Dogs were first domesticated between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago, although some studies propose that it may have happened even earlier, possibly around 40,000 years ago. Rather than being a single event, this domestication process likely unfolded over a long period and in multiple locations. Elaboration:

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Multiple Locations:
It is believed that domestication occurred in various regions of Eurasia, with potential locations including Siberia, China, and Europe.

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Accidental Domestication:
One theory suggests that a symbiotic relationship developed between humans and wolves through shared food scraps, which could have led to wolves becoming less fearful of humans and ultimately domesticated.

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Genetic Evidence:
Genetic research has shown that dogs and wolves share a common ancestor with the gray wolf.

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Archaeological Evidence:
Archaeological findings, including burial sites that contain dogs, support the idea that domestication occurred relatively early in human history.​

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Origins of the

Domestic Cat

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Cats began their unique relationship with humans 10,000 to 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, where some of the earliest developments in human civilization occurred (encompassing modern-day parts of West Asia). One such development was agriculture. Stored grain attracted rodents as people abandoned their nomadic lifestyles and settled permanently to farm the land.

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Taking advantage of this new, abundant food source, Middle Eastern wildcats, or Felis silvestris lybica, preyed on the rodents and decided to stay around these early towns, scavenging the garbage that all human societies inevitably produce, just as community cats do today.

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Over thousands of years, a new cat species eventually evolved that naturally made its home around people: Felis catus. Pet, stray, and feral cats (stray and feral cats are community cats) are all the same species, which we call the domestic cat.

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Cats Travel the World

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Cats formed a mutually beneficial relationship with people, and some scientists argue that cats domesticated themselves. Especially prized as mousers on ships, cats traveled with people around the globe:

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• A burial site in Cyprus provides the first archaeological evidence of humans and cats living side-by-side as far back as 9,500 years ago. 

• In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped, mummified, and sometimes even dressed in golden jewelry to indicate their owners' status.

• Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire in 31 BC. Cats were introduced into Roman life and became widespread in Europe around the 4th century AD. 

• ​From Europe, cats boarded ships to the Americas, reportedly tagging along with Christopher Columbus, with the settlers at Jamestown, and aboard the Mayflower.

• Cats continued their service as mousers throughout history, even serving as official United States Postal Service employees as late as the 19th and early 20th century America.