How Do Cat DNA Tests Work? Everything You Should Know!
Barry K Buttler Mar 26, 2023 8:31 AM
Not that long ago, DNA testing was practically unheard of, even for humans. Today, we may obtain knowledge about our ancestry that stretches back many more years than our last known living ancestor.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that we can now perform DNA testing to cats. So, how do cat DNA testing actually work?
What can we learn from subjecting our cats to such tests? Let's investigate the responses to these questions in "How Do Cat DNA Tests Work? Everything You Should Know!" by BestForPets (bestforpets.org).
A cat DNA test operates similarly to ours, but with greater restrictions. There is far more human DNA stored in databases worldwide than cat DNA.
This means that additional comparisons and lessons may be gained while dealing with human DNA. The procedure entails comparing the DNA genomes extracted from your cat to those in the database system of the testing business with whom you are working.
Only information included in the testing company's database can be extracted. Consequently, if you are dealing with a firm that has just 1,000 DNA samples from cats in its database, only those samples may be compared to your cat's DNA. If the breeds that make up your cat are not in the database, the test results will likely provide little information.
If just a small number of genetic health concerns are recorded in the database, you may be unaware of hereditary abnormalities that might be passed on to your cat and for which you should be on the lookout.
Fortunately, many DNA firms have access to millions of DNA samples against which your cat's DNA may be compared, so you can receive tremendous information about your cat's general composition.
Cat DNA testing are often conducted at home, however certain veterinarians and feline healthcare experts may administer the tests at their clinics.
The testing procedure often entails obtaining a saliva sample from your cat using a swab. The saliva sample is then placed in a plastic pouch that may be sealed and enclosed in a mailable envelope.
The sample is subsequently sent to the testing laboratory. The saliva sample is compared to all of the other samples in the testing company's database in order to obtain crucial information about your cat.
Once the findings have been determined, you may expect to receive them through snail mail, email, or both.
By performing a DNA test to your cat, you might be able to discover a few things. First, it can assist you determine the breeds that comprise your cat.
You may not be able to pinpoint the precise breed of your cat or whether it is a purebred, but you should be able to discover how many distinct breeds are found in the DNA and what those breeds are. You may also be able to ascertain the following information:
- The genetic similarity between your cat and wildcats
- Any hereditary diseases widespread in your cat's ancestry
- Possible characteristics inherited from family members
You cannot expect to gain particular information about your cat's ancestry from a DNA test in the same way that you can from your own. This is because humans have far more DNA information saved in databases than cats.
DNA testing for cats are relatively new to the market, but they can provide significant information that allows you to understand more about your cat than you can simply by living with it.
These tests are generally inexpensive and simple to conduct, and they often come with a guarantee that gives you confidence that the information you obtain is reliable.
"How Do Cat DNA Tests Work? Everything You Should Know!" by BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has hopefully been helpful for you in case you are planning to get your cat a DNA test.
