This document summarizes a study analyzing the population structure of feral cats in Kuwait. Microsatellite genotyping of 43 markers was performed on feral cat samples from Kuwait. Structure analysis identified 6 distinct populations, with the Kuwait population showing genetic similarity to cat populations in Iraq and Iran. The Kuwait cat population has an inbreeding coefficient of 0.12, indicating it contains hybrids between Iraqi and Iranian cats.

1. Population Structure of the Feral
Cats of Kuwait
Hasan Alhaddad
halhaddad@ucdavis.edu
University of California, Davis

2. Cat Domestication

3. Global Genetic Evaluation of Cat Populations1
1) Lipinski et al., 2008

4. Kuwait Feral Cat Samples

5. Microsatellite Genotyping
- 43 microsatellites (9 multiplexes (4-5 each).
- Microsatellites were chosen based on (high heterozygosity –
high polymorphism - high chromosomal distribution).

6. Structure1 Analysis
- 10,000 and 100,000 iterations.
- K=16
- Delta K  K=6
Turkey
Cyprus
Iraq
Iran
Dubai
Lebanon
Israel
Kuwait
Egypt
K. islands
Kenya
Pop 1 Pop 2 Pop 3 Pop 4 Pop 5 Pop 6
1) Pritchard et al., 2000

7. New Populations FIS
Population #
0.108
0.12
0.093
0.081
0.085
0.112
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
FIS
Pop 1 Pop 2 Pop 3 Pop 4 Pop 5 Pop 6

8. Individuals within Kuwait Population
- Kuwait cat population seem to be hybrids between Iraq and
Iran populations.

9. Acknowledgment
Lyons Lab:
- Dr. L. Lyons
- Jennifer Kurushima
- Others
K’S PATH:
- Aysha Alhumaidhi