Van cats have been reported living around the city of Van and Lake Van area for centuries, although the exact duration is uncertain. Genetic studies have shown that the domestic cat's ancestor, the African wild cat (Felis lybica), was domesticated around 9,000 years ago in the Near East for rodent control as people shifted from hunting and gathering to settled farming. Van cats are considered a landrace, not a standardized breed, and can still be found in eastern Turkey near Lake Van, though their population has decreased (a 1992 survey found only 92 pure Van cats in their native region). Armenians, Kurds, and Turks, who have inhabited the area at different times, all consider the Van cat a cultural symbol. In Turkish, they are called Van kedisi (plural kedileri), while in Western and Eastern Armenian they are referred to as Vana gadu (Վանայ կատու) and Vana katu (Վանա կատու) respectively. In Kurdish, they are known as pisîka Wanê.