Cat Tale: Ancient DNA Reveals How Your Kitty Came to Be
Modern cat lovers can thank the farmers of ancient Anatolia in the Near East for domesticating their fluffy friends about 10,000 years ago, a new study finds.
Cat domestication likely began when these furry wildcats began hunting rodents that were feasting on grains harvested by Neolithic farmers. The farmers welcomed the sly, four-pawed hunters, and eventually started relying on them to keep vermin at bay.