeds Come From?, 2022). This marked the beginning of selective breeding of cats for specific traits and appearances. Early pedigree breeds that emerged during this time include the Persian, Siamese, Russian Blue, British Shorthair, and Maine Coon. Cat fanciers began breeding cats selectively for their looks and temperament, establishing unique breeds over time. For example, the Persian was bred for its long, luxurious coat while the Siamese was bred for its distinctive colors and vocal nature. The controlled breeding of pedigreed cats accelerated through cat shows and registries established by cat fancier groups in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Popularization of cats as pets
The popularization of cats as pets really began during the Victorian era in the 19th century. Although cats had been domesticated for thousands of years before this, they were mainly kept for their hunting abilities and to control vermin populations. The Victorian era saw cats become beloved companions and pets within the home.
In Victorian England, the rise of the middle class meant more families could afford to keep pets. At the same time, sentimentalism grew in popularity, and cats were seen as good pets for displaying affection. Queen Victoria herself was known to love cats and owned several pets. Her love of cats helped increase their popularity as pets during this era.
Victorian women especially were drawn to cats and cat imagery. They saw cats, especially Persian cats with long fur, as beautiful, graceful creatures well-suited for domestic life. Cats were featured in paintings, children’s books, and other popular media of the day. This further ingrained cats in the Victorian popular imagination as ideal house pets.
By the late 1800s, cat breeds were being established and cat shows became popular throughout Europe and North America. The Victorians truly began the modern trend of keeping cats primarily for companionship and pleasure. From the Victorian age onward, cats solidified their place as one of the most beloved house pets.
Modern cat breeding
Cat breeds and cat shows first emerged in Britain in the late 1800s Victorian era, with cat fanciers beginning to breed cats to conform to specific aesthetic standards. The first major cat show was held at London’s Crystal Palace in 1871. Judging standards emphasized physical appearance and conformity to breed standards rather than personality or skill as mousers. Popular early breeds included Persians, Siamese, and Russian Blues.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_the_cat]
Cat breeds spread to America in the late 1800s. The first major American cat club and registry, the Cat Fanciers’ Association, was founded in 1906. It held the first major American cat show featuring pedigreed breeds in 1907. As cat shows grew in popularity in the 1900s, cat breeding became more systematized, with breed standards codified and new breeds developed through selective breeding. Well-known breeds that originated in the 1900s include Rex cats, Himalayans, Exotics, and American Curls.
Today, The International Cat Association recognizes over 70 pedigreed breeds. Breed standards emphasize physical features like coat length and texture, eye color, body type, ear shape, and head structure. Popular modern breeds include Maine Coons, Ragdolls, Sphynx cats, and Scottish Folds. While random bred cats still far outnumber pedigreed cats, cat breeds and cat shows remain an active subculture today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while humans did not intentionally breed cats like they did with dogs, the process of domestication still had a profound impact on the evolution of the modern house cat. Cats likely domesticated themselves initially by living in close proximity to human settlements where rodents were abundant. Over time, their genetics and behavior adapted to life alongside humans. Physical changes like coat colors and patterns, smaller size, and more kitten-like facial features emerged. Though people did not actively breed cats until relatively recently, domestication transformed wild cats into the cuddly, affectionate pets we know today.
Domestication was driven by natural selection for cats that could thrive in human environments. It produced cats well-suited to being pampered indoor pets. Though not an intentional human project like dog breeding, the domestication of cats still reveals the immense transformative power humans can have on another species just by providing an environment to which they adapt. While people did not breed cats, they did profoundly impact them.