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Study Reveals Religion Shaped Cat Domestication, Not Farming

4/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Two groundbreaking studies in BioRxiv reveal a surprising twist in the story of cat domestication: it was shaped more by religious practices than by agriculture. This revelation overturns long-held beliefs that cats were tamed alongside livestock during the Neolithic era, suggesting instead that their companionship was not driven by farming needs.

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Story summary

Two groundbreaking studies in BioRxiv reveal a surprising twist in the story of cat domestication: it was shaped more by religious practices than by agriculture. This revelation overturns long-held beliefs that cats were tamed alongside livestock during the Neolithic era, suggesting instead that their companionship was not driven by farming needs.