Tunisia May Be the Cradle of Domestic Cats, New Studies Suggest

Two major international studies are reshaping our understanding of where and how domestic cats originated, pointing to Tunisia in North Africa as a likely starting point for the domestication and spread of the modern house cat. This discovery marks a significant shift in the long-debated history of feline domestication, previously believed to be rooted mainly in the Near East and ancient Egypt.

Tor Vergata University Study Highlights North African Roots

A research team led by the University of Rome Tor Vergata, in collaboration with 42 institutions, conducted paleo-genomic analyses on cat remains from 97 archaeological sites spanning Europe, Anatolia, North Africa, and parts of the Mediterranean. Their study, titled “The dispersal of domestic cats from Northern Africa and their introduction to Europe over the last two millennia”, was published on the preprint server bioRxiv.

Key findings included:

• 70 low-coverage ancient genomes and 37 radiocarbon-dated cat remains were analyzed.

• Domestic cat ancestry was found in European samples as early as the 1st century CE.

• Two major waves of feline migration were identified:

  • The first wave in the 2nd century BCE, from Northwest Africa to Sardinia.

  • The second wave during the Roman Imperial era, where cats genetically matched those in modern Europe.

Tunisia emerged as a key origin point for these domesticated felines, suggesting it played a critical role in early domestication and dissemination.

University of Exeter Study Confirms Early European Presence

A second study from the University of Exeter, involving researchers from 37 institutions, examined over 2,400 cat bones across 206 archaeological sites. This comprehensive review combined morphological and genetic data to establish a more nuanced timeline of cat domestication in Europe.

Findings revealed:

• Domesticated cats began appearing in Europe during the first millennium BCE, predating Roman influence.

• The spread likely stemmed from trade routes, cultural exchanges, and religious practices rather than solely from Egyptian origins.

Cultural and Mythological Influence

Ancient Egypt is often romanticized as the birthplace of domestic cats due to their religious symbolism and presence in art. While Egyptian cats were venerated and possibly contributed to early domestication, the new studies suggest that Tunisia and broader North Africa were more central to the actual biological spread of domestic cats into Europe.

Additionally, cats held mythological significance in Greek and Roman traditions, where they were linked to deities like Artemis and Diana, further supporting their widespread adoption across different civilizations.

Conclusion

These two major studies present compelling evidence that Tunisia could be the true cradle of domestic cats. While Egypt remains vital in terms of cultural influence, Tunisia’s geographic location and genetic contributions place it at the epicenter of the domestic cat’s journey into Europe. As research continues, our understanding of these fascinating creatures’ origins and global migration is evolving, proving that cats, much like humans, have a deeply interconnected past shaped by culture, trade, and movement.