Earliest evidence for commensal processes of cat domestication

Hu, Yaowu; Hu, Songmei; Wang, Weilin; Wu, Xiaohong; Marshall, Fiona; Chen, Xianglong; Hou, Lingling; Wang, Changsui

doi:10.1073/pnas.1311439110

Cited by 160 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Caeiro) Cats have associated with humans for around 10,000 years (Hu et al, 2014). During this time, they have been subject to some degree of evolutionary selection processes, both natural and artificial (Yamaguchi et al, 2004;Driscoll et al, 2009a,b;Faure and Kitchener, 2009;Montague et al, 2014), that have resulted in the domestic species known to us today.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Caeiro

Burrows

Waller

2017

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) is quickly becoming the most popular animal companion in the world. The evolutionary processes that occur during domestication are known to have wide effects on the morphology, behaviour, cognition and communicative abilities of a species. Since facial expression is central to human communication, it is possible that cat facial expression has been subject to selection during domestication. Standardised measurement techniques to study cat facial expression are, however, currently lacking. Here, as a first step to enable cat facial expression to be studied in an anatomically based and objective way, CatFACS (Cat Facial Action Coding System) was developed. Fifteen individual facial movements (Action Units), six miscellaneous movements (Action Descriptors) and seven Ear Action Descriptors were identified in the domestic cat. CatFACS was then applied to investigate the impact of cat facial expression on human preferences in an adoption shelter setting. Rehoming speed from cat shelters was used as a proxy for human selective pressure. The behaviour of 106 cats ready for adoption in three different shelters was recorded during a standardised encounter with an experimenter. This experimental setup aimed to mimic the first encounter of a cat with a potential adopter, i.e. an unfamiliar human. Each video was coded for proximity to the experimenter, body movements, tail movements and face movements. Cat facial movements were not related to rehoming speed, suggesting that cat facial expression may not have undergone significant selection. In contrast, rubbing frequency was positively related to rehoming speed. The findings suggest that humans are more influenced by overt prosocial behaviours than subtle facial expression in domestic cats.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Caeiro

Burrows

Waller

2017

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Evidences for cat domestication are known from China (c. 5500 years ago) and Egypt (c. 4000 years ago; Hu et al. 2014). Domesticated cats promptly colonized the entire world and became very common in Europe, spreading via the major land and sea trade routes of Romans, Etruscans, and Greeks (Clutton‐Brock 1999; Lipinski et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

European wildcat populations are subdivided into five main biogeographic groups: consequences of Pleistocene climate changes or recent anthropogenic fragmentation?

Mattucci

Oliveira

Lyons

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Extant populations of the European wildcat are fragmented across the continent, the likely consequence of recent extirpations due to habitat loss and over‐hunting. However, their underlying phylogeographic history has never been reconstructed. For testing the hypothesis that the European wildcat survived the Ice Age fragmented in Mediterranean refuges, we assayed the genetic variation at 31 microsatellites in 668 presumptive European wildcats sampled in 15 European countries. Moreover, to evaluate the extent of subspecies/population divergence and identify eventual wild × domestic cat hybrids, we genotyped 26 African wildcats from Sardinia and North Africa and 294 random‐bred domestic cats. Results of multivariate analyses and Bayesian clustering confirmed that the European wild and the domestic cats (plus the African wildcats) belong to two well‐differentiated clusters (average Ф ST = 0.159, rst = 0.392, P > 0.001; Analysis of molecular variance [AMOVA]). We identified from c. 5% to 10% cryptic hybrids in southern and central European populations. In contrast, wild‐living cats in Hungary and Scotland showed deep signatures of genetic admixture and introgression with domestic cats. The European wildcats are subdivided into five main genetic clusters (average Ф ST = 0.103, rst = 0.143, P > 0.001; AMOVA) corresponding to five biogeographic groups, respectively, distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, central Europe, central Germany, Italian Peninsula and the island of Sicily, and in north‐eastern Italy and northern Balkan regions (Dinaric Alps). Approximate Bayesian Computation simulations supported late Pleistocene–early Holocene population splittings (from c. 60 k to 10 k years ago), contemporary to the last Ice Age climatic changes. These results provide evidences for wildcat Mediterranean refuges in southwestern Europe, but the evolution history of eastern wildcat populations remains to be clarified. Historical genetic subdivisions suggest conservation strategies aimed at enhancing gene flow through the restoration of ecological corridors within each biogeographic units. Concomitantly, the risk of hybridization with free‐ranging domestic cats along corridor edges should be carefully monitored.

show abstract

“…Its life history traits, early domestication with companion animal status, and value as a rodent catcher have promoted its extensive, human-mediated dispersal on islands (e.g. Driscoll et al, 2007;Hu et al, 2014). In addition, introduced cats' high reproductive success, rapid geographical spread and generalist predator behavior particularly threaten native fauna, especially in their feral form (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feral cats threaten the outstanding endemic fauna of the New Caledonia biodiversity hotspot

Palmas

Jourdan

Rigault

et al. 2017

Biological Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A B S T R A C TFeral cats (Felis catus) are one of the most successful and harmful invasive predator species, leading to dramatic loss of biodiversity across the globe. Our study assessed feral cat predation in a major biodiversity hotspot: the New Caledonian archipelago. We focused on the consequences of this predation for the outstanding endemic fauna found throughout the rich range of New Caledonian natural habitats. We analyzed > 5300 cat scats sampled from 14 selected sites representing the 4 main natural habitats, with 4 to 6 sampling sessions per year over > 4 years per habitat. Our study reveals previously unreported patterns of cat predation on both alien and endemic species. Throughout the archipelago, cats prey strongly upon squamates, flying foxes and petrels. Feral cat prey included at least 44 native vertebrate species, 20 of which are IUCN Red-listed threatened species. This study adds some 44.4% to the number of IUCN threatened species vulnerable to and preyed upon by feral cats on the world's islands. New Caledonia, while it represents only 0.12% of the total area of islands worldwide (Australia included), hosts 30.8% of IUCN threatened species known to be predated by feral cats. This study recommends prioritizing management and conservation strategies by focusing actions on maquis mosaic and humid forest habitats, where feral cats pose the greatest threat. To limit the impact of feral cats, we recommend conducting targeted management actions on sites key to threatened species conservation, and preventing arrival or promoting eradication on islets.

show abstract

Earliest evidence for commensal processes of cat domestication

Cited by 160 publications

References 26 publications

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

European wildcat populations are subdivided into five main biogeographic groups: consequences of Pleistocene climate changes or recent anthropogenic fragmentation?

Feral cats threaten the outstanding endemic fauna of the New Caledonia biodiversity hotspot

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About