--- title: DNA analysis reveals the fascinating journey of feline domestication description: "\"Mystery of feline domestication revealed as first large-scale study of ancient-cat DNA charts their global spread\"" image: https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/EvoluzioneGatto1140-4.jpg --- [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-gb) ![EN](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/country_flags/gb.svg) [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-gb) - Products - [Companion for Life](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life?hsLang=en-gb) - Call for Projects - About us - [Where to buy](https://www.almonature.com/it/trova-un-negozio?hsLang=en-gb) Products - Cat Food - Dog Food - Cat Litter Cat Food - [All Cat Food](https://www.almonature.com/it/prodotti-per-gatti?hsLang=en-gb) - [Functional](https://www.almonature.com/it/alimenti-funzionali?hsLang=en-gb) - [Kibble](https://www.almonature.com/it/gatto-crocchette?hsLang=en-gb) - [Wet food](https://www.almonature.com/it/gatto-umido?hsLang=en-gb) - [Snack](https://www.almonature.com/it/gatto-snack?hsLang=en-gb) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) Impact on biodiversity ](https://www.almonature.com/it/impatto-sulla-biodiversit%C3%A0?hsLang=en-gb) [![nutritional-advice-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/nutritional-advice-menu-icon.png) Cat nutrition advice ](https://www.almonature.com/it/consiglio-nutrizionale-gatto?hsLang=en-gb) Dog Food - [All Dog Food](https://www.almonature.com/it/prodotti-per-cani?hsLang=en-gb) - [Kibble](https://www.almonature.com/it/cane-crocchette?hsLang=en-gb) - [Wet food](https://www.almonature.com/it/cane-umido?hsLang=en-gb) - [Snack](https://www.almonature.com/it/cane-snack?hsLang=en-gb) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) Impact on biodiversity ](https://www.almonature.com/it/impatto-sulla-biodiversit%C3%A0?hsLang=en-gb) [![nutritional-advice-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/nutritional-advice-menu-icon.png) Dog nutrition advice ](https://www.almonature.com/it/consiglio-nutrizionale-cane?hsLang=en-gb) Cat Litter - [All Litter](https://www.almonature.com/it/lettiere?hsLang=en-gb) - [Soft Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-soft-texture?hsLang=en-gb) - [Grain Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-grain-texture?hsLang=en-gb) Call for Projects - [Home Page](https://www.almonature.com/it/re-community?hsLang=en-gb) - [Participating projects](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life/projects?hsLang=en-gb) - [International commission](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life/re-community-giuria?hsLang=en-gb) - [FAQs](https://www.almonature.com/it/companion-for-life/faqs-domande-frequenti?hsLang=en-gb) - [Download the call for projects](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/re-community-projects/UK-Companion-for-Life-Call-for-Project-Annex-1-and-2.pdf?hsLang=en-gb) About us - [Brand Profile](https://www.almonature.com/it/manifesto?hsLang=en-gb) - [Our history](https://www.almonature.com/it/la-storia?hsLang=en-gb) - [The company](https://www.almonature.com/it/rendicontazione?hsLang=en-gb) - [Reintegration Economy](https://www.almonature.com/it/reintegration-economy?hsLang=en-gb) ![DNA analysis reveals the fascinating journey of feline domestication](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/EvoluzioneGatto1140-4.jpg) ### **First large-scale study of ancient-cat DNA charts their global spread** We know a lot about the [domestication of the dog](mailto:https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/dog-or-wolf-the-origins-of-the-domestic-dog/). But how our feline friends became domesticated has long been an enigma.Now the mystery of how cats spread across the continents seems to have been solved: Cats swept through ancient Eurasia and Africa transported by early farmers, ancient mariners and even the Vikings, new research has found.According to [Nature.com](mailto:http://www.nature.com/news/how-cats-conquered-the-world-and-a-few-viking-ships-1.20643), a team led by evolutionary geneticist Eva-Maria Geigl from the Institute Jacques Monod (Paris) sequenced the DNA from 209 cats that lived between about 15,000 years and 300 years ago and the results have Geigl convinced that the domestic feline species conquered the world in two waves.It is believed that the relationship between cats and humans first began in the early days of agriculture; this is evidenced by the discovery of a 9,500-year-old human grave in Cyprus that also contained the remains of a cat. It is thought early farming in the Middle East attracted mice and rodents – which, in turn, lured cats to come closer to the farmers. This period likely marked the beginning of the domestication of wild felines.The new DNA evidence suggests the second wave of domestic feline population spread originated from the descendants of Egyptian cats (a previous study found evidence the Egyptians had tamed wild cats 6,000 years ago). Thousands of years after their initial domestication, these Egyptian cats were spread by ships to Eurasia and Africa; the ships' crew used the felines to control rodents on board.In contrast to their feline ancestors, cats don't generally live on rodents any more. But in order to respect their “natural diet", it is important to feed our cats according to their nature [alternating between wet and dry food](https://www.almonature.com/en/taste/cats-eating-according-to-nature-the-principle-of-rotation/?hsLang=en-gb). Our Almo Nature recipes all guarantee balanced nutrition with high quality ingredients and our new range Alternative allows you to alternate between feeding your cat both 100% [HFC](https://www.almonature.com/en/hfc-cat/?hsLang=en-gb) kibble and wet food, delivering a variety of flavours and textures (for a great jaw workout), a full complement of nutrients, correct hydration and, of course, an enjoyable eating experience.Do you recognise “wild" behaviours in your cat? Let us know [on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AlmoNatureUK/)! #### Related Articles [![Dogs and wolves compared: did domestication make dogs less sharp-witted?](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1104465239.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dogs-and-wolves-compared-did-domestication-make-dogs-less-sharp-witted?hsLang=en-gb) [Impact of Human Activities on Biodiversity,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/impact-of-human-activities-on-biodiversity) [Project stories](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/project-stories) October 5,2016 ###### [Dogs and wolves compared: did domestication make dogs less sharp-witted?](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dogs-and-wolves-compared-did-domestication-make-dogs-less-sharp-witted?hsLang=en-gb) [Domestication of the wolf](https://www.almonature.com/en/reads/from-wolves-to-dogs-the-latest-news-about-the-domestication-of-mans-best-friend/?hsLang=en-gb) led to the evolution of the dog, man's best friend that integrated itself perfectly in to family life. 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[![The wolf and the wolf pack: a perfect mechanism of social organisation](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Pack-of-wolves-2-1.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/the-wolf-and-the-wolf-pack-a-perfect-mechanism-of-social-organisation?hsLang=en-gb) [Impact of Human Activities on Biodiversity,](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/impact-of-human-activities-on-biodiversity) [Project stories](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/tag/project-stories) October 5,2016 ###### [The wolf and the wolf pack: a perfect mechanism of social organisation](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/the-wolf-and-the-wolf-pack-a-perfect-mechanism-of-social-organisation?hsLang=en-gb) When you come to understand the inner workings of a wolf pack, the idea that only man is capable of living in a perfect social structure seems somewhat pretentious.... - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dna-analysis-reveals-fascinating-journey-feline-domestication?hsLang=en-gb) - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dna-analysis-reveals-fascinating-journey-feline-domestication?hsLang=en-gb) - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dna-analysis-reveals-fascinating-journey-feline-domestication?hsLang=en-gb) - [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dna-analysis-reveals-fascinating-journey-feline-domestication?hsLang=en-gb) [** ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dna-analysis-reveals-fascinating-journey-feline-domestication?hsLang=en-gb) ![Chat with us](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/icons/chat-icon.png) AlmoNature AI ![Close chat](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/icons/close-icon.png) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Almo Nature", "url" : "https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/author/almonature" }, "dateModified" : "2022-02-06T03:29:39.471Z", "datePublished" : "2016-10-05T22:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "DNA analysis reveals the fascinating journey of feline domestication", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.almonature.com/en-gb/dna-analysis-reveals-fascinating-journey-feline-domestication", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg" }, "name" : "Almo Nature S.p.A" } } ```