The domestication of cats
The domestic cat (Felis catus) is a remarkably successful species that occupy all contents with the exception of Antarctica. All domesticated cats are descendants of the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), a small light brown tabby cat native to Africa and the Middle East.
A symbiotic relationship developed between wild cats and farmers in the Fertile Cresent of the Near East in the Neolithic period between 9,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Humans gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled on the land. Along with the grains which the farmers grew came rodents. A symbiotic relationship formed between cat and man; cats protected grain stores by keeping rodent populations down while gaining protection from larger predators such as wolves.
In 2000 a group of researchers collected DNA samples from over 900 wildcats throughout the world. What they discovered was there are five genetic lineages of wildcats.
Felis silvestris silvestris (European wildcat): Europe
Felis silvestris bieti (Chinese mountain cat): China
Felis silvestris ornata (Asiatic wildcat): Central Asia
Felis silvestris cafra (Southern African wildcat): Southern Africa
Felis silvestris lybica (African wildcat): Africa and the Middle East
Researchers also studied the DNA of many domestic cats too (including purebreds) and their DNA is almost identical to that of Felis sylvestris lybica, which tells us that despite there being five groups of wildcats in the world, all domestic cats originated from only one group, Felis sylvestris lybica.
Unlike dogs, there was no need for man to rely on different types of cat. Dogs have been bred for hunting, security and protection, retrieving game from the water and livestock herding. Cats have remained relatively unchanged in size compared to their wild ancestors. Cat breeds have been selected for their appearance, not performance.
Domestic cat migration
Domestic cats spread across the globe along well-established trade routes of merchants forming distinct landraces (a locally adapted species of animal who has adapted to its environment over time). The Siberian and Norwegian Forest cats have a long, thick coat to protect them from bitterly cold winters.
Cats arrived in Asia around 2,000 years ago where they remained isolated, this is shown by their genetic differences compared to European and African cats. It also appears that cats within Asia were segregated showing more genetic diversity than the European populations of cats.
Breeds that have come out of Asia include the Siamese, Korat, Birman and Burmese cats.
According to the UC Davies Veterinary Medicine, there are eight distinct domestic cat racial groups.
Western Europe
Egypt
East Mediterranean
Iran/Iraq
India
South Asia
East Asia
The first cat shows
The very first cat show was held at St. Giles Fair in Winchester, the UK in 1598 although there is very little information about this cat show. There was no award for best ‘breed’, instead there were awards for best ratter and best mouser.
The first breed to be exhibited was the Maine Coon, who competed for the title of Maine State Champion Coon Cat at the local Skowhegan Fair held by New England Farmers in the 1860s.
Crystal Palace show
The first modern-day cat show in the UK took place at Crystal Palace, London in July 1871. Harrison Weir (5 May 1824 – 3 January 1906), known as the Father of the Cat Fancy, wrote the breed standards and served as a judge alongside his brother John Jenner Weir.
In his book Our Cats And All About Them, Harrison Weir describes several cats including:
Long-haired cats of which there were several varieties including:
Russian cat
Angora cat
Persian cat
Indian cat
He stated forty or fifty years ago; they used to all be called French cats as they were mostly imported from Paris and also notes that the white longhaired and shorthaired cat is always deaf if it has blue eyes.
He then goes on to describe the following short-haired cats:
Tortoiseshell cat
Tortoiseshell and white cat
Tabby cat (striped, spotted, waved and Abyssinian).
The following is used to describe the Abyssinian cat. I now come to the last variety of the tabby cat, and this can scarcely be called a tabby proper, as it is nearly destitute of markings, excepting sometimes on the legs and a broad black band along the back. It is mostly of a deep brown, ticked with black, somewhat resembling the back of a wind (only not so grey) rabbit.
White cat
Black cat
Blue cat
Black and white cat
White and black cat
Siamese cat
Manx cat
One journalist was so put off by the appearance of the Siamese cat they described it as ‘an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat‘.
