The Wild Evolution of Your House Cat

The animal ruling your house was once a desert hunter… and its evolution is WILD.

Cats didn’t start as soft companions. They evolved from fierce desert predators about 10 million

years ago. Their ancestors, the Proailurus and later the Pseudaelurus, were agile carnivores

that dominated early forests. As climates changed, these early cats adapted.

Their bodies became smaller, faster, quieter — perfect for stalking prey in

dry, open landscapes. That’s how the African wildcat was born.

Humans first encountered these wildcats around 10,000 BCE. Not as pets — but as pest

control. Cats approached ancient grain stores, hunting mice… And humans let them