* Early Arrivals: Cats were likely introduced to the Americas with European colonists, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries. This was primarily due to the need for pest control on ships and in settlements.
* Different Routes: Cats arrived in various parts of America, depending on where European settlers landed. This included the eastern coast, the Caribbean, and eventually the western territories.
* Not Indigenous: Importantly, cats are not native to the Americas. They were brought over from Europe, Africa, and Asia, and were not present before human arrival.
To sum up, there is no definitive date for when cats came to America, but it likely happened sometime between the 16th and 17th centuries with the arrival of European colonists.