>Second, we got into a mild argument over the domesticity (ooh, big word) of
>ferrets.  She stated that the ferret is more genetically related to their
>wild counterparts (weasels, minks, etc.) than cats are to theirs.  This was
>her argument for ferrets being "more" wild.  What I would like to know is ,
>first, is this a true statement, and second, if it is true, does it have any
>effect on how domestic a ferret is.  This was a new argument to me, and I
>didn't know quite how to counter it.  I would like to be prepared next time.
 
I've seen something at the SF Zoo called a "Jungle Cat" from North East
Africa that sure as heck looked like an ordinary tabby, if a wee bit larger
(up to 35lbs by one source). . . I've also seen at least one nature show
that caught a brief glimpse of a cat in the dense grasslands of Southern
Egypt of something I didn't catch the name of that looked almost exactly
like a standard gray-striped tabby in almost every way.  See also
http://www.wildlifeeasyst.com/jungle.htm.  At
http://www.cyberpet.com/cybercat/breed/bengal/bengal.htm there are
references to a type of domestic cat called a "Bengal" for it's color, and
there's mention of a new variant of such produced by CROSSING it with the
aforementioned JUNGLE CAT!
 
It would appear that there are several small wildcats of Africa that share a
common set of similar markings in the same way that our Ferrets, Blackfoots,
polecats, etc.  all share the basic "sable" color setup.
 
So go back and WIN this argument! <g!>
 
 ------------------
For a wild true story of crooked cops, stolen guns, perjury, fraud
and false criminal charges, see http://www.infinex.com/~jmarch
[Posted in FML issue 1978]