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Domesticated cats hail from Turkey, research suggests
roanoke ^
| March 28, 2010
| Jill Bowen
Posted on 03/28/2010 9:44:52 AM PDT by JoeProBono
In what part of the world were cats first found? And how did the different breeds arise?
Cats were first domesticated about 10,000 years ago in the area known as the Fertile Crescent. This area stretches from Turkey to Northern Africa and includes Iran, Iraq and Egypt. Research data from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis, where cat genetics are studied, suggests that Turkey is one of the sites of origin for the domestication of cats.
Cats started living close to people when people ceased being nomadic herders and became farmers raising livestock and crops. The stored cereal crops attracted rats and mice, and cats became useful to mankind by preying on the rodents.
Cats spread to the rest of the world by following the same migration paths as people did.
Cats are divided into four groups: European, Mediterranean, East African and Asian. But genetically speaking, the difference is extremely small. For example, Persian cats (which originated in Western Europe and not Persia) and exotic shorthair cats are genetically the same. Breeds look very different only because of variations in a single gene. This finding is of concern because some breeds are becoming so inbred that the amount of genetic variation is dangerously low, and this leads to higher levels of illness and birth abnormalities.
TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: agriculture; animalhusbandry; cat; dietandcuisine; domestication; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; huntergatherers; jpb; kittyping
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To: JoeProBono
The resident feline Highness here is a turkey.
2
posted on
03/28/2010 9:46:53 AM PDT
by
bgill
(The framers of the US Constitution established an entire federal government in 18 pages.)
To: JoeProBono
“..Domesticated cats hail from Turkey..”
Maybe, but I doubt they would taste as good with stuffing.
3
posted on
03/28/2010 9:50:46 AM PDT
by
PGR88
(I'm so open-minded, my brains fell out.)
To: JoeProBono
Well, my cats like turkey...
4
posted on
03/28/2010 10:05:49 AM PDT
by
BigCinBigD
(God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,)
To: JoeProBono
5
posted on
03/28/2010 10:15:15 AM PDT
by
GitmoSailor
(AZ Cold War Veteran)
To: JoeProBono
Research data from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California,... another WGF "research" wasting our money
6
posted on
03/28/2010 10:16:01 AM PDT
by
Leo Carpathian
(fffffFRrrreeeeepppeeee-ssed!)
To: Slings and Arrows
To: JoeProBono
8
posted on
03/28/2010 10:26:50 AM PDT
by
GOP Poet
(Obama is an OLYMPIC failure.)
To: JoeProBono
Aren't the Turkish Van cats swimmers?
9
posted on
03/28/2010 10:31:56 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: Daffynition
Yup
10
posted on
03/28/2010 10:35:38 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
Well, there’s one thing then that Turkey has achieved in the last 10,000 or so years.
11
posted on
03/28/2010 12:01:29 PM PDT
by
Moltke
(DOPE will get you 4 to 8 in the Big House - HOPE will get you 4 to 8 in the White House.)
To: Moltke
How about
Turkish Taffy
12
posted on
03/28/2010 12:08:56 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
If we can figure out the origins of cats, surely we can find out where Obama was born.
To: JoeProBono
14
posted on
03/28/2010 12:17:59 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: JoeProBono
To: Daffynition
16
posted on
03/28/2010 12:24:40 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Daffynition
To: JoeProBono
OK so that’s were cats come from, but where do kittehs originate?
18
posted on
03/28/2010 1:11:46 PM PDT
by
PIF
(They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
To: PIF
I'll Google it!
19
posted on
03/28/2010 1:17:33 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Molson Labe
20
posted on
03/28/2010 1:42:55 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
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