Cats are the most mysterious and unusual animals on the Earth. They are very cautious, they can live nearby, but thus to remain secret. Adjusting relations with people, the cat managed to occupy successfully almost all the countries of the world. And in some areas there are even too much of them.
Cats as a kind of animals extraordinary ancient and lived without people for millions of years. But once 4 000 years ago, or even earlier, the cat came to Egypt. Since that time has begun cat’s communication with people, that lasts since today and has completely changed the cat’s destiny. It has happened after the Egyptians became farmers. The agriculture was already very advanced, and people collected big yields of grain. For grain storage were constructed huge towers, but during time the towers destructed and small holes appeared in them gaps through which rodents got into the towers and ate grain. As a result the collected crop was not enough for everybody. The cat lived nearby, but was afraid to come nearer to the people. Once the temptation overcame, and the cat went to the mouse feast. So that the cat turned out to be economically profitable, and people allowed it to live nearby and to do the thing that the cat can do the best - to hunt.
Cats can be imperceptible. Some scientists consider that process of their domestication has begun only because one pregnant cat was so hungry that has ventured to come to the people in search of food. Then the children found the kittens and took them to themselves. And kittens grew up near to them. Probably, these kittens also became the ancestors of all modern domestic cats. But which breed of cats has made the first step in the people’s world thousand years ago? Which of wild cats really was the ancestor of our loveliest pets?
The big wild cats are well-known. But there are 26 kinds of small wild cats. All of them is difficult to meet, they are cautious, and live a night life. The scientists found out one genetically suitable wild cat - felis libica - a small African wild cat.