May 16, 2024 · For most people, the term "wildcat" conjures up images of mountain lions or cheetahs, but are these animals really so different from the domestic tabby cat? Get to know felis silvestris lybica, commonly known as the African Wildcat, …

Dec 1, 2020 · House cats today are offshoots of a particular branch of this species, Felis silvestris lybica, which began to cohabit with humans some 12,000 years ago in parts of the Near East that now form part of Turkey, Iraq and Israel.

Oct 31, 2024 · The African Wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) and the domestic cat have several similarities when it comes to their teeth and eating habits. Both are carnivorous, typically hunting rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, and insects.

Mar 21, 2025 · The African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) is the wild cat most genetically and historically similar to the domestic house cat. While many wild felines share characteristics with our beloved pets, the African wildcat holds the unique distinction of being the direct ancestor of Felis catus, the domestic cat we know and love. This close ...

Mar 20, 2025 · The closest wild relative to your beloved house cat is the African wildcat, specifically Felis silvestris lybica. This species is not just a distant cousin; it’s the direct ancestor from which all domestic cats evolved.

Aug 21, 2023 · The African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) is the ancestor of our beloved household pets. And despite changing very little, their descendants have become among the world’s two most popular companion animals.

Jan 20, 2025 · The fabric of our domestic cat’s hereditary tapestry intertwines closely with that of the African wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica. Scientific scrutiny has shown that they share over 95% of their DNA.

The African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) is a small wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. It is the ancestor of the domestic cat and shares many physical characteristics with its domesticated relative.

6 days ago · Cats were domesticated around 10,000 years ago. Today's domestic cats descend from Felis silvestris lybica, a wildcat subspecies found in Africa and the Middle East. Genes from cats found in ...

Nov 19, 2019 · According to a recent study by Claudio Ottoni, cat domestication took place in two lineages, but all domestic cats have a common ancestor: the North African / Southwest Asian wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica (Ottoni et al., 2017).