Cats' Family Tree Rooted In Fertile Crescent, Study Confirms

Science Daily ^ | 2-1-2008 | University of California - Davis.

[Biggirl]

Thanks for this excellent article, PING this over to Slings and Arrows. :) =^..^=

[G8 Diplomat]

Cats are from the Middle East....no wonder they can be irritating ;-)

[RichInOC]

CATS: HOW ARE YOU SADDAM!!
CATS: ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US.

[RightWhale]

My dogs are usually the ones to go after rodents. Such cats as have lived here would also bring a vole home once in a while but the dogs are very active on that job function. Got to wonder why the Mesopots preferred cats.

[BigEdLB]

"Yes, I like to hunt and kill mice and rats, but boiled shrimp tastes infinitely better!"
-Martin Whiteshoes

[nmh]

Thank you for posting this!

You always find the good stuff!!!

[G8 Diplomat]

Turkish vans and Persians are among the longest-domesticated cats....both from the ME/fertile crescent area.

[To Hell With Poverty]

meow!

[rintense]

Don’t forget the Abyssinian as well.

[Varda]

“maintain a broad genetic base that will minimize introduction of genetically based health problems.’

Very interesting study. Of course, geneticists often take the opportunity to start discussing something they don’t know anything about; breeding. Despite what they say, the surest route to maintaining healthy breeding stock is to restrict the gene pool, not expand it.

[WildcatClan]

Not domestic, not from the ME, but cute as a button.

[Pablo64]

I think it depends on the breed of dog. I know the terrier types are ferocious when it comes to going after rodents and such, but other breeds....eh, not so much.

Differences in breeds aside, it still comes down to a particular animals individual personality. Not all terriers hunt rodents, and some of the working class dogs love a good rat hunt. Go figure.

We've thankfully got enough outdoor cats around here that Dog doesn't have to earn his keep that way. I say thankfully, because if it was left up to Dog, he would probably just make friends with them (as long as they don't get too close to his food dish).

[Snickering Hound]

[TruthConquers]

That’s a good kitty! My boy kitty, Zack, is good tempered that way.

[Fresh Wind]

Some cats are REALLY lazy!

[William Terrell]

A cat can sleep for 50 years, then get up, yawn, and climb a Sequoia.

[Slings and Arrows]

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[cripplecreek]

One of my own.

[Monkey Face]

Awgee...if I were that kitty, I’d never have to leave home. A GI is all I would need for total security.