Monika Lipinksi, left, a genetics doctoral student, holds a Bengal somoli cat while veterinary professor Leslie Lyon holds a Persian cat. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis photo)
Cats’ ancestors traced to Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent of the Middle East has long been identified as a “‘cradle of civilization”’ for humans. In a new genetic study, researchers at UC Davis have concluded that all ancestral roads for the modern-day domestic cat also lead back to the same locale.
Findings of the study, involving more than 1,100 cats, are reported in the cover article of the January issue of the journal Genomics.
“‘This study confirms earlier research suggesting that the domestication of the cat started in the Fertile Crescent region,”’ said Monika Lipinski, lead researcher on the study and a doctoral candidate in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
“‘It also provides a warning for modern cat fanciers to make sure they maintain a broad genetic base as they further develop their breeds.”’
Leslie Lyons, an authority on cat genetics and principal investigator on this study, said, “‘More than 200 genetic disorders have been identified in modern cats, and many are found in pure breeds.
Avoiding genetically linked problems
“‘We hope that cat breeders will use the genetic information uncovered by this study to develop efficient breed-management plans and avoid introducing genetically linked health problems into their breeds.”’
Earlier archaeological evidence and research on the evolutionary history of cats has suggested that domestication of the cat originated about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, a region located today in the Middle East.
This is the area around the eastern end of the Mediterranean, stretching from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to modern day Iraq and Iran.
This domestication of the cat occurred as humans transitioned from nomadic herding to raising crops and livestock.
‘[This] provides a warning for modern cat fanciers to make sure they maintain a broad genetic base as they further develop their breeds.’
Monika Lipinski, doctoral candidate in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Never fully domesticated
Cats, with their penchant for hunting mice, rats and other rodents, became useful companions as people domesticated, grew and stored wild grains and grasses. Eventually, cats also became pets but were never fully domesticated.
Even today, most domestic cats remain self-sufficient, if necessary, and continue to be efficient hunters, even when provided with food.
Cats and their gene pools spread rapidly around the world as ancient civilizations developed trade routes.
Unlike other domesticated species, there has been little effort to improve on the cat for functional purposes. Instead, development of cat breeds has been driven more by preferences for certain aesthetic qualities like coat color and color patterns.
Today, there are 50 recognized cat breeds. Of that total, 16 breeds are thought to be “‘natural breeds”’ that occurred in specific regions, while the remaining breeds were developed during the past 50 years.
ON THE HOME PAGE: Researchers learned more about how cats, such as this Persian (foreground) and Bengal somoli, are genetically clustered in four groups. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis photo)
The researchers note that, given the relatively short time span during which modern breeds are emerging, cat breeders should proceed cautiously as they develop their breeds, making sure to maintain a broad genetic base that will minimize introduction of genetically based health problems.
Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health, the Winn Feline Foundation and the George and Phyllis Miller Feline Health Fund. Also supporting the study were the Center for Companion Animal Health and the Koret Center of Veterinary Genetics, both within the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.