The evolutionary origin and ancestry of the cat is a very complex and varied subject. According to archaeological and biological literature, the history of the cat can be traced back to the Archaeopteryx, an ancient  that lived at least 50 million years ago near present-day India.

However, the domestic cat did not evolve directly from the Archaeopteryx, but rather through a long process of tens of millions of years of natural selection and human-led domestication. Diseases in cats such as feline Panleucopenia Virus and feline coronavirus followed（FPV&FCoV ).

Exploring the Evolutionary History of Cats

As a species that once existed about 400 to 500 million years ago and is now extinct, the Palaeocat Beast’s appearance is very different from that of modern cats. Archaeopteryx possessed primitive features such as an old body structure, a low, flat skull, a long, well-proportioned trunk and tail, and relatively short limbs. However, it is worth noting that despite its imperfect body structure, Archaeopteryx showed more advanced advantages in certain indicators such as muscle strength.

Research has proved that the direct ancestor of the cat was the small Archaeopteryx, and although they are commonly called “cats”, they do not strictly belong to the feline family. More accurately, the small archaeopteryx was the most advanced of all the evolutionary branches of carnivores, small in appearance but with carnivorous blood in their veins, living in a way similar to today’s mongoose or raccoon.

It is worth noting that, in the context of the large carnivore family, a species called the “fine-toothed beast” was quite influential in the Paleocene period. About 60 million years ago, this tiny, weasel-like animal had a long, slender, soft body but a thin, branched tail and short limbs. Although not a cat in the full sense of the word, the slender-toothed beast was a precursor to many of the mammals that exist today, such as bears, raccoons, muskcats, maned dogs, and even cats.

Another important group of animals is the saber-toothed tiger that flourished about 40,000,000 years ago, which can be considered a forerunner of the cat in the basic sense. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, these majestic large predators disappeared from the face of the earth 20,000 years ago, and now we can only remember and recall the imprint they left through fossils.

What kind of animal is a house cat?

Finally, let’s delve into this particular mammal, the domestic cat. Widely known as the cat, it belongs to the carnivorous order Felineae, genus Felis. The domestic cat is a restricted animal that has been domesticated by humans and is a member of the feline family and is mainly concentrated in the subfamily Catidae.

The sexes of domestic cats do not differ much. Adult males have a slightly fuller head than females, and their overall size is slightly larger than that of females. In general, domestic cats have a relatively slim and refined body, with fat and powerful muscles; however, the clavicle is relatively small and underdeveloped, and cannot be closely connected to the scapulae and sternum. The head is rounded and large in relation to the body, the muzzle is short and protruding, the eyes are usually rounded, the neck is stout and short, the limbs are relatively short, and the thighs are muscular and very heavy.

In short, whether it is the ancient cat beast or the modern domestic cat, the cat in the long process of evolution has shaped unique life habits and appearance characteristics and has become an indispensable assistant in human life and one of its favored companions.

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