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With DNA tests for humans such a hot trend — an estimated 26+ million people have done one like Ancestry or 23 and Me — it's about time our pets got in on the action, too. You may have seen ads on social media of influencers revealing they discovered their adopted cats' true breeds. Exciting! Some of the best cat DNA tests are able to tell you where your kitty belongs in the big, mysterious world of the feline family tree that you've seen at the vet. He's a Maine Coon and you didn't even know it, you say? Some of these cat DNA tests can also detect potential health issues and challenges, as a cat's breed not only influences their personality and physical traits, but hereditary genetic health conditions as well.
If you're curious about what makes your cat unique, you can try an at-home cat DNA test. Like at-home dog DNA tests, these work by first collecting a sample of your feline's DNA. A lab then interprets the results based on the company's data, and you'll receive a full report with the findings.
Ahead, we break down the differences between four of the top cat DNA kits on the market, as well as what you should consider before choosing which cat DNA test to buy. (These also make great gifts for cat parents, by the way!) Plus, we tested the popular Basepaws Breed + Health Cat DNA Test — keep reading for a detailed review and everything we learned.
Basepaws Breed + Health Cat DNA Test
Pros
- Provides breeds that your cat shares genetic similarities with, plus a robust report about the breed.
- Screens for potential health risks and diseases (tests for 64 genetic markers).
- Identifies if dental disease is present.
Cons
- Can take fairly long to get results.
We love Basepaws because it's a pretty comprehensive cat DNA test that takes all of 10 seconds to get a sample from your cat's mouth. Results from the Breed + Health Cat DNA Test from Basepaws specifically provide an overview of the breed(s) that your cat shares genetic similarity with. Some cats (like those adopted from a shelter) will be a mix of breeds, so keep that in mind when reading your results.
Basepaws updates their DNA data as more cat parents send samples of DNA. As a result, genetic-related findings continue to become smarter and more robust.
This Basepaws cat DNA test also screens for health risks and diseases so you can help your cat by talking to your vet should you discover a potential issue. Additionally, Basepaws tests for the three most common dental diseases.
Product Specs
| How to get sample | Swab the inside of cat's mouth for 5 to 10 seconds. |
|---|---|
| How samples ship | Free both ways via USPS box. |
| How long results take | 4 to 6 weeks |
Wisdom Panel Complete for Cats
Wisdom Panel Complete for Cats
Pros
- Has 70+ breeds in its database.
- Tests for 45 genetic health conditions.
- Tests for 25+ physical traits.
- Provides a multi-generational family tree.
- Identifies blood type.
Cons
- You might be overwhelmed with information that you'll want to discuss with a vet. Luckily, Wisdom Panel has vets on-hand!
While most of the cat DNA tests we found can take 4+ weeks, this one from Wisdom Panel has the quickest turnaround. We love that it can screen for 70+ breeds, tests for so many conditions and traits, and gives you a family tree. It also provides some of the most comprehensive results of this list.
So, how does it work? According to Annette Louviere, veterinary expert at Wisdom Panel, "Wisdom Panel evaluates each pet’s genetic variants using a custom Illumina Infinium microarray platform. This is the same technology and standards used by human genomic companies." And as more and more cats submit their DNA, the science of the results improve. "By testing your pet with Wisdom Panel, you're contributing to the largest veterinary genetic research study ever," Louviere explains. For starters, 3.5 million pet parents have used Wisdom Panel's DNA tests to date.
That being said, sometimes too much information isn't necessarily a good thing. After all, you're not a vet. Luckily, Wisdom Panel does give you access to a vet to help interpret your results.
Product Specs
| How to get a sample | Swab the inside of the cat's mouth for 15 seconds. |
|---|---|
| How samples ship | Mail using a prepaid mailer. |
| How long results take | 2 to 3 weeks |
Orivet DNA Test Purebred Cat Full Breed Profile
Orivet DNA Test Purebred Cat Full Breed Profile
Pros
- Screens for over 30 health markers and traits.
- Provides a great way to connect your results with your vet.
Cons
- This particular test is made for purebred cats.
Orivet provides a cat DNA test to identify breeds, in addition to testing for hereditary traits or diseases so owners can take precautions should they discover their cat has a marker for something. The testing process involves swabbing your cat's cheek.
Diseases Orivet can screen for include: spinal muscular atrophy, kidney disease, pyruvate kinase deficiency.
Keep in mind, this cat test is made specifically for purebred cats, including Abyssinian, British Shorthair/Longhair, Burmese, Maine Coon, and Ragdoll.
Product Specs
| How to get a sample | Swab cat's cheek for 15 seconds. |
|---|---|
| How samples ship | Prepaid shipping (free to you). |
| How long results take | 3 to 6 weeks |
5Strands Pet Food & Environmental Intolerance Test
5Strands Pet Food & Environmental Intolerance Test
Pros
- Can help your cat feel more comfortable if you uncover an intolerance.
- Collecting the sample is super easy.
- Website is very thorough, so you know exactly how to collect the sample, ship it, and more.
Cons
- Does not include breed info.
- Pretty pricey when not as comprehensive as the others on the list.
- Getting the most out of it requires some work.
- Can't solve or uncover bigger health issues.
- Won't work for hairless cats.
Testing for the basics, this cat test can help you get to the bottom of your cat's issues. These challenges can range from upset stomach to frequent itching, hair loss, and even paw biting (just to name a few). By collecting a few strands of your cat's fur, this test can assess intolerances in food or the environment that might be causing your pet (cat or dog) to be uncomfortable.
Keep in mind, the test will be most effective if your cat has encountered the irritant or whatever is causing the intolerance in order for it to be detected. Once you know the results, you may have to recall what your cat was exposed to during the timeframe of the test to fully act on the results.
Product Specs
| How to get a sample | Collect 10 to 15 strands of fur. |
|---|---|
| How samples ship | Pack and ship with the prepaid mailing label. |
| How long results take | 7 days |
What to look for in a cat DNA test
According to Annette Louviere, veterinary expert at Wisdom Panel, these are the main factors to consider when shopping for a cat DNA testing product:
- The size of the company's breed reference database
- The number of genetic markers the test can detect
- The type of information reported after the test (examples include: health related to ancestry, traits related to ancestry, genetic diversity measurement)
Rowyn Rose, science communications specialist at Basepaws, also points out the importance of ease and convenience for you and your pet. "Oral swab tests, such as the Basepaws Breed + Health Cat DNA Test, allow for DNA to be collected in a matter of seconds with a quick and painless swab of a cat’s mouth," she explains.
Like Louviere, Rose also adds that you should factor in what information gets unlocked, which can include health insights about an individual pet’s genetic risk for disease. "DNA tests can also provide oral health assessments...and let pet parents know if their cat has a currently active dental disease (which can in turn affect their cat’s overall health)."
George Sofronidis, co-founder of Orivet Genetic Pet Care, points out that "pet owners should look for testing that is reliable and offers great customer service to help them understand the results, as well as easy access to those results (such as on a mobile phone)."
Similarly, Rose adds that the quality of supportive services, such as access to a genetic advisor to discuss your pet’s results, ease of sharing report results with your veterinarian, educational events and resources, and avenues for engaging with other pet parents who have used (or are interested in using) the DNA service or product can also be an important factor to consider.
FAQ
- What does a cat DNA test tell you? Depending on the specific cat DNA test you're using, cat DNA tests on the market today can tell you about your cat breed, health markers based on ancestry, and even active dental disease. It's important to note that while you will get a plethora of information after you get your cat DNA results, you should still seek help from a veterinarian if you have health concerns or to assess your findings.
- How much does it cost to test your cat's DNA? Cat DNA tests vary in price, but for the most part, the most well-known brands offer them for a range between $100 and $200.
- Can you test for a cat's breed? There are cat DNA tests that test for a cat's breed. Basepaws and Wisdom Panel, for example, both do just that, in addition to providing results for other factors.
- What are the benefits of using a cat DNA test? Cat DNA tests "can support early detection before a disease becomes advanced," Rose says.
According to Louviere, "Wisdom Panel's Complete for Cats can provide pet parents with information regarding over 45 genetic health risks, determine genetic blood type, identify various traits the cat may be carrying, measure how genetically diverse the DNA is, as well as provide a glimpse into the cat’s ancestry by comparing their unique DNA against the world’s largest breed database."
And as Sofronidis explains, "for breeders, the tests can help determine if the cat will have certain traits like fur color and hair length, which is important to maintaining breed standards. For pet owners, a breed DNA test can give insight into potential behaviors based on the percentage of the specific breed."
Why Trust Us
For this roundup, Woman's Day contributor and cat owner Ysolt Usigan spoke to a veterinary expert at Wisdom Panel, science communications specialist at Basepaws, and co-founder of Orivet Genetic Pet Care.
She also put Basepaws to the test in an effort to uncover valuable information about her cat, Benjamin, recently adopted from a local cat rescue. Benjamin is mostly white with orange spots and short hair, so she assumed he's a standard domestic short hair cat. He's healthy according to his first annual vet checkup, but he's also a young cat. So, she tried Basepaws to see what she could find out about Benjamin's breed and health.
Basepaws Cat DNA Test: Breed and Health Results
Upon receiving Benjamin's Basepaws results, which took about 5 weeks from when she first swabbed his mouth and sent in the sample, she was delighted to see 65 pages of information in a PDF format emailed to her — 35 pages of which were specific to Benjamin and included (but were not limited to):
- His complete breed analysis (a combination of mostly broadly Western and Maine Coon, plus a hint of American and British short hair, plus some Persian, which was news to her!)
- Disorders for metabolic, blood, musculoskeletal and connective tissue, cardiovascular, renal, eye, skin, autoimmune, and endocrine (which were all clear, thankfully)
- His blood type and transfusion risk (blood type A with a medium risk)
- His coat texture, color, pattern, and length
- His oral health report (which revealed Benjamin does not currently suffer from a periodontal disease, but does have an issue with bad breath!)
Basepaws Cat DNA Test: Oral Health Summary
In addition to Benjamin's Oral Health Summary that showed he has a high risk of halitosis, the other 30 pages were general insights on:
- History of cat domestication
- Each type of cat breed, with breed history, genetic predisposition and health, personality, average weight, and origin
- Several pages on methodology
- Content on how to better take care of Benjamin's health!
Final Verdict: All in all, our writer loved Basepaws for the thorough information, and the action items she learned in order to keep her pet in tip-top health. She can't wait to run the test again at some point to see if she can curb Benjamin's halitosis, as well as test her other cats to learn more about their DNA and health.
Ysolt Usigan is a lifestyle writer and editor with 15+ years of experience working in digital media. She has created share-worthy content for publishers Shape, What To Expect, Cafe Mom, TODAY, CBS News, HuffPo, The Bump, Health, Ask Men, and Best Gifts. A working mom of two, her editorial expertise in parenting, shopping, and home are rooted in her everyday life.
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