The Story of How Cats Conquered the World Just Got Weirder

If you’ve ever lived with a cat, you know they’re often an enigma. That said, scientists may have solved an enduring mystery about these lovable felines—with answers that could narrow down when cats first hopped onto humanity’s lap.

A large team of researchers examined the DNA of well-preserved cats located near human sites stretching back over 10,000 years ago. The oldest specimens weren’t closely related to the cats we call pets today, they found, while the lineage that gave…