In This Article
In This Article
Your cat may be your best friend, but do you know everything you should know about them?
While you may not be able to figure everything out about our mysterious feline friends, there are some things you definitely should know so you can provide them with the best life possible.
Knowing more about your cat’s health, history, possible predisposition for congenital conditions, and breed will help you make better decisions for them.
DNA tests are a great way to get all of this information.
Your cat’s DNA allows you to:
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Are you curious about your cat's ancestry and health predispositions?
Pet DNA tests analyze your cat’s genetic makeup to give you these insights:
Physical traits like the coat and color pattern can help you determine your cat’s breed, but without a history or pedigree, it’s not a reliable way of knowing.
Feline DNA tests compare your cat’s DNA with recognized cat breeds and breed groups. It gives you an estimate of your cat’s breed.
Here is an example from Basepaws Cat DNA Test. It says that my cat Bukowski is 63% Western. Based on his results, he’s 17.64% Russian Blue and 9.50% Ragdoll.
All cats belong to the Felidae family. So they’re all genetically related.1
Scientists say that domestic cats (whether purebred, mixed breed, or hybrids) descended from the Middle Eastern wildcat, Felis sylvestris.2
Some testing kits check for wild cat DNA. They can tell you which wildcats have the most similar DNA with your feline.
Genetic anomalies can cause congenital diseases present at birth, even in cats. Others increase their risk for health issues that may appear at a later age.
Inbreeding and selective breeding place pedigreed cats at higher risk for genetic diseases. This is why purebred cats are more likely to develop certain illnesses.3
However, non-pedigreed cats can still inherit health risks from their parents.3
Some cat DNA test options offer more than breed identification. They can screen genetic markers that are linked to your cat’s health.
We considered six things when choosing the best DNA test kits:
Each genetic testing kit is unique and provides different information about your cat. Keep in mind that we didn’t arrange them in any particular order.
| Basepaws Breed + Health DNA Test | Basepaws Whole Genome Sequencing Test | Optimal Selection DNA by Wisdom Panel | MyCatDNA by Wisdom Panel | Orivet DNA Test for Cats | CatDNATest.org | |
| Sample collection | Cheek swab | Cheek swab | Cheek swab | Cheek swab | Cheek swab | Cheek swab (basic), some add-ons will require blood |
| Waiting time | 4-6 weeks | 3-9 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3-6 weeks | |
| Breed info | Yes | Yes | No | No | No—you order tests based on the breed | Yes |
| Traits info | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Health info | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $159 | $499 | $99.99 | €99 | $119 | $45 (for basic test) |
| Vet follow-up/consultation | Can share report with vet | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Basepaws is one of the largest cat DNA testing companies. Their test covers cat breed, potential health risks, genetic traits, and a wild cat index.
Basepaws Cat DNA Test Pros
What we like most is how Basepaws updates their test with new features. The latest kit can now check for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).5
Basepaws Cat DNA Test Cons
Basepaws combines basic cat breed DNA testing with health screening, which is why it’s our top pick. You can read more on our Basepaws review.
Check Basepaws Breed + Health Price here
Basepaws Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) provides 10,000 times more data than other cat DNA test kits. Most at-home pet DNA tests sequence 0.01 to 0.02% of a cat’s genome.
The WGS kit from Basepaws fully explores your cat’s DNA. It looks for more genetic variants than their basic feline DNA testing package.
It provides more accurate results on your cat’s breed, health, personality, and traits.
Basepaws WGS Test Pros
Basepaws WGS Test Cons
You’ll get a 1-hour consultation with a Basepaws veterinarian and cat genetics expert together with the results. Read more about Basepaws here.
Optimal Selection Feline is powered by Wisdom Panel, one of the leading providers of pet DNA tests. Unlike Basepaws, it doesn’t test for cat breed.
It helps cat breeders choose the best candidates for breeding. However, cat owners may use it to learn more about their pedigreed and mixed-breed cats.
Optimal Selection Feline Pros
Optimal Selection Feline Cons
MyCatDNA is also powered by Wisdom Panel. It provides the same genetic information as Optimum Selection and works best for cat breeders.
The only difference is that MyCatDNA seems to be based in Europe since their prices are listed in Euros (€).
MyCatDNA Test Pros
MyCatDNA Test Cons
Orivet offers a range of DNA testing kits for dogs and cats. These tests aren’t for the average pet owner, though you can still buy them for your cat.
Instead, they’re designed for veterinarians and breeders. You can choose from feline DNA tests that check for genetic diseases and traits associated with each breed.
Orivet Cat DNA Test Pros
Orivet Cat DNA Test Cons
CatDNATest.org provides the most affordable cat DNA testing. For just $45, you can have your feline tested with a basic CFA panel.
The basic CFA panel can assess your cat’s ancestry (parentage) and traits. It also performs a cat DNA health screen for common diseases.
If you want to test for more, you can purchase add-ons for $5 to $15 each.
CatDNATest.org Pros
CatDNATest.org Cons
No single DNA test is 100% accurate, even for cats. Scientists are still learning more about cat DNA, and its accuracy is still improving with more research.
Feline kits test for your cat’s potential breed percentage and genetic markers that influence its health and inherited traits, such as blood type and coat color.
Some of these tests trace your cat’s ancestry. They can confirm a cat’s relationship with its parents and offspring by comparing their DNA.
Like human DNA tests, there is always a margin for error in the estimates they provide. This is especially true for health-related markers.
However, the latest discoveries on cat evolution have made tracking cat ancestry more reliable. The results should be accurate enough if you choose a trusted company.
Most cat DNA tests give you an estimate of your cat’s breed. While it doesn’t tell you exactly what breed your cat is, you can:
As a pet owner, you can use the health information to take better care of your cat. For example, you can adjust their diet to prevent health problems they are prone to.
Cat breeders can use test results for breeding responsibly. They can pick the best cats for breeding based on their DNA and lower their risk for genetic diseases.
As a cat owner, you would want kits that test for several markers. Basepaws DNA is our top pick for cat owners who want to know a cat’s breed and health risks.
But if you’re willing to splurge, Basepaws Whole Genome Sequencing might give you more reliable results. These tests work on all cats, regardless of their breed.
CatDNATest is the only one that can check a cat’s ancestry. It can help you determine whether a cat is genetically related to a sire, queen, or offspring.
If you are unsure of a cat’s pedigree, you can use tests to confirm its breed status.
Cat breeders should be able to test for markers that determine a cat’s traits and genetic risks. Some examples are Optimal Selection DNA and MyCatDNA.
These tests work on purebred and mixed-breed cats. Like Basepaws, they can check for several markers at a time.
But if you own a purebred cat, you may also want to test for breed-specific diseases. Orivet DNA can assess your cat for diseases they are most prone to based on its breed.
You can get your cat’s DNA tested if you want to:
Whether you’re a cat owner, a breeder, or a vet, a cat DNA test gives you the information you need to help cats lead happier, healthier lives.
Most cat DNA testing kits will ask you to collect a swab sample from the inside of your cat’s cheek. Others may require blood or fur as samples.
After sending it to the company’s laboratory, they will analyze a portion of your cat’s DNA.
They might look for genes linked to breed, health, or ancestry.
Purebred cats have a higher risk for genetic diseases than mixed-breed cats. It usually happens due to in-breeding and selective breeding, which causes them to lose genetic diversity.
That said, any cat is at risk of inheriting diseases from their parents—regardless of their breed.
KnowYourDNA is committed to making pet healthcare more accessible to pet parents and first-time pet owners, which is why we feature products that meet industry standards.
We only choose at-home test kits from companies with reliable testing methods and science-backed reports to improve your cat’s health.
Our in-house pet experts review all the information in our publications to ensure the accuracy of the information we give to our readers.
Know Your DNA Reviews
What could be more fun than learning everything there is to know about your feline friend?
