Cats have been companions to humans for millennia, and recent research highlights that two domestic cat remains discovered in a Spanish shipwreck, which sank about 500 years ago, might be some of the earliest examples of cats that later appeared in America.
The study, published last month, notes that these cats likely traveled with the ship’s crew, where they served a practical purpose by controlling the rodent population on board. The ship, known as the Emanuel Point II, met its fate during a hurricane in Pensacola Bay, Florida, in 1559.
Discovered in 2006, the wreck contained the remains of both an adult and a juvenile cat. Researchers highlighted that the cats’ independence poses challenges in understanding their role in human societies.
Interestingly, this study indicated that the two cats were smaller than typical domestic cats today. Chemical analysis suggested that they didn’t just rely on mice for food; their diet primarily comprised fish and perhaps some meat sourced from the ship.
The study posits that these cats were likely unintentionally introduced to the New World, as they would have hunted both native and invasive rodents, further documenting the impact of cats on ecosystems.
In the U.S., traces of early cats have also been found in places like the colonial settlement of St. Augustine, Florida, and the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia. It’s fascinating when you think about how these creatures, originally from the Middle East, were brought to America largely for pest control purposes.
Researchers remain uncertain whether the cats on the Emanuel Point II were intentionally taken aboard. However, co-author John Bratten, an anthropologist from the University of West Florida, remarked that the diets of the cats seemed aligned with that of the sailors—kind of an interesting thought, right?
Interestingly, the study suggests that these onboard cats might have played a dual role. While they likely helped manage pests, it also raises the question of how sailors might have felt about having them around. After all, they were viewed as lucky by sailors.
In modern times, it’s worth noting that around one in three households in the U.S. has at least one cat, showing just how enduring this companionship has been through the ages.
