DOMESTICATION

From Wild to Mild Cats and humans have a long history together. Archaeological evidence of this relationship dates to 8,000 years ago. "The wildcat is the real cat, the soul of the domestic cat; unknowable to human beings, yet he exists inside our household pets, who have long ago seduced us with their seemingly civilized ways." Joyce Carol Oates The first signs of domestication date to about 8,000 years ago. They come from the island of Cyprus, where the bones of cats, mice, and humans have been found together. All three of these species first appear on Cyprus at the same time. Apparently humans brought the other two to the island, the mice by accident and the cats on purpose. In the beginning, cats were probably tolerated by humans because they killed the mice and rats that ate their food stores. Full domestication of the cat as a household companion likely occurred in Egypt about 4,000 years ago. To overcome the natural fear that wild cats had of humans, they were most likely captured as kittens and hand-reared.

Select this text if you would like to learn more about the domestication of the cat in Egypt.

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