Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Lyn-Su on June 28, 2007, 22:10:46 PM

Title: DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Post by: Lyn-Su on June 28, 2007, 22:10:46 PM: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6251434.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6251434.stm)
Title: Re: DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on June 28, 2007, 22:14:57 PM: This is not new info LOL...........you should have been in the cat quizzz :rofl: :rofl:
Title: Re: DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Post by: Hippykitty on June 30, 2007, 09:07:41 AM: I thought that it had long been believed that the north African jungle cat was the ancestor of our domestic cat as the kittens can be domesticated (unlike the European Wildcat) and when it cross-breeds with the modern domestic cat, the kittens are fertile. It also lives in the area of Egypt, where it is believed that cats were first domesticated by farmers. The Ancient Egyptian economy depended on it's harvest and the grain stores, which cats protected against rats.

So I'm surprised that the DNA suggests the middle east. Wonder where they mean, exactly?
Title: Re: DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Post by: JackSpratt on June 30, 2007, 10:23:51 AM: I saw information on this. An AOL news article was about how the remains of a small cat was found extremely close to remains of a human and they were around the same age. Indicating they may have shared an ownership bond.
Title: Re: DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on June 30, 2007, 23:13:56 PM: Maybe my geography is out but isnt egypt reguarded as middle east?
Title: Re: DNA traces origin of domestic cat
Post by: Hippykitty on July 01, 2007, 02:05:43 AM: Not sure about this, not hot on geography either, but I have been to the middle east and to Egypt, which I'm sure is in north Africa. :um: