where do cats originate from

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are believed to have originated from the African wildcat species Felis silvestris lybica, which lived in the Middle East, particularly in the Fertile Crescent region, around 10,000 years ago. Early humans transitioning to agricultural societies created environments that attracted wildcats due to stored grain and an abundance of rodents, leading to a mutual relationship where cats helped control pests. This led to the taming and eventual domestication of cats, spreading from the Middle East to Egypt and beyond over thousands of years.