Ancient DNA Shows Cats Domesticated Themselves – Why Are We Not Surprised?

Good News Network ^ | March 5, 2021 | Andy Corbley

[C19fan]

It was the hooman who was "domesticated".

[Seruzawa]

[BigEdLB]

Kitty kills mouse in hut. Shows person living in hut. Gets piece of cooked ox. Self domestication

[RoosterRedux]

Eggzackly!

[monkeyshine]

I read years ago that dogs domesticated themselves. The few who learned to sit patiently waiting for human scraps to fall to the ground became pets and it was mutually beneficial since they would then bark and growl to protect their turf, thus alerting the human to potential dangers.

[PAR35]

I have a feral alley cat that has more or less domesticated himself.

[BenLurkin]

[angry elephant]

The feral cat who moved into my house about ten years ago domesticated herself. Trained herself to use kitty door and kitty litter box.

I put the Doctor Who ringtone on my phone and the first couple times it rang she looked at the TV expecting that it came from there. Who knew cats understood music and the source of music?

[monkeyshine]

a Pomeranian looks nothing like a wolf, a thoroughbred jump horse looks nothing like a wild pony, and a potbellied pig looks nothing like a black boar

Because these species of animals were bred specifically to bring out their current appearances and dispositions. You'd think someone writing an article on the subject might know that much. And there are many different breeds of domestic cats. They are much smaller than wild cats. Can the author guess why nobody wanted to live indoors with a cougar?

[buffyt]

Most of our cats have been feral strays. Takes five minutes to tame them. They are creatures who love a soft bed and full full bowl.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Cats “domesticated” on their own terms. Many of them still do.

[ransomnote]

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

That’s basically how I wound up with one of my three. She’d been living in our yard, but one day my wife left a door open and she snuck in. After she found food and a comfy place to lie down, she decided we would make good staff.

[crosdaddy]

Because she would be out all night , cheating on him?

[monkeyshine]

That’s right. You only visit a cougar. Never move in.

[RoosterRedux]

The first thing I do in the morning is turn on Cat TV (8 hour youtube video of wild birds). After their breakfast, my cats are perched on the sofa waiting when I enter the den.

[Fido969]

Your cat would kill you if it could.

[RoosterRedux]

All my cats have been rescue yard babies who wander up.

[ScubaDiver]

[PIF]

Can the author guess why nobody wanted to live indoors with a cougar?
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Lots of men live indoors with cougars ...