Caturday: A Fun Fact - Where do cats come from?
Left to right: Wooper, Jack and Happy Cat, cats of various breeds and origins in a modern-day home. Cats were first domesticated in the Middle East, specifically in the area of modern-day Turkey, Cyprus, and the Levant. They appear to date back to around 7500 B.C. on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Cats spread from the Middle East to Europe and the USA through a combination of trade, exploration, and human migration. Cats were revered in ancient Egypt and often traveled with traders and explorers. As the Roman Empire expanded, cats were brought to Europe and continued to spread, accompanying ships and traders. During the Age of Exploration, cats were taken on ships to control rodent populations. European settlers brought cats to the Americas, where they spread and adapted to new environments. Cats essential domesticated themselves by forming mutually beneficial relationships with humans, especially in farming communities where they helped control rodent populations. See more C