The History of Dogs and Cats: Who Domesticated Who?

The History of Dogs and Cats: Who Domesticated
Who?
The history of the domestication of dogs and cats
is fascinating and full of nuances. Although both
animals are known for living in harmony with
humans, the domestication process of each
followed very different paths. The Dog: Man's First
Companion The domestication of dogs dates back
to around 15,000 to 30,000 years ago, long before
the emergence of the first civilizations. Dogs are
descendants of wolves, wild animals that initially
approached human camps attracted by the
remains of food and the carcasses of hunted
animals. Over time, these more docile wolves
began to interact with humans, establishing a
relationship of exchange: the dogs received food
and, in exchange, helped in hunting and offered
protection. This gradual process made dogs go
from being simple hunting companions to true
pets, playing various roles throughout history, such
as guardians of flocks and even therapeutic ones,
such as guide dogs. In this case, it can be said
that the dog was, in a way,
"domesticated" by man but it also adapted to humans, earning its place
alongside them over the millennia. The Cat: The
Independent Hunter Cats, on the other hand, followed a different trajectory. The domestication of
cats began about 9,000 years ago, in the Middle
East, when humans began to develop agriculture.
The grains stored in plantations attracted rats and
other rodents, and this attracted the attention of
wild cats, who became experts in hunting these
animals. Unlike dogs, cats were not attracted to
man by food, but by the abundance of prey. The
relationship between humans and cats was initially
based on utility: cats helped control pests. Over
time, felines began to approach human
settlements, gaining people's trust. However,
unlike dogs, cats maintained their independence
and self-sufficiency, always more reserved. They
were not domesticated in the same sense as dogs;
Instead, they settled down as free partners,
offering their hunting services in exchange for food
and shelter.