China trumps Near East for signs of most ancient farm cats
Earliest evidence found for grain as a force in feline domestication
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WILD START The puzzle of how the skittish loners of wild Felis silvestris (one shown) evolved to become one of the world’s most popular pets has taken a new twist. The discovery of ancient farm cats in China indicates that grain agriculture played an important role in feline domestication.
Péter Csonka/ Wikimedia Commons