It’s easy to see why many of our animal friends became domesticated-- dogs guard our stuff, horses help us haul things, and cattle give us nourishment. But how about our feline friends? What endearing quality brought them into our homes?



This week, we discuss the evolution of the housecat along with new archaeological and genetic evidence that pushes back the domestication of our cats. Learn how the "oriental" cats split off from the other breeds and where exactly the first domestication occurred.

Also, from the Veterinary News Network we learn that almost half a million pets die in house fires every year. What can you do to keep your pets safe and secure, even when you aren’t at home?