I've updated yesterday's cat evolution post with some tough comments from an expert on cat fossils. Check it out.
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As the proud owner of a fine cat, Tino, I'm happy to join the ritual of cat-blogging. I was inspired after reading a new study that sorts out Tino's kinship with other cats. Now I know that a cheetah is more closely related to Tino than it is to a leopard (right and left, respectively).
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Is it true that cats were independently domesticated in different parts of the world - Egypt, Thailand and China? I have heard so somewhere but cannot find evidence either way.
So this may not really answer your question... But I think I remember a reference in Guns, Germs, and Steel (an amazing book by Jared Diamond if you haven't read it) that mentions cats being domesticated in northern Africa (presumably Egypt). I don't recall any mention of the other two locations, and I would think he would have mentioned it since he wrote about many domesticated animals human have managed to "tame."
Jared Diamond also wrote another book "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" which is also neck and neck with his Germs book. This is an author who's books I would buy as he is an outstanding writer filling his writings with lots of "Oh Wow!" moments. I also beleive just yesterday I read an article in our newspaper about the evolution of cats. Seems they came from many different places on earth and evolved as specific species in each place, although a cat is a cat is a cat. I love 'em and their independent attitude.