^5 Largest Cat Breeds (in photo: a tortie kitten and Syberian cats and kitten and a Norwegian Forest too)
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Did you know that different cat breeds have not always existed? Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, but the development of specific cat breeds is a relatively recent phenomenon.
The earliest evidence of domesticated cats comes from the island of Cyprus, where a cat was buried alongside a human in a grave dating back to around 7500 BC. These early domestic cats were probably similar in appearance to the wildcats (Felis silvestris) that still exist today.
Over time, cats spread throughout the ancient world and were valued for their ability to control pests like rats and mice. They were also revered in many cultures for their hunting abilities and were seen as sacred animals.