Summary:

- An ancient DNA study found that domestic cats arrived in China via the Silk Road trade routes around 1,400 years ago, suggesting cats were likely introduced to China from the West.
- The study analyzed DNA from the remains of 12 ancient cats found in archaeological sites across China, dating back as far as the 5th century CE.
- The genetic analysis showed that these ancient Chinese cats were closely related to cats from the Middle East and Europe, indicating they were likely brought to China through trade and travel along the Silk Road.