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Genomes, food and microorganisms in the (pre)history of cat-human interactions

Project description

The cat-human relationship

Cats and humans have a long relationship. However, the biological and cultural trajectories behind the evolution of cat-human interactions across time are unknown. The EU-funded FELIX project will analyse over 800 archaeological samples of cats dating back 10 000 years until the 18th and 19th centuries from archaeological sites in Europe, the Near and Middle East, and North Africa to gain insights into the cat-human relationship. The project will focus on three areas: genomes, diet and microorganisms, which are three fundamental variables strongly influenced by the domestication process. FELIX's work will provide a new perspective on the animal domestication debate and the unique biological and ecological features that shaped cat domestication.

Objective

Pest-control agent, object and symbol of value in past civilisations, companion animal, and iconic celebrity of the web in the modern society, the domestic cat has an intricate bond with humans. This relationship started more than 10,000 years ago, when cats began scavenging and hunting pests that infested granaries of early farming communities in the Near East. Later in history, cats from Egypt dispersed in the Mediterranean following routes of human trade and connectivity. Cats established a unique and intimate bond with humans, and this, together with their adaptability, determined their global dispersal. Yet, the biological and cultural trajectories behind the development of cat-human interactions, and the implications of the global dispersal and evolutionary success of the domestic cat remain enigmatic.
By generating a complementary set of unique and as yet unexplored multidisciplinary data, from paleogenetics, to organic chemistry and microscopy, FELIX will dig deeply into the past of the cat-human relationship by tackling three fundamental variables strongly influenced by the domestication process: genomes, food, and microorganisms. It will unravel how the increasing bond with humans across a wide spectrum of socio-cultural contexts, from prehistoric farming communities to the ancient Egyptian and Medieval societies, shaped the cat genome, leading to behavioural changes that turned cats into pets. It will examine how cats changed their nutritional behaviour while adapting to anthropized ecosystems, and document the temporal trajectories of pathogen infections in cats, shedding light on the rise of zoonotic diseases. This will offer unprecedented evolutionary insights on the debate about animal domestication, and will raise public awareness on the role of the cat as cherished pet, but also as one of the world’s most invasive alien species in natural ecosystems and host of infectious diseases recognized today as public health threats.

Host institution

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA
Net EU contribution
€ 1 999 420,00
Address
VIA CRACOVIA 50
00133 Roma
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 1 999 420,00

Beneficiaries (1)