A Brief Pre-History of the Domestic Cat

Explore the fascinating journey of cat domestication in this 1-hour 11-minute lecture presented by Dr. Magdalena Krajcarz from Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland. Delve into palaeogenetic studies revealing that only the Near Eastern wildcat subspecies has been domesticated, a process that began in the Neolithic Fertile Crescent. Discover recent findings indicating cat presence in rural settlements dating back to the Roman Period and even the Neolithic era. Learn about cat migration routes through biomolecular methods and gain insights into how studying cat history can shed light on modern challenges concerning interactions between domestic animals and wildlife.