History of Cat Domestication:
Researchers comparing the genomes of domestic cats with that of wild felines reveal the genetic underpinnings of domestication. It appears that the conversion from feral to Friskies had to do with genes for memory, fear, and kitty treats. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in November 2014, could also explain signature cat traits like low light activities and a hypercarnivorous diet.

Cats have been our furry, purr-y companions for at least 9,000 years --- with breeds emerging around 150 years ago --- yet we know very little about their domestication. "Humans most likely welcomed cats because they controlled rodents that consumed their grain harvests," Wesley Warren of Washington University says. "We hypothesized that humans would offer cats food as a reward to stick around."