# Domestic Cat Ancestors
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 1, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558 "2020-09-01T22:27:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/1 "2020-09-01T22:27:45Z")
In a thread about dog species, someone mentioned cats. Rather than derail that thread, I thought I would start a new one,
What is/are the ancestor(s) of the domestic cat? Is it _Felis silvestris_ or _Felis lybica_ or both? Are _Felis silvestris_ and _Felis lybica_ separate species or part of a species complex, what ever the heck that is. Did the Swamp Cat (_Felis chaus_) also contribute to the genetic makeup of the domestic cat in ancient times? Do other cat species (girl cats are sluts) continue to influence the genetic makeup of the domestic cat in modern times?
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/2 "2020-09-02T00:42:21Z")
_Felis lybica_, or the African wildcat is a subspecies of _Felis sylvestris_, according to Wikipedia. It is also the ancestor of the domestic housecat, or _Felis catus_.
> **[African wildcat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_wildcat)**
>
> The African wildcat (Felis lybica) is a small wildcat species with sandy grey fur, pale vertical stripes on the sides and around the face. It is native to Africa, West and Central Asia, and is distributed to Rajasthan in India and Xinjiang in China. It inhabits a broad variety of landscapes ranging from deserts to savannas, shrublands and grasslands.
> Felis lybica was the scientific name proposed in 1780 by Georg Forster who based his description on a specimen from Gafsa on the Barbary Coast th...
> [@](#):
>
> African wildcats were first domesticated about 10,000 years ago in the Near East, and are the ancestors of the domestic cat (F. catus)
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/3 "2020-09-02T04:16:52Z")
Chupacabra.
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### Author:  [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/4 "2020-09-02T05:02:19Z")
actually for many years dogs cats foxes racoons skunks and a few other animals were considered to have the same ancestor and just evolved due to what location that particular branch was in
now as hot to the cat was domesticated according to a history book was an imagined scenario homeless cute freezing to death feline cub was found by cave kidlets in the eternal “can we keep it mon” struggle and it was discovered it could catch mice … I wonder if proto house cat looked all cute and lovable so he didn’t get thrown out …
I often say to the spoiled rotten trio . .that they should thank the cat god that they were made cute and lovable or they’d be out the door …
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/5 "2020-09-02T05:21:16Z")
> [@nightshadea](#):
>
> actually for many years dogs cats foxes racoons skunks and a few other animals were considered to have the same ancestor and just evolved due to what location that particular branch was in
Those groups are still thought to share a common ancestor, but it was 40 million years ago. But they didn’t separate “according what location they were in.”
> [@](#):
>
> now as hot to the cat was domesticated according to a history book was an imagined scenario homeless cute freezing to death feline cub was found by cave kidlets in the eternal “can we keep it mon” struggle and it was discovered it could catch mice … I wonder if proto house cat looked all cute and lovable so he didn’t get thrown out …
Cats were not domesticated by “cave men.” Domestication didn’t begin until humans began to settle down in agricultural societies. They may have started to associate with humans by hunting the rodents attracted by stored grain. They may have “self-domesticated,” in that the ones that were less afraid of humans got more mice. And of course humans were happy to have them around.
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### Author:  [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/6 "2020-09-02T10:49:57Z")
Cats took one look at humans, said “suckers” and moved right in. They knew all they had to do was purr and look cute.
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### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/7 "2020-09-02T12:32:19Z")
We domesticated weasels -\> ferrets (and probably attempted it with one or two other small predators) to control grain pests, but cats certainly won that popularity contest.
I’ve often wondered how much of that is simply due to the purring feature. Can you imagine the face of the first early human to pick up a kitten that _purrrrred_ back?
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### Author:  [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/8 "2020-09-02T12:35:41Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Can you imagine the face of the first early human to pick up a kitten that _purrrrred_ back?
I don’t know. Was the primitive starving and equipped with a club?
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### Author:  [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/9 "2020-09-02T13:13:38Z")
The female Savannah Cat, an exotic hybrid between the domestic cat and the Serval Cat, is usually fertile. The Savannah Cat is just one of many exotic hybrids that have been developed in recent times. At present, these exotic hybrids are very expensive and not likely to be found roaming the streets at night. But as more and more are produced, is it possible that the genes of all the exotic hybrids will eventually effect the genetic makeup of the general domestic cat population.
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### Author:  [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/10 "2020-09-02T13:36:42Z")
Looking at the questions in the OP in the opposite direction, the Scottish Wildcat is nearing extinction because of interbreeding with domestic cats.
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### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/11 "2020-09-02T19:28:32Z")
Bengal cats are recently descended from Asian Leopard Cats by cross breeding with domestic cats.
> **[Bengal cat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_cat)**
>
> Pages for logged out editors learn more
>
>
> The Bengal cat is a domesticated cat breed created from a hybrid of the Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), with domestic cats, especially the spotted Egyptian Mau. The breed name comes from the leopard cat's taxonomic name.
> Bengals have a wild appearance; their golden shimmer comes from their leopard cat ancestry, and their coats may show spots, rosettes, arrowhead markings, or marbling. They are an energetic breed that needs much ex...
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/12 "2020-09-02T19:37:39Z")
Once upon a time the Siamese cat bred with a succubus. I know because I own 2 of her spawn.
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### Author:  [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/13 "2020-09-02T19:41:23Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Chupacabra.
… bred with a succubus …
So your cats are a chupacabra/succubus hybrid?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/14 "2020-09-02T19:47:32Z")
Could be. Add a bit of Tasmanian Devil and you have my cats.
They are very beautiful and smart. Flashy intelligent blue eyes. Velvet noses and ears.
Long shapely legs and tail.
I’m required to say those things, I signed a ND agreement
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### Author:  [@mheine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mheine)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/15 "2020-09-03T01:11:28Z")
I had a Bengal, Lola. She lived to 19. She liked to go for walks on a leash with a harness. She liked ride on my shoulder in the car. Lola was by far the best cat I’ve ever had. I was fortunate to rescue her, so I only paid the rescue people $100. She was already spayed. I’ve heard that a “pet quality” Bengal costs around $800. After having been owned by a Bengal, $800 sounds reasonable.
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/16 "2020-09-04T00:28:41Z")
> [@mheine](#):
>
> I’ve heard that a “pet quality” Bengal costs around $800. After having been owned by a Bengal, $800 sounds reasonable.
That seems really low to me. Bengals are pretty exotic, and both of my kittens of more commonly available breeds (a Maine Coon and a Balinese) cost more than that.
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### Author:  [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/17 "2020-09-04T00:36:51Z")
I caught an episode of Nova last night called Cat Tales on PBS that discussed the origin of house cats that I thought some might enjoy. It looks like you need a login of some kind to watch on demand but maybe you can find it over the air like I did:
[Cat Tales | NOVA | PBS](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/cat-tales/)
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### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/18 "2020-09-04T00:51:49Z")
Mine were rescues as well. A $200 adoption fee for both. The original owners under estimated how strong willed these cats were and there need for human companionship. They would travel regularly for work and they tore up their home. They are a handful to be owned by.
I believe they paid over $2400 for both. One is a snow leopard type and she cost more than the male spotted one.
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### Author:  [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/19 "2020-09-04T02:15:34Z")
Does she have her own Facebook?
> **[Log into Facebook](https://m.facebook.com/snookamanukaxena/photos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0)**
>
> Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.
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### Author:  [@mheine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mheine)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domestic-cat-ancestors/919558/20 "2020-09-04T02:27:59Z")
Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets…