Big Kitty, Little Kitty — Why's the Difference?

We see the big cats and know that they're related to the little balls of fur that humans have domesticated for thousands of years. ("Domesticated", sure.) It's interesting to see the big wild ones occasionally playing and acting like house cats. Likewise, it's fun to see the house cats act big and bad, as if they were huge tigers or something. And yet, they've become companions of humans. Especially when food is involved.


Cowboy Bob Sorensen, Basement Cat

So, how did the cat kind get smaller and domesticated as a Sylvester, Felis sylvestris lybica?



Some interesting studies in genetics were conducted, as well as studying history, archaeology, animal behavior and so forth. Unfortunately, good research was hijacked again by evolutionary agendas. Since cats are primarily carnivorous these days, the speculation (bad even from an evolutionary viewpoint) is that all carnivores, no matter how different they are, evolved from a common ancestor. These people insist on seeing "evolution", even when there is no reason to expect it.
Feral felines and domestic cats are all capable carnivores. Scientists have now identified some of the genes that equip them to be great predators as well as genes that make domestic varieties content to share your affection and your home with your dog. (Perhaps I need to share this study with my dog, who is less than pleased with the arrangement.)

Geneticist Michael Montague and colleagues compared the genomes of domestic cats to wildcats. They examined the genomes of 22 different domestic cats from around the world and 4 wildcats (2 European wildcats and 2 Eastern wildcats). They also compared these cat genomes to the genomes of tigers, dogs, cows, and humans.

Don't have a hissy fit, you can finish reading the article by clicking on "How Domestic Cats Differ from Wildcats and Other Carnivores".