I Tried the Best At-Home Pet DNA Test Kits on My Two Cats (2025)

If You Have a Canine, Think about These KitsI don’t have a canine, so I did not attempt these at-home DNA take a look at kits for canines, however these are the kits particularly for canines from Basepaws and Knowledge Panel, the 2 firms I’ve examined for my cats.Knowledge PanelBreed Discovery Canine DNA KitWisdom PanelPremium Canine DNA KitWisdom PanelEssential Canine DNA KitHow Does a DNA Testing Package Work?Pet DNA checks depend on pet house owners gathering cells for testing by way of a cheek swab, the place the pattern is put right into a sealed stabilizing or preserving fluid for transit. You’ll mail the pattern again to the lab within the pay as you go envelope. It takes as much as 5 weeks to get outcomes. (The primary time I despatched my cat Basil’s Basepaws pattern, the corporate emailed that the outcomes have been inconclusive, and I needed to wait for one more equipment to be despatched, re-swab him, and wait one other 5 weeks for outcomes.)On the lab, the pattern is analyzed towards the corporate’s breed and genetic well being database. They use single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays—the usual expertise used to determine breed ancestry—in addition to varied inherited traits and threat of frequent ailments. Primarily, totally different breeds have distinct patterns of SNPs of their genomes, which act because the genetic markers. These checks analyze the pet’s DNA pattern for particular SNPs after which examine them to the corporate’s current database to estimate the composition of breed varieties within the animal. This not solely tells you about breed composition, however may also determine the precise DNA sequences which might be markers for potential well being dangers, like predispositions to ailments or hereditary cancers.Don’t take the well being or DNA take a look at outcomes as absolute fact, nonetheless. “This may result in a false sense of safety or false alarms,” says veterinarian Amanda Chambers. Ahead your outcomes to your veterinarian and all the time comply with up with scheduling a go to to the vet in case your pet is marked as a provider for any genetic illness.Limitations of At-Residence DNA Check KitsAfter chatting with Jamie Richardson, head of veterinary drugs at Small Door Veterinary, I’ve discovered that these are the foremost areas of limitations with at-home DNA take a look at kits:Outcomes depend upon the dimensions/variety of the genetic databaseMost kits take a look at identified markers solely—not full genomesFeline knowledge is much less developedMisinterpretation of outcomes can result in pointless concernHow Correct Is At-Residence DNA Testing?Knowledge Panel claims its breed outcomes for cats are over 98 % correct and that checks for canines are over 99 % correct.I’ve outlined the outcomes beneath, so you possibly can see the disparity in outcomes from the 2 kits I examined, notably with breed ancestry.One downside with the huge disparity in outcomes is that the 2 firms have totally different pattern sizes and metrics for figuring out breeds. However the greatest difficulty for cat house owners taking these at-home DNA checks is you could’t actually determine most cats’ breeds the best way you possibly can with canines. Except your cat is a purebred, round 95 % of cats don’t belong to a acknowledged breed. Cats’ genetic backgrounds are muddied—they’re simply comparable mixes with totally different bodily traits, so the checks solely present the breed(s) they share probably the most markers with. Principally, these checks for cats aren’t in a position to reliably inform us about breed composition, simply similarity to different breeds’ traits within the firm’s knowledge pool.From my analysis, it appears the breed identification a part of these checks is extra correct for canines, as canine DNA is a lot extra diversified. Breeds have been clearly outlined after centuries of diversifying from different breeds, and canine DNA mutates rapidly, with genes altering rapidly after just some generations. Cats usually are not a lot totally different from their Egyptian ancestors.Curiously, on this report from CBS in 2023, the information group despatched canine and human DNA to totally different at-home take a look at firms and received varied outcomes, starting from 65 to solely 29 % German shepherd DNA for the canine. The human DNA outcomes have been attributed to a bulldog, border collie, and cane corso combine.TL;DRThere is not one catch-all technique to decide a pet’s genetic make-up or ancestry. People like classes. And breeds are basically human constructs, primarily based on the best way the canine or cat seems. The genetic a part of the take a look at is enjoyable, however take it with a grain of salt—particularly with cats.Ancestry ResultsIf you learn above, you realize that there’s a major disparity in outcomes primarily based on the pool the pattern is in contrast towards.For instance, beneath are the outcomes I received for my cat Clover, who’s a dilute calico with lengthy, white fur and visually seems most like a Maine coon or Norwegian forest cat.(I additionally examined my run-of-the-mill grey cat Basil, however he was virtually completely “American home cat” and “polycat/home shorthair”—principally the mutt ultimate boss, a results of many generations of blended breeding between various kinds of cats, the place ancestry and origin is nearly not possible to find out.)Well being ResultsWisdom Panel checks for 49 genetic well being predispositions by evaluating the pet’s DNA towards a panel of cat or canine genetic well being checks. It checks for the highest 5 genetic situations that might influence the pet’s vet visits—basically, the commonest situations which might be seen in cats or canines with the same breed make-up as your pet. These are for issues like drug sensitivity, immune deficiency, and bleeding problems. In addition they recognized the cat’s blood kind (each of my cats have been A) and transfusion threat (each have been average).Basepaws checks for as much as 115 well being markers, however my cat acquired outcomes for under 44 genetic ailments (house owners are inspired to test outcomes typically in case lacking markers are added as extra knowledge turns into accessible). This checklist felt extra in-depth than the Knowledge Panel take a look at, testing genes for markers towards problems in musculoskeletal and connective tissue; eyes; metabolic, autoimmune, and endocrine techniques; blood; and extra. Each of my cats, Clover and Basil, have been cleared as having not one of the genes that mark them as potential carriers of genetic ailments. It additionally recognized blood kind and transfusion threat, which have been A and average (the identical outcomes I received with Knowledge Panel’s take a look at).In case your pet will get flagged for any of those outcomes, don’t panic. “The presence of a sure gene doesn’t all the time imply a affected person will develop a sure dysfunction that’s related to that gene—it simply means they’re at greater threat of it. I might encourage house owners to succeed in out to their veterinarian if they’ve questions after receiving the outcomes of a DNA take a look at,” says Chambers.Oral Well being ResultsWisdom Panel doesn’t display for oral well being, which is a large downside in lots of pets, and may result in tooth extraction and larger well being points.Oral well being was a priority for me, and Basepaws checks for oral well being by testing towards an oral microbiome database. On this regard, Basepaws wins out.In accordance with the Basepaws outcomes, Clover was a low threat for periodontal illness and tooth resorption, however at a excessive threat of halitosis. The report mentioned unhealthy breath might be indicative of a bigger well being difficulty, however she was cleared for illness, so I wasn’t positive what to do with that data.Courtesy of Molly HigginsMy different cat, Basil, was at excessive threat for all of the dental markers talked about above, and Basepaws got here up with a well being plan for him: “undertake a every day oral healthcare routine, contemplate supplementing Basil’s routine with merchandise accepted by the Veterinary Oral Well being Council, and schedule an appointment together with your veterinarian within the subsequent month.”Courtesy of Molly HigginsAlthough I used to be alarmed on the outcomes, I favored that Basepaws gave me advisable subsequent steps so I may give you a plan of motion for care. And it’s necessary to do not forget that these outcomes don’t essentially imply a pet is assured to develop the illness.”These is usually a useful flag in your veterinarian to regulate […] however doesn’t essentially imply aggressive testing is required at that second,” says Richardson. “DNA checks are instruments to help—not substitute—veterinary care.”Traits ResultsBoth of the checks had this part, which checks for coat shade traits and variants, however I discovered it principally ineffective. Knowledge Panel’s assertions of each cats’ bodily traits have been appropriate. However with Basepaws, Clover, a dilute calico, was marked as being seemingly black in shade.I can see with my eyes what my cat(s) appear to be, however if you happen to’re a genetic nerd, this is likely to be enjoyable to see what the precise DNA displays.A Notice on At-Residence Allergy Testing KitsI not too long ago examined each of my cats for his or her allergy symptoms and intolerances utilizing the same at-home take a look at equipment, 5Strands Pet Meals & Environmental Intolerance Check for $100. For this, you solely must ship a fur pattern within the mail to a lab; outcomes have been despatched to my inbox inside seven days. The report confirmed that each of my cats confirmed robust intolerances to frequent elements of their weight-reduction plan, like varied varieties of fish and rooster meal. This despatched me right into a panic concerning the well being and (dis)consolation of my cats.After extra analysis, I discovered that hair/fur samples usually are not an correct technique to measure allergy symptoms and intolerances, and research present kits claiming to offer these outcomes carry out no higher than likelihood and sometimes produce inconsistent or false outcomes.“There isn’t any scientific proof to help allergy testing by way of hair, fur, or saliva,” says Richardson. “Veterinarian-supervised elimination diets to check for meals allergy and intra-dermal pores and skin testing or blood checks to check for environmental allergy symptoms stay the gold commonplace.”So, save your cash and seek the advice of a vet as an alternative if you happen to suspect your pet is struggling due to allergy symptoms or intolerances.Evaluate Our High PicksMeet the ExpertsWhat We’re Testing NextAccordionItemContainerButtonPower up with limitless entry to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and unique subscriber content material that is too necessary to disregard. Subscribe In the present day.