In This Article
In This Article
Our verdict: Basepaws was relatively informative and helped me figure out how to best take care of my furry best friend, though the information did leave me wanting more. While results didn’t arrive when I thought they would, I was still pleasantly surprised with what I learned and the recommendations Basepaws gave me for my cat.
Basepaws paved the way for cat DNA testing. It was the first of its kind, setting the bar for other feline genetics companies that followed.
If not for Basepaws, we might not have the best cat DNA kits known today.
So I took one of these reasonably priced DNA tests. And with the help of my friend Bukowski (my cat, not the author), we will give you an in-depth Basepaws DNA review.
| Sample Collection | Saliva swab |
| DNA Testing Type | Genetic variant analysis across 18 chromosomes |
| Speed | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Privacy Protection | Medium to strong |
Basepaws currently offers three types of cat DNA tests. Below, we will cover what you will get with each testing kit and how much they cost:
Cost: $99 upfront (or four monthly payments of $24.75 with shoppay)
The kit screens for common dental conditions, namely:
It tells you how they affect your cat’s health and provides tips on how to care for their teeth at home. If your cat needs professional dental care, Basepaws will let you know.
Cost: $499 upfront (or four monthly payments of $124.75 with shoppay)
The kit does whole genome sequencing. It includes everything in the Breed + Health Cat DNA Test plus the following:
Cost: $159 upfront (or four monthly payments of $39.75 via shoppay)
This kit provides you with more information about the following:
Basepaws sends the kit you ordered to your home. When it arrives, just follow these easy and simple steps:
Basepaws provides different reports for each of their kits. I decided to buy the Dental Health and Breed + Health Tests just to see what is in them.
All results became available on MyBasepaws.com as soon as they were ready. You can view them directly online or download them to your phone.
Each report consists of several pages. Here is what you get with the reports:
The report starts you off with some useful insights. This includes a brief introduction to your cat’s oral health, how Basepaws performed the test, and why it is important to get your cat tested.
It shows you which microbes are present in your cat’s DNA sample. Basepaws then scores your cat’s risk for periodontal disease, tooth resorption, and halitosis.
Basepaws also teaches you how these risks affect your cat’s overall health. Unfortunately, it does not tell you if a cat has a dental problem or not.
The report contains four sections:
Here, you can learn which breed groups your cat is closest to based on their genetic makeup. Basepaws identifies genetic similarities with five major groups:
It summarizes the top breeds with the most genetic resemblance to your cat and how much of their DNA is the same.
For example, Bukowski’s report says that he shares 63% of his DNA with Western breed groups and that he is at least 17.64% Russian Blue.
The chromosome map uses colors to highlight which of your cat’s DNA belongs to certain groups. However, it leaves out a lot of information and does not tell you which genetic traits they are associated with.
Take note: Breed Analysis is an interactive report. You can choose to display the Chromosome Map or Breed Groups. Its slider can be adjusted for accuracy—the more “statistically confident” the report, the more accurate its results.
This section is one of the more unique parts of Basepaw’s test results. It shows you the top four wild cats that are closest to your cat’s DNA.
Here, I learned that my cat has some genetic similarities to a tiger. No wonder he always bites me when I try petting him—I joke. He’s sweet.
Basepaws warns that it does not mean your cat is part wild cat. All known species of domestic cats have wild cats as ancestors.
The Wildcat Index simply shows which wild cats share the most DNA with your cat.
Basepaws tests your feline friend for 65 health markers. This section shows if a cat is positive for genetic variants that increase its risk for health problems.
It also shows if your cat “carries” genetic mutations that they can pass on to their future offspring (also known as carrier status).
Below are some genetic diseases that Basepaws can help identify:
Keep in mind: Health Markers is not a diagnostic report. It does not tell you if a cat has these health conditions.
However, it is a great way to prepare for the possibility of your cat and their offspring having or inheriting these health risks. You can use this information to prevent health problems in the future.
This part tells you which purebred cats are genetically similar to your cat’s DNA. It also shows you the percentage of DNA which they have in common.
What we like most is it provides plenty of information on each breed, such as:
It helps you understand why your cat has certain behaviors and other breed-related disorders. But it also includes breeds that have zero similarities with your cat.
Yes and no. It’s understandable that there’ll be some guesswork involved, but I wish there were more straightforward answers
The report is well-designed and informative. It looks nice and should be fun to read for cat lovers like myself. Unfortunately, it could work on specificity.
For starters, Basepaws does not tell you the exact breed of your cat. It only compares your cat’s DNA with genetic information from its database.
This is supposed to help you find out which breed groups, specific breeds, and wild ancestors a cat is associated with. But I found them unreliable.
My test results say that Bukowski has genetic similarities with Persians and Ragdolls, which I thought was inaccurate.
The same goes for the Wildcat Index section. Here, I was told my furry friend has genetic similarities to a leopard, cheetah, tiger, and cougar.
I did appreciate how much information the website had in general, as my report also included lengthy information on breeds that were not genetically related to my cat.
Sadly, the Health Markers section and Dental Health Report were lacking for me a little. This is because Basepaws does not really test for dental disease or health problems. However, the information I did get was still pretty cool. It’s a good way to jumpstart official diagnoses.
Yes, I believe so. Even if I wanted a little more out of the results, I think Basepaws is a great foundation for looking more into your cat’s health risks and DNA.
Basepaws is great for any cat parent who wants to learn more about their pet and other breeds in a fun way. It gives you an idea of potential dental problems and health issues you need to watch out for.
You can get these results with the Breed + Health Kit, which is not that expensive. If you buy it on sale or use a discount code, you can get an even better deal.
However, if you want reliable information on your cat’s breed and overall health, you might save more money if you simply visit the vet.
Basepaws may have been the first at-home cat genetics company, but it wasn’t long before competitors popped up. Other popular cat DNA test kits include:
This all depends on what you’re looking for. If you want comprehensive breed and health information about your cat, then probably not. However, if you’re simply looking for a fun way to learn a bit more about your pet, Basepaws is a decent choice.
Using a small saliva sample, Basepaws compares your cat’s DNA to genetic samples in their database. This helps you learn more about your cat’s breed and health.
Basepaws cat DNA tests range from $99 to $499. You can pay for them upfront or in four zero-interest installments.
Unless necessary, any personally identifiable information related to you or your pet will not be shared with a third party. One example where it may be needed is when performing genetic tests.
Basepaws also employs several security measures to protect your personal information and your pet’s genetic data.
This includes regular security reviews of their software, using industry-standard encryption, and managing the safeguards used by their third-party service providers.
However, Basepaws does allow third-party advertisers to gather some web-based data for targeted advertising.
We evaluated Basepaws using the following criteria:
If you love your kitty, feel free to buy this!
Basepaws was the first cat genetics company. Annya Skaya founded it in 2016 as a provider of at-home DNA test kits for cats.
In a nutshell, these tests analyze cat DNA and its 20,000+ genetic variants. They give you useful information on your cat’s breed, dental health, and overall wellness.
Basepaws DNA:
