Ancient DNA Reveals Silk Road's Role in Bringing Domestic Cats to China

Ancient feline DNA analysis indicates that domestic cats arrived in China around A.D. 600 via the Silk Road, later than previously thought. The study, analyzing 22 feline remains from 14 archaeological sites, identifies the oldest pet cat remains from Tongwan City, Shaanxi, dating to A.D. 730. These cats shared a genetic signature (clade IV-B) matching a cat from Dhzankent, Kazakhstan (A.D. 775-940), the oldest known domestic cat along the Silk Road. This suggests merchants and diplomats introduced cats to China as prized pets, offering them as tribute to the elite. Before this, people in rural Chinese communities co-existed with native leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), but this was not domestication. The study challenges the assumption of cat domestication in China during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 220). The researchers suggest that ancient Chinese people performed religious rituals when bringing a cat into their homes, viewing them as honored guests.