House cats were domesticated from the African wild cat, about 10,000 years ago. African wild cats are territorial, and therefore don't form prides. This is probably due to their fundamental food difference to that of lions, hunting small animals (mice, lizards, etc) vs hunting large animals that require cooperation.

Modern house cats exhibit some of these territorial traits of African wild cats, but in general, house cats get along with each other much better than their wild cousins.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Wildcat

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