Cats and Dogs May Share the Same Ancestor

No matter the physical features or lifestyle traits, cats and dogs can be said to be two completely different beings. However, some scientists indicate that cats and dogs share a common ancestor, a conclusion doubted by most people.

1. Fossils Unearthed Could Be Ancestors of Cats and Dogs

1. Mammal Fossils

Previously, the British "Daily Mail" reported that Belgian scientists discovered an ancient mammal fossil. According to related information, this creature likely lived about 55 million years ago in a humid forest. The fossil mainly consists of ankle bones, about a dozen fragments, and the species was named Dormaalocyon latouri, after the Belgian village where the fossil was found. Scientists restored the image of Dormaalocyon, showing it as a tree-dwelling animal weighing about 10 kilograms, primarily feeding on smaller mammals and insects, resembling a hybrid of a small ocelot and a squirrel.

Belgian paleontologist Floréal Solé found that many species of mammals, like cats and dogs, lions and bears, share a bloodline with an unknown origin tree-dwelling mammal.

By analyzing nearly 14,000 teeth filtered from soil excavated in the area where the fossil was found, close to 40 mammal species were discovered, including 280 new teeth samples from a previously unknown new species.

This species has an early origin; from the excavated teeth, its appearance is very primitive, suggesting it originated in a very early period. These facts imply that this fossil is very close to the origin of carnivorous animals, and this origin likely occurred in Europe.

The excavated ankle bone reveals that Dormaalocyon was adapted to running in humid forests, consistent with the local historical natural environment. Professor Solé said, "Dormaalocyon provides the most significant information regarding placental mammal evolution after the extinction of dinosaurs, enabling scientists to hypothesize that they likely diversified as early as the late Paleocene."

Study and understanding of Dormaalocyon are crucial for reconstructing how placental mammals adapted to carnivorous diets. In other words, more fossils await discovery to unveil the origin of these most common domestic pets.

Cats and Dogs Have Great Behavioral Differences, So Treat Them Differently

2. When Did Cats and Dogs Enter Human Life?

1. Time of Entry into Human Life

As domesticated animals, cats appeared later than dogs. Dogs entered human life 20,000 to 50,000 years ago, whereas cats slowly began to enter human life around 5,000 years ago.

2. Evidence of Domestic Cats

Originating from ancient Egypt and ancient Western Asian countries, domesticated cats can be found depicted in murals and manuscripts at temple ruins in ancient Egyptian Nile banks and Thebes city.

3. Tracing Cat Domestication

Some experts believe the earliest cat domestication was by Egyptians roughly 3,600 years ago. However, genetic and archaeological discoveries suggest cat domestication may have happened about 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, coinciding with the beginning of agriculture.

3. Large Differences in Cat and Dog Behaviors

Regardless, today dogs and cats exhibit significant differences in their lifestyles and personality traits, requiring different treatment. Although they share many similarities, there remain obvious differences in details. Therefore, sufficient understanding is necessary to better care for them.