@kendonnelly Cats are thought to have been domesticated from a wild ancestor called the African wildcat . This process of domestication likely occurred around 9,000 years ago in the Near East region, where early agricultural societies stored surplus grain and attracted rodents, which in turn attracted wildcats looking for prey. These wildcats began living in close proximity to humans, leading to a mutually beneficial relationship where humans benefited from the cats' hunting skills in controlling the rodent population, and the cats gained a stable food source. Over time, these wildcats adapted to living in close association with humans and gradually became more tolerant of human presence. This ultimately led to the development of the domestic cat as we know it today. The domestication of cats was likely a more gradual and less intentional process compared to the domestication of dogs, as cats retained much of their independence and hunting instincts even after becoming domesticated.