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.
- 5Strands – Find out your cat’s exact breed and if they have a predisposition for diseases.
- EasyDNA– Quick and detailed results on your cat’s health and breed.
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. 5Strands — Test Your Cat For Allergies and Get Fast Results
- Tests for over 800 food and environmental allergies
- Determines how well your cat is absorbing key nutrients from its foods
- Metal and minerals test analyzes toxins that lead to imbalances
- Speedy results in just 8 working days
5Strands offers a range of at-home testing services designed to provide insights into potential imbalances and intolerances in cats. The company uses bioresonance technology to analyze hair samples, which is a non-invasive and simple method for uncovering how your cat’s body may react to various environmental and dietary factors.
Pet owners can easily collect a hair sample from their cat at home and send it to the company for analysis. Within about a week, the results are made available online, providing detailed information on possible intolerances and imbalances related to food, environmental factors, and even nutrients and minerals. These insights can help pet owners make informed decisions about their cat’s diet and overall lifestyle, potentially improving the animal’s health and well-being.
The service is user-friendly, accessible, and designed to empower pet owners with the information they need to make better health decisions for their animals. While it doesn’t replace veterinary care, it can be a valuable tool for identifying factors that may contribute to a pet’s discomfort or health challenges.
4. EasyDNA — Quick Results and User-Friendly Sample Collection
- Uncovers your cat’s traits including blood type, coat color and more
- Health focused testing
- Simple, easy process to get a sample
- Regular new breed and health information as the database is updated
EasyDNA offers a diverse and detailed array of DNA testing services for cats, designed to provide pet owners with invaluable insights into their feline companions’ genetic makeup.
For cat owners, EasyDNA’s services are particularly valuable in uncovering the mysteries of their pet’s ancestry and genetic health. Most domestic cats are not purebred, making it difficult to know their full genetic history without testing. EasyDNA’s cat DNA tests help bridge this gap by identifying the specific breeds and breed groups present in your cat’s genetic makeup. This can explain various personality traits and behaviors unique to your cat, as well as provide a deeper understanding of their overall lineage.
Moreover, EasyDNA’s cat DNA tests can screen for genetic mutations and predispositions to certain health conditions. This is particularly useful for anticipating potential health issues such as dental diseases, which are common in cats. By understanding these risks early on, cat owners can take preventative measures in consultation with their veterinarians to ensure their pets maintain optimal health throughout their lives.
What’s in the Fine Print?
Rest assured, what you see is what you get with each kit featured on this list. I meticulously reviewed all the terms and conditions to uncover any hidden fees, but none were lurking.
Every kit includes complimentary shipping, covering both the outbound and return journeys. However, it’s worth noting that with Basepaws, free shipping is restricted to the US; for international orders, there’s an additional charge of approximately $15 on top of the test price.
Furthermore, your kit arrives complete with all necessary equipment and return packaging, sparing you the expense of acquiring these items separately. The only exception is Orivet, where although the equipment is included, you must separately order your swab kit, which deviates slightly from the norm.
Additionally, processing fees are waived for every test. This means there are no extra charges for analyzing your cat’s sample in the laboratory or generating 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 |
| 5Strands | Fast results + testing for more than 800 allergies | Hair sample | ✔ | 1-2 weeks | $144.00 |
| EasyDNA | Test for genetic mutations and predispositions | Cheek swab | ✔ | 4 weeks | $169.00 |
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.
