Scientific article about how humans domesticated cats, or the other way around.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...ing-of-the-cat

Whereas other once wild animals were domesticated for their milk, meat, wool or servile labor, cats contribute virtually nothing in the way of sustenance or work to human endeavor. How, then, did they become commonplace fixtures in our homes?

Depends on how you see it. Cats get rid of household bugs,rats and mice.

Yes, but back in the olden days specialist pest controllers would use dogs like Jack Russells or ferrets for catching rats etc, not cats.

Ship and railway cats were used for their ratting skills. I had a cat who was ex railway stock and she was a wild rose.

Cats don't have pets ... they have servants!! I thought everyone knew that!!

Very interesting article, thank you. I was aware that there was a theory that cats are not truly domesticated, like dogs, sheep etc. from Juliet Clutton-Brooks' work. I was also aware that our domestic cats evolved from felis sylvestris lybica, hence their love & need for warmth, but it's great to see that scientists have now mapped the genome & have DNA proof of the origins of our pet cats.

I think all of us cat lovers have long known that dogs have owners & cats have servants

Cats = pets for humans.

Humans = sofas for cats.

I've just been exploring other articles in Scientific American on animal behaviour ~ recommended for all those interested in pet behaviour.

One article referes to research on brain hemspheres. The outcome was that they've found out that dogs wag their tails more to the left or the right in response to different things. If they wag towards the left (controlled by the right brain hemisphere) this is more likely to be in response to negative stimuli, e.g a predator, for avoidance responses & in the face of threats or emergencies. If they wag towards the right (controlled by the left hemisphere) this is more to do with considered responses, routine actions and approaching a familiar thing.

Well I found it interesting & I'm now going to be watching for this with the dogs I meet!

More evidence for the theory that humans are balls of putty in the hands of cats.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8147566.stm

Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered that cats use a "soliciting purr" to overpower their owners and garner attention and food.

Yes! In the cat's dictionary the term "human" is described as "radiator".