The primary theory I have heard for cats becoming a domestic species is that it happened 'accidentally'- food stores attracted vermin, which in turn attracted cats, and humans were okay with the cats as long as they kept vermin under control. Over thousands of years they became the pets they are today, though they are not too genetically distinct from their ancestor.

My question is; are there any alternative theories for how cats made their way into human homes and hearts? Having cats 'around' isn't quite the same as having them be companion animals, so how did we get them from a to b? How did they become so docile and acclimated to humans, if they were just vermin control?