Ancient Cat DNA Reveals 2000-Year Migration to Europe and Asia
Cats spread to Europe and East Asia within 2,000 years.
Researchers used nuclear DNA and radiocarbon dating.
Analysis included 225 ancient cat specimens.
70 ancient genomes and 87 total genomes were studied.
Sardinia cat specimen dated to the second century AD.
Roman sites in Austria, Serbia, and Britain had feline remains.
Trade routes helped spread cats through Mediterranean networks.
Leopard cats coexisted with humans in China 5,000 years ago.
Domestic cats arrived in China via Silk Road 1,300–1,400 years ago.