Cats ate not native to north america. They’re descendants of African wild (and sometimes Eurasian wild) cats. Return them to wild habitats, not just feral colonies, and the feral cats fit right in. They are nearly indistinguishable from their wild counterparts and don’t struggle any more or less than them. That’s the difference between cats and other domesticated species. Domestication is a genetic change. But, if the genetic differences from their wild counterparts are so minimal, how domesticated are they really?
I didnt say genetically compatible. Domesticated cats are nearly genetically indistinguishable from African wild cats. Genetic studies are difficult because cat species are so similar. In fact, several cat species including the house cats have been argued by geneticists to actually be subspecies of the same species.
This is truly not the same for dogs or any other domesticated species… Except maybe the pidgeon. I could see a similar argument for some pidgeons. Not the tumblers.
Cats ate not native to north america. They’re descendants of African wild (and sometimes Eurasian wild) cats. Return them to wild habitats, not just feral colonies, and the feral cats fit right in. They are nearly indistinguishable from their wild counterparts and don’t struggle any more or less than them. That’s the difference between cats and other domesticated species. Domestication is a genetic change. But, if the genetic differences from their wild counterparts are so minimal, how domesticated are they really?
Dogs are fully genetically compatible with wolves, but are clearly domesticated.
I didnt say genetically compatible. Domesticated cats are nearly genetically indistinguishable from African wild cats. Genetic studies are difficult because cat species are so similar. In fact, several cat species including the house cats have been argued by geneticists to actually be subspecies of the same species.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5612713/
This is truly not the same for dogs or any other domesticated species… Except maybe the pidgeon. I could see a similar argument for some pidgeons. Not the tumblers.