The three Greatest Cat DNA Checks: We Tried Them All

Cat DNA exams promise that will help you perceive your cat’s genetic ancestry and well being, however each is slightly bit completely different. Some DNA exams concentrate on breed, whereas others consider well being markers or each. Are they correct? What can they actually inform you about your cat? And would you get the identical outcomes from testing the identical cat with a number of kits?

To reply these questions and determine one of the best cat DNA exams in the marketplace, I attempted exams from three corporations—Basepaws, Knowledge Panel, and Orivet.

After hours of analysis, over a month of ready for studies, evaluating the outcomes, and taking a while to replicate, I’ve concluded that DNA testing in all probability isn’t value it for many moggies.

It’s a brand new area of science, and the outcomes are sometimes extra complicated than clarifying. And when you think about that 95% of cats are what the canine world calls super-mutts—which means that, in contrast to canine, they bred naturally and don’t descend from mixtures of breeds—the thought of this sort of purebred household tree begins to look downright foolish.

Nevertheless, every of the three exams has one thing particular to supply, and so they could possibly be value it for some cats. Basepaw’s exams present attention-grabbing dental well being information, whereas the Knowledge Panel appears to have a stronger breed database. And whereas the Orivet check was dryly introduced, I felt it was essentially the most substantial and reliable of the three.

That stated, let’s speak about what occurred once I tried every of those three DNA exams and who I feel will get essentially the most out of every of them.

At A Look: Our Prime Picks For Greatest Cat DNA Checks

We extremely advocate trying on the comparability desk we now have beneath the place we highlighted the options of every product. You’ll additionally discover extra detailed details about every product later within the article.

#1

10.0

Picked by 31 folks as we speak!

Basepaws Breed + Well being Take a look at

• Has the biggest feline genetic database, promising extra correct information
• Provides a dental report, which might prevent some huge cash and ache
• The gathering course of is fast, simple, and easy

#2

9.8

Picked by 31 folks as we speak!

Knowledge Panel Full DNA Take a look at For Cats

• Has the biggest feline breed database, promising extra correct breed data
• The report is streamlined and easy-to-read in comparison with the others listed right here
• Knowledge Panel’s processing time is fast in comparison with the competitors

Prime Choose Defined

Why Ought to You Belief Us?

At Cats.com, we independently buy and check merchandise with our personal cats, spending at the very least 15 hours on every assessment. As a long-time cat product tester and reviewer, I’ve personally examined over 100 cat merchandise, written dozens of opinions, and printed over 150 movies analyzing cat manufacturers, merchandise, and options.

Moreover, I’ve a protracted historical past with cat DNA testing. I submitted my first cat DNA pattern to the Basepaws lab in early 2020, and since then, I’ve gotten a number of studies for each of my cats, Wessie and Forest, and printed in-depth articles and movies on the expertise.

How We Examined

To find out which of those DNA exams was one of the best, I examined all three, sending samples to the lab and taking notes on the expertise.

I independently bought kits from every of the three DNA testing corporations, then swabbed and acquired studies for one among my cats, Wessie—a 14-year-old home shorthair with an orange tabby coat.

I took notes on how simple every of their assortment strategies was, how lengthy it took to get the outcomes again, and the way a lot data was contained in every report.

Along with taking a look at these merchandise, I researched feline genetic testing and talked with a number of veterinarians, together with Kash Kurruppu, DVM, the lead scientist at Basepaws, Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ, one among our veterinary consultants, and a veterinarian in my native space.

Not too long ago bought by the world’s largest animal healthcare firm, Zoetis, Basepaws is a frontrunner in cat genetic analysis and the world’s solely cat-focused DNA testing firm.

Their customary breed and well being check package deal features a breed check mapping your cat’s genetic similarity to 21+ breed varieties and 4 areas, 64+ genetic well being markers, 22+ traits, and a dental well being report.

The common breed and well being equipment prices $159.00 within the Basepaws retailer proper now, however the firm runs promotions recurrently, so I’d advocate checking for coupon codes earlier than making a purchase order.

The Basepaws check requires a single ultra-soft swab, held within the cat’s mouth for 15 seconds to gather a saliva pattern.

Swabbing Wessie was comparatively simple. It comes with a mushy swab on a brief stick, which you maintain in your cat’s mouth for just a few seconds after which invert right into a jar of stabilizing fluid. After shaking it, you place that into an envelope and again within the field, which is self-addressed and pay as you go, so you’ll be able to simply drop it off in your mailbox. Simply keep in mind to register your pattern earlier than you ship it off.

After 7 weeks of ready for the DNA to be processed, the outcomes got here again by e-mail.

The report is damaged into 4 sections—a breed evaluation, an oral well being report, a well being report, and a traits evaluation. The breed evaluation mapped areas of genetic proximity, inserting him at about 62% Western—the group containing American Shorthair, Siberian, and Maine Coon, amongst different breeds—and 24% Polycat, which is Basepaws’ cat phrase for a supermutt.

Curiously, these outcomes had modified since I’d final generated a report. Wessie’s final Basepaws DNA check confirmed vital similarity to the Ragdoll breed and little or no to the American Shorthair, whereas my second check confirmed plenty of overlap with the American Shorthair and none with the Ragdoll. Complicated, to say the least.

Transferring on from the breed report, the Basepaws check stated he was away from any genetic well being markers and that his blood kind might be A. As for traits, he’s a provider of the gene for a black coat. The check additionally features a dental well being check, which advised me that Wessie had a excessive threat for periodontal illness and dangerous breath, and a average threat of tooth resorption. Worryingly, his tooth resorption threat had gone up since final yr’s check.

The check depends on comparability to different cats within the Basepaws database, so the data you get within the report will get higher over time. Should you get the usual check, you’ll get up to date data recurrently on all the things in addition to well being markers, and if you happen to get the entire genome check—an costly various that sequences your cat’s complete genome—you’ll get updates on all the things, together with these well being markers.

Whereas I like that the Basepaws report improves over time, the adjustments I’ve seen between Wessie’s previous report and the brand new one confused me greater than anything. They made me marvel how, precisely, these areas of proximity are outlined. In brief, the breed report ought to be taken with a grain of salt and tempered expectations.

What I Favored

• Has the biggest feline genetic database, promising extra correct information
• Provides a dental report, which might prevent some huge cash and ache
• The gathering course of is fast, simple, and easy
• Owned by a large animal healthcare firm

What I Didn’t Like

• Had the longest ready interval of any of the exams I attempted
• Complicated and probably deceptive breed report

Whereas Knowledge Panel is best identified for its canine DNA exams and solely just lately launched a check for cats, the corporate claims to have been working with breeders on feline genetic analysis since 2016. Knowledge Panel appears to be much less concerned in cat genetic analysis than Basepaws, however claims to have a bigger cat breed database, referencing 70+ cat breeds—considerably greater than Basepaws’ 21+ breeds.

Nevertheless, it appears to be slightly bit weaker when it comes to its well being markers, with simply 45+ markers examined, and its traits evaluation can also be a bit lighter, with simply 25+ traits examined.

The Full DNA Assortment Equipment from Knowledge Panel prices $129.99 and presents a breed evaluation, well being markers, and traits.

As an alternative of only one swab, the Knowledge Panel check equipment makes use of two mushy swabs to gather a saliva pattern.

Amassing Wessie’s saliva pattern was slightly bit more difficult with the Knowledge Panel check equipment. I needed to swirl two spoolie-like bristled swabs in his cheek pocket for 15 seconds, then rigorously allow them to dry for a number of minutes. After registering the pattern, I packaged it up and despatched it off to the Knowledge Panel lab. After slightly below 4 weeks, my outcomes got here again through e-mail.

Just like the Basepaws check, the Knowledge Panel report stated that Wessie’s genetics principally lie within the Western breed group, but it surely broke it down slightly otherwise. As an alternative of separating the Polycat and Western teams, it lumped them collectively, categorizing Wessie as principally “American Home Cat”. Not like the Basepaws check, it stated that he additionally appeared to have vital areas of proximity to Siberian and Ragdoll breeds.

So as to add to the confusion, Knowledge Panel offers a speculative household tree, which means that Wessie’s mother and father could have been a daily moggy and a moggy-Radgoll combine, which is attention-grabbing, however not very conclusive. Mixed with contradictory outcomes from Basepaws, I felt extra confused than anything when studying this report.

The well being tab confirmed that Wessie was away from all 49 genetic well being markers, and after doing 28 genetic traits exams, they recognized just a few attention-grabbing traits.

One was that he has one copy of the colorpoint gene in addition to the stable gene, the latter of which strains up with the outcomes from Basepaws. Additionally they recognized that he in all probability has quick straight fur, a protracted tail, and a standard variety of toes, which additionally aligned with the Basepaws report.

General, I felt the Knowledge Panel DNA check report was cleanly introduced, and with its bigger breed reference database, it looks as if it ought to have a stronger breed report. Nevertheless, the variations between the Basepaws and Knowledge Panel breed studies left me scratching my head.

What I Favored

• Has the biggest feline breed database, promising extra correct breed data
• The report is streamlined and easy-to-read in comparison with the others listed right here
• Knowledge Panel’s processing time is fast in comparison with the competitors

What I Didn’t Like

• Checks for fewer well being markers than another exams

The Orivet check was developed for breeders and veterinarians, giving data on the cat’s predisposition to sure genetic circumstances. It doesn’t inform you something in regards to the cat’s breed, however that’s a part of its magnificence—by not dabbling on this extra speculative science, the Orivet check avoids supplying you with something unclear, complicated, or deceptive.

On their web site, you’ll be able to order particular exams really helpful for sure breeds or only a single check to search out out in case your cat has a sure marker. That may be a superb possibility if you happen to solely wish to check for issues that apply to your cat. House owners of purebred cats, breeders, or veterinarians could recognize this potential.

At $119.99, the check is reasonably priced in comparison with the opposite kits listed right here.

The Orivet check equipment includes two bristle swabs, that are positioned within the cat’s cheek for 15 seconds, then air-dried earlier than returning to the lab.

Equally to the Knowledge Panel check, the Orivet well being display screen equipment concerned two mushy bristle swabs, which I swirled in Wessie’s mouth for 15 seconds earlier than letting them dry. As soon as the equipment was registered, I despatched the pattern off to the lab. Orivet took 5 weeks to course of the pattern.

The outcomes arrived through e-mail with a hyperlink to the Orivet web site. Nevertheless, my outcomes weren’t accessible from my account web page. I contacted buyer help, and so they despatched me a PDF to reference as a substitute.

And whereas I used to be proud of my buyer help expertise, Orivet’s presentation was nonetheless usually complicated. The web site is labyrinthine and counterintuitive, and even the PDF report is trickier to navigate than the others reviewed right here. As a report oriented towards professionals, it lacked the enjoyable illustrations and useful hand-holding within the different studies.

The report stated that Wessie’s pattern got here again destructive for any mutations related to well being points. It instructed that his blood kind is A or AB, and it echoed Knowledge Panel in recognizing one copy of the colorpoint gene.

Whereas I do are likely to belief the Orivet Well being Display’s outcomes essentially the most of any of the exams I attempted, it’s definitely not as enjoyable because the others. I’d advocate this check to individuals who need critical, stable details about their cats’ genetic well being.

What I Favored

• Doesn’t provide any complicated breed data
• Provides various merchandise superb for breeders

What I Didn’t Like

• Provides the fewest exams and markers of any of the kits right here
• The web site is troublesome to navigate
• Much less accessible and enjoyable than different DNA exams

The Proper Cat DNA Take a look at For You Relies upon On Your Wants

One of the best DNA check on your cat is the one which meets your wants—whether or not that is higher well being information or a extra enjoyable expertise.

Whereas I got here away from the expertise no extra assured about Wessie’s genetic background than earlier than, I felt that Knowledge Panel provided the general finest consumer expertise, with very readable outcomes and a considerably extra satisfying traits report.

Nevertheless, for these in search of a deeper understanding of the feline genome, Basepaws could also be a stronger long-term funding. It’s owned by the world’s largest animal healthcare firm, Zoetis, and it’s deeply concerned in a number of aspects of feline genetics analysis.

Whereas it feels a bit bloated and insubstantial now, Basepaws’  breed report could find yourself being the extra strong one over time. Keep in mind that as Basepaws expands, your report will regularly replace. As a long-term funding, and for many who need insights into their cat’s dental well being, I’d advocate Basepaws.

As for Orivet, this check is finest suited to breeders and different professionals. The report is simply-delivered and conservative, solely providing traits and well being markers with no speculative breed data. It’s not a enjoyable check, but it surely additionally looks as if essentially the most reliable and wise of the three reviewed right here.