The cat ancestors

For discovering the cat ancestors, it is necessary to return to 40 millions of years ago. The dinosaurs disappear and mammals controlled the terra firma. One of them was the Miacis. This mammal lived on the trees and was able to move with agility among them. Its prongs were very sharpened. About 10 millions of years ago, two grups of Miacis are originated: the Holophoneus, that was enormous, and the Dinictis, more siilar to current cats.

Another ancestor of the cat was the Tiger with sabre fangs.

The current species

Today they are 40 different feline species, like,  the untamed cat, the panther, the jaguar, the cougar, the leopard, the cheetah, the leon, the snows cat, the lynx and the domestic cat. And many others!

The name

The word "Cat" comes from "Cattus", a latin word. It is sure that there is a comnon root among many languages.

Mythology and religion

Many people in the past admired the cat and some of them considered it as a God. In Egypt there is the Bastet goddess, in India the Sasti goddess. In Egypt cats are considered sacred. Unfortunately, during the Middle-Ages, the cat was considered a demon and was oppressed (especially black cats, that were believed to be the best allies of witches and wizards!). In the next periods, thanks to the spreading of mices, the cat has been appreciated again.

Domesticate a cat

The first domesticate activities go back to 4500 years ago.