> Researchers recently traced their spread around the world to their relations with farmers and travels with merchants and Vikings

...

> Geigl’s team discovered that cats with a mitochondrial lineage from Egypt began appearing in Bulgaria, Turkey and sub-Saharan Africa between the fourth century B.C. and the fourth century A.D.

That sounds much too early for Vikings. The connection with maritime trade makes sense but I don't see where Vikings fit into the picture.