The classification of the domestic cat

The domestic cat (felis catus), belonging to the genus of small cats (felini) which is allocated to the cats family (felidae), is part of the clade of vertebrates (vertebrata). The domestic cat is also a member in the classification of mammals (mammalia) and is assigned to carnivores (carnivora), respectively its subtype of terrestrial predators (fissipedia).


Domestic cats exist in various forms and versions. The naming 'domestic cat' is strictly speaking a description of all cats, that are more or less living in direct contact with humans. In principle only the domesticated cats are meant contrary to wildcats and big cats. The so-called 'tramps' can also be regarded as domestic cats, like the pedigree cat and the common domestic cat without certain breed specification.



If you equate the naming 'domestic cat' with 'domesticated' – only pedigree cats should be called domestic cats. Only they fulfill the scientific criteria of a domestic animal in the actual sense. However, a domestic cat is understood as a cat living with/near a human and not belonging to a certain cat breed.



Origin of the domestic cat

The domestic cat is allocated to the same species like the wildcat, which was rampant as European wildcat (felis silvestris silvestris), as African wildcat (felis silvestris lybica) and as Indian desert cat (felis silvestris ornata).



Science is still not very sure about the origin of our domestic cat. First signs to specify the origin were the kind of anatomy, behaviour and genetics. Some scientists also considered the wildcat nowadays living in Europe as a possible clade mother. This cat lives in silent parts of forest and is very very shy and also very rare. The desert cat– on the other hand – was also regarded as the original mother of our domestic cat.

A closer view showed that this cat is out of the question as well to be the origin of our domestic cat – although she could have been involved ... at least according to the opinion of some scientists.
It was the African wildcat – at last – that showed all the relevant signs of being the origin of our domestic cat and due to this, the African wildcat nowadays bears the name 'clade mother' of domestic cats with all rights.



Domestication of the domestic cat

The first references for a domestication of cats date back to the 2,500 before Christ, when humans used this animals as a marvellous hunter. The full corn chambers of the Egyptians – where mice and rats had a gorgeous life – offered a perfect hunting place for the cats living near the deserts. Some time later the cat made its way into temples and noble households. It is very likely that only very trusting cats were chosen. This selection did speed up the taming of the domestic cat. The Nubian desert cat was favoured in Egypt due to its beauty and tameness. The cat was a sand-coloured desert cat and very svelt.

The tamed desert cats then found their way to the Middle East - China and Southern Europe – via the big routes of commerce of that time. 2000 years ago the Romans did already regard them as popular domestic animals. Some time later the cat made its way to Middle Europe via the Alps. Here they might have crossed with the local wildcats – as our common village cats show more signs of the European wildcat typ than of the African desert cat.
The first breeding of cats according to pedigrees started in the middle of the 19th century.






Cats Tribute - Part I can be found here: [link]

Part III to be come soon