Origins Of Domestic Cats
there is a close relationship between the wild and the domestic cat, but it is uncertain which wild sub-species of the felis(small cat) genus actually made the leap into domesticity. wild cats are widely distributed and very considerably in appearance and habits. Northern cats,for example, developed dense, almost woolly coats, while in warmer, Southern climes, a fine, body-hugging fur was the norm. Experts ended up with three major contenders for the ancestor of the domestic cat: the European wild cat and its Asian and African equivalents.
For many years, the Europeans believed that it was their wild cat (felis sylvestris sylvestris), which is still found in localized parts of the Scottish Highlands and northern continental Europe. their assumption was based on the cat's colouring and tabby markings that are common in non-pedigreed cats of today.
However, even if the young offspring are reared by humans,they remain very wary,and do not abandon their wild behaviour patterns. This inherent anti-social streak makes them unlikely to have been inclined towards domestication.
On the orther hand, the African wild cat (F. Sylvestric libyca), which still survives in Afica, western Asia and southern Europe, not only has the same number of chromosomes as the domestic cat but is relatively