If you’re curious about the genetic composition of your cat’s breed or planning to breed your cat and prioritize the health of their future litter, an at-home cat breed DNA test can provide you with valuable information. To make your decision easier, we have conducted thorough research and identified the top options available.
Our recommended choice is Basepaws. Basepaws stands out by accurately identifying over 20 cat breeds and offering essential health insights. However, there are other alternatives you might find appealing as well.
Discover Your Cat's Breed Type with Basepaws!
Short on time? Here are the best cat breed DNA tests
- Basepaws – Our #1 choice with screening of 21 specific breeds, plus wildcat index, and extra health insights.
- WisdomPanel – Breed and health insights for your cat in one DNA test.
- Orivet – Choice of individual tests designed for specific cat breeds with tailored trait reports and health screening.
- Optimal Selection – Analyzes your cat’s genetic breed diversity with reporting on 20+ traits and an online breeder finder.
What We Look For in the Best Cat Breed DNA Tests
When reviewing the best cat breed DNA tests, we only chose those that are accurate and give you the information you need. We picked each test based on a number of factors.
- Breed identification: We picked tests that can identify your cat’s breed, or offer tests tailored to your cat’s breed if you already know their genetic makeup.
- Extra insights: Many of the tests we chose also give you information about your cat’s behaviors, characteristics, and health.
- Time to results: No test should leave you waiting months on end for a report, so we picked tests that can turn around your results fairly quickly.
- Value for money: It’s important that you actually get your money’s worth and can rely on your test to provide you with all the information you need to know about your cat.
Best Cat Breed DNA Tests Reviewed
1. Basepaws – Detailed Discovery into Breed Types & Wildcat Index
- Compares your cat’s DNA to 4 breed types and 21 specific breeds
- Wildcat Index shows how much DNA your cat shares with tigers, cougars, lions, and others
- Lifetime breed updates as new breeds are added to the database
- Health insights including risk screening for 13 genetic diseases
Our favorite cat breed DNA test is Basepaws. We were impressed with the detail of the report. It breaks down your cat’s DNA into four breed categories, and then into 21 specific breeds. The four categories in our report were western, eastern, exotic, and Persian.
It showed the percentage of DNA that our cat shares with each group, as well as a detailed chromosome map. With this information, we could easily see which breeds our cat was most and least similar to.
Basepaws also introduces an intriguing feature called the Wildcat Index. This distinctive functionality offers insights into which wildcat species your feline companion shares the highest genetic resemblance with, be it lions, cheetahs, or even cougars. Within your comprehensive report, you’ll explore an ancestral narrative revealing your cat’s ancient genetic connections to wildcats. This may encompass traits such as a fondness for climbing trees or possessing a large tail.
One aspect that left us impressed was the inclusion of a one-on-one consultation with a veterinarian, offered at no extra cost. This invaluable resource allows you to engage with a knowledgeable professional who can address any queries you may have regarding your cat’s genetic report. Moreover, they can provide expert guidance on lifestyle adjustments and considerations tailored to your cat’s specific breed.
As well as loads of breed info, you get health insights in your report. Basepaws screens for 13 genetic diseases and 39 genetic mutations in cats, including those relating to blood health, metabolism, vision loss, and heart health. In our report, we received a brief overview of the disease tested, how it’s inherited, and which genes were tested.
We thought that the report waiting times were a little slow – it took almost 11 weeks, despite saying 4-6 weeks on the website. But the report is worth waiting for, and you get lifetime breed updates. As any new breeds are added to Basepaws’ database, it sends you information on whether your cat shares DNA with them.
Uncover Your Cat's Breed with Basepaws!
2. Wisdom Panel – Health and Breed Data in One Test
- Accurate breed identification
- Detailed breed breakdown
- Health screening for genetic risks
- User-friendly sample collection kit
If you’ve ever been curious about your feline friend’s ancestry and genetic makeup, this test is a fantastic way to satisfy your curiosity and gain valuable insights. The test provides accurate and detailed information about your cat’s breed composition, including potential health concerns associated with specific breeds.
Gathering the DNA sample is a straightforward process, thanks to the clear and user-friendly instructions included in the kit. It involves a simple cheek swab, and you can expect to receive the results within a few weeks. The reports are neatly organized and easily comprehensible. They provide a detailed breakdown of your cat’s breed ancestry, along with fascinating insights about each detected breed.
One of the standout features of this test is the health screening. It provides valuable information about potential genetic health risks and allows you to take proactive measures for your cat’s well-being.
3. Orivet – Individual Breed Testing
- 20+ individual tests designed for specific cat breeds
- Tests analyze traits and genetic conditions associated with your cat’s breed
- Health and DNA life plan test available with nutritional advice and health screening
- Results in 2-3 weeks
Orivet offers a selection of kits primarily tailored for breeders and veterinarians, but they are accessible to anyone interested in gaining insights into their cat’s breed, with no adverse consequences.
Their offerings encompass a diverse range of over 20 individual tests, each specifically designed for various cat breeds. If you already know your cat’s breed, you have the option to choose a kit precisely crafted for that specific breed, a unique feature of Orivet’s offerings. These kits are expertly designed to assess genetic traits and health conditions that pertain specifically to the selected breed.
In our review, we opted for the Sypnx Full Breed Profile kit, which impressively delivered a comprehensive report in just 2 weeks. The report provided an in-depth breakdown of the cat’s complete breed profile, encompassing six specific traits relevant to that breed and information about one significant genetic disease.
Furthermore, there was an opportunity to include an add-on test to screen for an additional disease pertinent to the breed, albeit at an extra cost of $50.
It’s worth noting that if your primary goal is simply to identify your cat’s breed, Orivet may not be the most suitable choice. Orivet truly shines when you already know your cat’s breed and wish to delve deeper into their distinctive characteristics and health conditions.
Alternatively, you can explore Orivet’s health DNA and life plan test, which examines a wide array of health conditions, provides insights into behavior, and even offers personalized food recommendations for your cat. However, it’s important to bear in mind that this test does not provide breed identification.
Assess Your Cat's Breed Profile with Orivet!
4. Optimal Selection – In-Depth Traits Reports for Breeders
- Assesses 20+ traits relating to coat types, blood types, morphology, and more
- Explores your cat’s genetic breed diversity
- Online portal comes with breeder tool to help you identify perfect matches
- Screens for 40+ health concerns
Optimal Selection is an especially good choice if you’re a cat breeder because it looks in-depth at traits and characteristics, as well as breed types, so you can see which characteristics their litter is likely to inherit. You can use the test for both pedigree and mixed-breed cats.
In our report, we received detailed information on over 20 traits including blood type, coat colors, coat types and patterns, and body features like short tail.
We also liked that you get information about genetic diversity. The report explained how our cat’s genes compared to the overall breed population and their diversity, which is useful information for breeders developing a breeding program.
The actual test was easy enough with just a quick saliva swab. And it only took 4 weeks to get our report which is quite quick. It’s all accessible from an online portal, which has some great features.
The online portal comes with a breeder tool that helps you identify potential matches, as well as tools to help you connect with other breeders around the world. This is perfect if you’re new to breeding or just want to make sure you avoid problems with your litters.
Your report also comes with genetic screening for 40+ health concerns, which includes everything from polycystic kidney disease, to Burmese head defect.
The only thing Optimal Selection doesn’t really give you is actionable advice about their lifestyle. It’s ideal for breeders, but not typical cat owners just looking for a little more information about their pet.
Get Cat Breed Testing with Optimal Selection!
What’s in the Fine Print?
You’ll be happy to know that the price you see is the price you pay with every kit on this list. I checked out all the terms and conditions to see if there were any hidden costs, but there were none to be found.
Each kit offers free shipping, and that includes both ways. With Basepaws, you only get free shipping in the US, though. International shipping costs you around $15 on top of the price of your test.
Your kit also comes with all the equipment and returns packaging you need, so you don’t have to cover that yourself either. The only exception is Orivet. You don’t have to pay any extra for your equipment but you still have to order your swab kit separately from your test, which is a bit unusual.
You also get free processing with every test. That means there are no extra costs incurred for testing your cat’s sample in the lab or producing the report.
How Accurate Are Cat Breed DNA Tests?
Cat breed DNA tests compare your cat’s DNA to specific genetic markers and their database to identify their breed type. Of course, the accuracy, therefore, depends on the genetic markers tested and the size of their database.
While there’s been extensive testing on humans and other pets like dogs, cats’ DNA hasn’t been tested quite as much. Aside from the fact there are only a handful of feline DNA tests available, much less is also known about cat’s DNA. Most cats aren’t purebreeds like dogs, either, which can make identifying their breed much more difficult.
That said, we have chosen the most accurate cat DNA breed tests available so you can rely on your results. Remember that there is always room for error, though, even in terms of collecting the sample.
What Does a Cat Breed DNA Test Tell You?
A cat DNA test can reveal various details, most notably your cat’s breed. Many of these tests can identify over 20 different breeds to give a precise breakdown of your cat’s genetic makeup. Some tests, like Basepaws, go beyond by offering wildcat indexes, showing which genes your cat shares with wild species such as lions and tigers, and how these genes affect your cat’s characteristics. Choosing a test that also provides health information can give you a fuller picture, including your cat’s risk for genetic diseases or potential to pass these on to future generations.
Best Cat Breed DNA Tests: Comparison Table
| Best Features | Sample Type | Free Shipping | Time to Results | Starting Price | |
| Basepaws | Assesses 21 breeds and wildcat index | Cheek swab | ✔ | 4-6 weeks | $159.00 |
| Wisdom Panel | Breed and health data | Cheek swab | ✔ | 4-6 weeks | $99.99 |
| Orivet | Individual tests tailored to specific breed types | Cheek swab | ✔ | 2-3 weeks | $67.50 |
| Optimal Selection | Determines a cat’s genetic breed diversity and online breeder finder | Cheek swab | ✔ | 4 weeks | $99.99 |
Get to Know Your Cat
A cat breed DNA test is one of the best ways you can uncover more about your cat’s genetic makeup.
Whether you’re just looking to see which breeds are in their DNA, which traits they have, or how you can get a healthy litter, there’s loads of information for you to discover.
The best choice and our #1 is Basepaws thanks to its comprehensive report and the fact it takes DNA testing that bit further with wildcat indexing and health screening.
If you’ve also got a canine in your household, why not test their DNA too? We’ve rounded up the best DNA tests for dogs to get all the answers you need.
FAQs
How do you do a cat breed DNA test?
Taking your cat’s DNA is really easy. Most cat breed DNA tests only require a simple cheek swab which takes less than 30 seconds to do. Usually, kits come with two swabs.
How much is a cat breed DNA test?
The price of your kit varies, usually depending on what you want to find out, but most of the time they’re around $100.
Basepaws is the best cat breed DNA test and it costs $149, so it’s a bit more expensive than other options, but you do get lots of information for that price. And there are plenty of ways to save money through coupons and discounts, plus you can pay in installments.
What does my cat breed DNA test report include?
That depends on what kit you buy. Most of the time, your report includes your cat’s breed type, their traits and characteristics, and other features like blood type.
With some tests like Basepaws, you get extra information such as how their DNA compares to wildcats. A lot of reports also include health risk screening, so they report on your cat’s risk of developing certain genetic diseases.
