Genetic evidence indicates that our modern day house cats are descendants from at least five feline founders of a group of Wildcats from 9,000 – 10,000 years ago. This species lived in the Fertile Crescent of Western Asia, and area believed to be the origin of agriculture, when nomadic tribes first began to settle and grow crops. The grain was stored in granaries that attracted rodents, which in turn attracted Wildcats. With no further need to forage widely for food, the Wildcats and humans began an alliance that is still in place today.
• Modern cats are descended from a midsize cat that existed 10–11 MYA.
• The ancestor of all modern domestic cats is the wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica
• Archaeological evidence indicates it was domesticated as early as 10,000 years ago in South-West Asia.
• Recent data claims that cat domestication also occurred in China some 5,000 years ago and involved the same wildcat ancestor
• This Wildcat has 5 distinct subspecies: European wildcat, Near Eastern wildcat, Southern African wildcat, Central Asian wildcat, Chinese desert cat
Each wild group represents a distinctive subspecies of Felis silvestris.
• European Wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris – Europe
• African Wildcat Felis silvestris lybica – North Africa and southwest Asia
• Southern African Wildcat Felis silvestris cafra – Sub-Saharan Africa
• Asiatic Wildcat Felis silvestris ornata – Central Asia to India
• Chinese Mountain Cat Felis silvestris bieti – Western China
Learn more about the African Wildcat here:[ Ссылка ]
