Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
cat
Discover
Animal. Mammal. Goat. Ruminant. Capra. Capra aegagrus. Capra hircus. Farm animal. Livestock. White goat in grassy meadow.
6 Domestic Animals and Their Wild Ancestors
animal. Amphibian. Frog. Anura. Ranidae. Frog in grass.
Abundant Animals: The Most Numerous Organisms in the World
Working German Shepherd dog sniffing a suspecting package for drugs or explosives.
Working Like a Dog: 7 Animals with Jobs
Norwegian forest cat relaxing in a tree
Vikings Helped Cats Conquer the World
Two domestic cats lying down with each other. Feline mammal snuggle whiskers
Do Cats Cause Schizophrenia?
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Ethel Rosenberg arrested in August 1950. Photograph dated Aug. 8, 1950. American civilians executed for espionage. Spies, communists, Julius Rosenberg
Spies Like Us: 10 Famous Names in the Espionage Game
cat Article

What is the lineage of cats?

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Studies suggest that there have been two lineages of cats. One lineage appeared in Asia Minor as early as 6,400 years ago, dispersing northward and westward into Europe. The other lineage appeared in Egypt between 6,400 and 1,000 years ago before spreading throughout the Mediterranean. Both lineages continued to breed with the African wildcat during their respective dispersals.