You Always Knew Your Cat Was Half Wild But Now There’s Genetic Proof

Time ^ | November 11, 2014 | Helen Regan

[C19fan]

A new study on house cats has found that our feline companions are actually only semi-domesticated.

People began domesticating cats around 9,000 years ago but DNA researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that house cats still have many of the same traits as their wild cousins. The fact that cats have retained the ability to hunt and survive effortlessly in the wild just underscores how little impact we humans have had on them.

[MrB]

I want a Savanna cat, but I’m afraid it would get shot.

[Lx]

I thought the thinking was that kittehs self domesticated?

[Menehune56]

Our cats train us.

[Texas Eagle]

DNA researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that house cats still have many of the same traits as their wild cousins.

Great. How much taxpayer money did it take for these Einsteins to come to this conclusion.

I could've told them that for half of whatever they were paid.

Either my cat has retained the hunting skills she inherited from her ancestors or she learned how to remove the mice from the mouse traps and reset them to make me think she's actually earning her keep.

[DJ MacWoW]

Click The Pic To Donate

Support FR, Donate Monthly If You Can

[V_TWIN]

I got 3 of them little rascals......after the oldest ones last trip to the vet, the vet said if was all the same to us she'd rather not treat our oldest one unless it was an emergency. lol You see, “Tipper” is a little set in her ways................Yeah there about half feral alright.

[luvbach1]

The fact that cats have retained the ability to hunt and survive effortlessly in the wild...

I guess "the wild" doesn't include urban areas (such as parts of Rome) where many are starving and diseased unless fed by humane humans.I also saw starving cats roaming the grounds of a remote monastery in Greece.

[texas_mrs]

Our 3 cats are well fed, yet still hunt mice, birds and squirrels daily. I just wish they didn’t feel the need to offer some of them up to me on the doormat.

[katana]

Anyone who owns (more like is owned by) cats knows all this. Their wildness is the entertainment part of the attraction. The other side is the demanding neediness, and warm fluffy cuddling bit. The latter feels a lot like love and is a comfort to the “owners”.

[Nevadan]

Have you heard the saying, “Dogs have owners. Cats have staff”?

Definitely true in our experience.

[SaraJohnson]

Our cats train us.

---

Same with us. We consider ourselves “the staff.” : )

[sourcery]

Cats domesticated us.

[Mastador1]

A new study on house cats has found that our feline companions are actually only semi-domesticated.

Here I go again!

You see, cats are like democrats, only semi-domesticated ; )

[B4Ranch]

>>The fact that cats have retained the ability to hunt and survive effortlessly in the wild just underscores how little impact we humans have had on them.<<

effortlessly???? Helen needs to spend more time in the wilderness. I don’t think she has stepped off the sidewalk.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 11/12/2014. Thanks C19fan.

Maybe they domesticate us -- you know, dogs have owners, cats have staff.

There's also a not-so-fine line between, unable to fully domesticate, and sick of your BS, it's nap time, get out of my chair.

[BBell]

Some cats are more wild than other but anyone who has cats residing with them can tell you that.

[BBell]

see post 17. You will like it.

[Fresh Wind]

I am kitteh, hear me roar!