ERC Felix
@felix-erc.bsky.social
FELIX investigates the biological characteristics that could explain the evolutionary success of cats and the development of human-cat interactions.🐈⬛
The full story of how cats became our global companions is still unfolding… and we’re getting close 🫣
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The full story of how cats became our global companions is still unfolding… and we’re getting close 🫣
So, domestic cats arrived in Europe only 2000 years ago! This means millennia after the Neolithic, and most likely from North Africa rather than the Levant 😳
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
So, domestic cats arrived in Europe only 2000 years ago! This means millennia after the Neolithic, and most likely from North Africa rather than the Levant 😳
1️⃣First, cats from Northwest Africa were brought to Sardinia, where they founded the island’s present-day wildcat population.🐈
2️⃣Then, a later dispersal event, around 2,000 years ago, was responsible for the introduction of domestic cats from North Africa into Europe.🐈⬛
2️⃣Then, a later dispersal event, around 2,000 years ago, was responsible for the introduction of domestic cats from North Africa into Europe.🐈⬛
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
1️⃣First, cats from Northwest Africa were brought to Sardinia, where they founded the island’s present-day wildcat population.🐈
2️⃣Then, a later dispersal event, around 2,000 years ago, was responsible for the introduction of domestic cats from North Africa into Europe.🐈⬛
2️⃣Then, a later dispersal event, around 2,000 years ago, was responsible for the introduction of domestic cats from North Africa into Europe.🐈⬛
We analysed 70 ancient cat genomes from Europe and Anatolia, spanning the last 11000 years. We also generated 17 low- to mid-coverage genomes from modern and museum specimens of wildcats across Italy (including Sardinia), Bulgaria, and North Africa 🗺️
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
We analysed 70 ancient cat genomes from Europe and Anatolia, spanning the last 11000 years. We also generated 17 low- to mid-coverage genomes from modern and museum specimens of wildcats across Italy (including Sardinia), Bulgaria, and North Africa 🗺️
People love cats !!!😻 They are globally distributed and among the most popular pets, yet, as familiar as these creatures are, the timing and circumstances of their domestication and dispersal remain uncertain🤔
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
People love cats !!!😻 They are globally distributed and among the most popular pets, yet, as familiar as these creatures are, the timing and circumstances of their domestication and dispersal remain uncertain🤔
🚨NEW pub in @science.org !!!🚨
🐈⬛🐈 The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2,000 years ago 🐈⬛🐈
Our article provides novel evidence suggesting new hypotheses about the history of domestic cats!🧬
🧵
🐈⬛🐈 The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2,000 years ago 🐈⬛🐈
Our article provides novel evidence suggesting new hypotheses about the history of domestic cats!🧬
🧵
November 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
🚨NEW pub in @science.org !!!🚨
🐈⬛🐈 The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2,000 years ago 🐈⬛🐈
Our article provides novel evidence suggesting new hypotheses about the history of domestic cats!🧬
🧵
🐈⬛🐈 The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2,000 years ago 🐈⬛🐈
Our article provides novel evidence suggesting new hypotheses about the history of domestic cats!🧬
🧵