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How did trade routes help domestic cats spread around the world?

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Young boy in a red shirt smiles while hugging a fluffy tabby cat, their faces close together. — cats as pets A boy hugging a pet cat.

The spread of domestic cats around the world was largely facilitated by their utility as pest control, which made them valuable companions for humans traveling along trade routes.12

As human societies transitioned to agriculture, cats were drawn to rodents feeding on stored grain. Recognizing this benefit, humans encouraged the presence of cats to protect their food supplies. This partnership expanded geographically in two primary waves:12

First Wave: Cats moved from the Middle East into the eastern Mediterranean, following the expansion of early farming communities.2
Second Wave: Thousands of years later, cats spread from Egypt across Africa and Eurasia via maritime trade routes.2

Mariners, including Vikings, frequently kept cats on ships to control rodent populations. This practice allowed cats to reach distant regions, such as Germany, where DNA evidence has linked feline remains to Egyptian lineages. By serving as essential protectors of cargo, cats became integrated into human travel and successfully established themselves globally.21