Research shows that domestic cats are becoming larger. In the future, they may reach gigantic sizes. This is related to the comfortable living conditions near humans, which promotes their growth. If you don't like Maine Coons but love cats, you should get used to the idea that in the future, there may be fewer small cats.
Scientists have made an interesting discovery while studying the remains of cats that lived in Denmark during the Viking era. For example, it is possible that Rurik, who was from Denmark, petted such a cat before his arrival in Rus. Research has shown that even large cats of that time were 16% smaller than modern ones. This is surprising, as domesticated animals usually become smaller, while with cats, the opposite process is observed.
The reason for this is likely that mother cats, living near humans, can better care for their kittens. In the wild, they have to hunt to feed their offspring, and the kittens often remain uncared for. With humans, there is enough food, and maternal attention is also present, which contributes to better growth of the kittens and the passing on of growth genes to the next generation.
The cat was domesticated in Ancient Egypt, but it is still considered a partially wild animal, as it retains its wild behaviors. Gradually, the cat became part of human life. For example, in Ancient Greece, weasels were used to catch mice instead of cats. In Ancient Rus, cats were a rarity, and everyone sought to acquire one, as weasels harmed by keeping chickens. Cats were brought from Byzantium, and they were only available to the wealthy.
Only in the 19th century did cats become not only workers but also beloved pets. The first photographs of cats were taken by experimenters in the field of photography. Interestingly, medieval artists and later found it difficult to accurately depict cats. If you look at paintings from that time, you can notice that cats look strange. Many believe they looked different, but in reality, this is more of a perception phenomenon that remains unexplained, like many other aspects related to these amazing animals.
