Long before cats lived in homes, the African wildcat lived alongside early human settlements. Drawn by rodents and food stores, this small predator found opportunity rather than danger near people.

The African wildcat is considered the closest wild ancestor of modern house cats, but its path to domestication was unlike any other. Instead of being trained or controlled, these cats likely moved ...

Cats didn’t become house pets because humans needed them. They didn’t herd animals, pull carts, or guard property. They weren’t even invited. Yet today, millions of people feed and care for them ...