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How did domestic cats spread around the world?

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A Maine Coon longhair cat with cream and white fur sits beside a tabby shorthair cat in a garden with green foliage in the background. — cat Two kinds of domestic cats.

Domestic cats spread globally primarily through their association with humans, who valued them for rodent control and companionship. Their expansion occurred in two distinct waves.12

The first wave involved cats moving from the Middle East into the eastern Mediterranean, facilitated by early farmers who relied on cats to protect their grain stores from rodents.12

The second wave originated in ancient Egypt, where cats were highly revered. From there, they spread across Africa and Eurasia via seafarers and trade routes. Mariners, including Vikings, frequently kept cats on ships to manage rodent populations, which helped the animals reach distant regions. Archaeological evidence, such as a cat burial in Cyprus dating back 9,500 years, confirms that humans intentionally transported cats by boat early in their history. Over centuries, this partnership allowed the species to adapt to life alongside humans in diverse cultures worldwide.12