A landmark genetic study has fundamentally rewritten the origin story of the domestic cat in Europe, revealing that our feline companions arrived on the continent much later than previously believed.
Roman Trade Routes Brought the First Domestic Cats
New analysis of ancient DNA has pinpointed a pivotal moment in feline history, showing that domestic cats first set paw in Europe roughly 2,000 years ago. This timeline coincides with the early imperial Roman era and was likely driven by a surge in Mediterranean maritime trade.
The research indicates that sailors may have brought these early cats aboard grain ships travelling from Egypt's fertile fields to ports serving Rome, where the animals served as efficient mouse hunters. This finding directly contradicts the long-standing theory that cat domestication in Europe occurred some 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, introduced by migrating farmers from the ancient Near and Middle East.
Genetic Evidence from Archaeological Sites
The comprehensive study, published in the journal Science, was led by paleogeneticist Claudio Ottoni from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The research team analysed genetic data from feline remains discovered at 97 archaeological sites across Europe and the Near East.
They examined 225 cat bones ranging from about 10,000 years ago to the 19th century AD, successfully generating 70 ancient feline genomes. Crucially, the team found that cat remains from prehistoric sites in Europe belonged exclusively to wildcats, not early domestic cats.
Marco De Martino, a paleogeneticist and study co-author, emphasised the significance: "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 Waves of Feline Migration
The genome data revealed two distinct introductions of cats to Europe from North Africa. Approximately 2,200 years ago, people brought wildcats from northwestern Africa to Sardinia, whose present-day wildcat population descended from these migrants.
However, a separate dispersal from North Africa about two centuries later formed the genetic basis of the modern domestic cat in Europe. According to zooarchaeologist Bea De Cupere of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, this timing coincides with periods when Mediterranean trade intensified dramatically.
The ancient Roman army played an instrumental role in dispersing domestic cats throughout the continent, with feline remains discovered at numerous Roman military camps. The earliest domestic cat identified in the study, genetically similar to present-day cats, was found at the site of a Roman fort along the Danube River in Mautern, Austria, dating to between 50 BC and 80 AD.
While the study clarifies the European introduction of domestic cats, the initial timing and location of feline domestication remains a complex puzzle. As Mr Ottoni noted, "We can't really say much what happened before and where."
