The domestic cats of ancient Egypt were all brown, mackerel tabbies whereas the bronze statues of cats from that era had plain coats. The statues look like modern day Abyssinian cats both in terms of their coat and body confirmation … Continue reading →
There is a common misbelief that the Ancient Egyptians first domesticated the cat. They did not because it happened thousands of years earlier.
Continue reading →I’m going to take as my sole source of information for this article the excellent book written by Dr Desmond Morris and published in 1996 called Cat World A Feline Encyclopaedia. The truth is, however, that I’ve written about this … Continue reading →
The question in the title asks for the absolute beginnings of the modern domestic cat (species: felis cats). That is the way I read it. It is believed that modern carnivores including the domestic cat evolved from miacids, a weasel-like … Continue reading →
Ultimately, domestic cats are from the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East – see map: The domestication of the wildcat was a mutual arrangement (to the benefit of both people (farmers) and cat alike). The domestication of the cat occurred … Continue reading →
As a slightly controversial conclusion (perhaps) I’d say that we have altered what we consider to be the norm with respect to size. We accept larger as normal. Portion sizes at McDonald’s are much larger than they were 70 years … Continue reading →
Received wisdom tells us that the first examples of the domestication of the Near Eastern wildcat (Felix silvestris lybica) or African wildcat occurred because it suited farmers to allow the wildcat to feed on the rodents who were in turn … Continue reading →
Credits This is an article about domestic cat history written in simple language that is designed to be used, primarily, by students. It is meant to be an overview. For that reason any part of this page may be reproduced … Continue reading →
Cat History – The height of modern, sophisticated cat breeding below – Miss Kate (photo copyright Helmi Flick) a Maine Coon cat champion and below Miss Kate the skull of a Saber Tooth tiger, extinct 10,000 years ago. Contents: Introduction … Continue reading →
