Editing Domestication of the cat (section)

== Domestic cat breed differentiation ==
Unlike other domesticated animals, which have been bred for different physical traits to help with tasks, such as food, hunting, or security, modern cat breeds originated mostly within the last 150 years from breeding for physical traits with no differentiation in functionality—just aesthetic differences. Also different from other domesticated mammals, domesticated cat breeds have very few genetic differences from their wild counterparts due to constant intermixing, with thousands of years of genetic exchanges in both directions. The few genes that control physical characteristics such as hair color and pattern are what differentiate the modern wildcat population from domesticated cats. Domesticated cat breeds are also unique in the fact that there are only 40–50 genetically distinct breeds while other domesticated animals can have anywhere from 65 to 100 genetically distinct breeds.