An at-home cat or dog DNA test kit promises to give pet owners clarity on a heap of important health data, like breed ancestry, blood type, and health risks. To access this info, owners just swab the inside of their pet’s mouth, seal the sample in a prepaid-postage envelope, and wait (for up to five weeks) for results to be sent to their inbox. Each company has a testing lab, and the results live in your online account, where they can be downloaded and even shared with your vet.
But because of several factors, such as sample size and comparison, these tests often give dramatically different results for things like genetic ancestry and breed traits (more on that below).
I tested several at-home DNA test kits, including two of the most popular kits—Basepaws ($104) and Wisdom Panel ($97)—on my two adult cats and talked to several animal experts to get insights into these tests—and whether they are worth your money, given the large disparity in results. Think of this as the WIRED guide to the increasingly popular at-home pet DNA test.
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Easiest Interface
| Breed | Health Test | Trait Test | Blood Type/Transfusion Risk | Oral Health Report | Family Tree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisdom Panel (Cat) | Screens for 70+ breeds and populations | Tests for 45+ genetic health conditions | Test for 25+ physical traits | Yes | No | Yes |
In my research, I’ve found that people widely consider Wisdom Panel the most trusted at-home pet DNA test kit (along with dog-only Embark, which former WIRED reviewer Julia Forbes tested below).
Wisdom Panel offers several kits for dogs (listed below) but only one test for cats. It can identify more than 70 breeds, includes 45 health tests, determines blood type, and screens for more than 25 traits. It even provides a genetic consult for “at-risk” health findings and shows what the pet’s family tree might look like based on DNA results. I especially liked that it tests for the most common conditions seen in cats or dogs with a similar breed makeup to your pet (based on the DNA sample), including important markers like drug sensitivity, immune deficiency, and bleeding disorders. It also identified the cat’s blood type (both of my cats were A) and transfusion risk (both were moderate).
The results arrived live online in my Wisdom Panel account within three weeks of mailing them. I really appreciated the interface, which was organized into clickable tabs that made the information easier to access and navigate. Plus, based on appearance alone, my cat Clover’s DNA results seemed most accurate with this test (below). I also tested my run-of-the-mill gray tabby cat, Basil, but on all tests—including Wisdom Panel—he was almost entirely labeled as an “American domestic cat” and “polycat/domestic shorthair.” That’s basically the mutt final boss, a result of many generations of mixed breeding among different cat types, where ancestry and origin are almost impossible to determine.
| Clover’s Wisdom Panel Results |
|---|
| American domestic cat: 51 percent |
| Highlander: 13 percent |
| Norwegian Forest Cat: 13 percent |
| Siamese and Oriental: 13 percent |
| LaPerm: 10 percent |
Most In-Depth Results
| Breed | Health Test | Trait Test | Blood Type/Transfusion Risk | Oral Health Report | Family Tree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basepaws (Cat) | Tests against 21 breeds | Tests for 64 genetic health markers | Tests for 50 genetic trait markers | Yes | Yes | No |
WIRED reviewed Basepaws over half a decade ago, and a lot has changed since then. Basepaws offers a single breed and health test for cats that identifies up to 21 breeds, 64 genetic health markers, 50 genetic trait markers, blood type, and oral health. The wait time for results is five weeks, and when I first sent my cat Basil’s test in, they couldn’t extract enough DNA, so I had to send another sample and wait another five weeks. Rather than an easily digestible interactive screen with information like Wisdom Panel, Basepaws gives you essentially a mini book PDF to scroll through to find information. It feels more in-depth than Wisdom Panel, but it is also harder to disseminate the large pile of information.
Basepaws tests genes for markers associated with disorders in musculoskeletal and connective tissue; eyes; metabolic, autoimmune, and endocrine systems; blood; and more. Both of my cats, Clover and Basil, were cleared of any genes that would mark them as potential carriers of genetic diseases. It also identified blood type and transfusion risk, which were A and moderate (the same results I got with Wisdom Panel’s test).
Basepaws tests for oral health by comparing against an oral microbiome database. In this regard, Basepaws wins out. Dental health is a major concern for me, and I love that Basepaws screens for it and provides an oral health report (I have since started brushing my cats’ teeth). My cat Basil was at high risk for all dental markers like halitosis, tooth resorption, and periodontal disease. Basepaws developed a health plan for him: “Adopt a daily oral health care routine, consider supplementing Basil’s routine with products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian in the next month.” Although I was alarmed by the results, I appreciated that Basepaws provided recommended next steps so I could develop a plan of action for care. And it’s important to remember that these results don’t necessarily mean a pet is guaranteed to develop the disease.
“These can be a helpful flag for your veterinarian to keep an eye on […] but do not necessarily mean aggressive testing is needed at that moment,” says Jamie Richardson, head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary. “DNA tests are tools to support—not replace—veterinary care.”
Some of the other Basepaws results, particularly the genetic and physical markers, seem off. Like Wisdom Panel, white calico Clover was marked as “likely” to be black in color, and none of the ancestral DNA breeds matched across tests for Clover.
| Clover’s Basepaws Results |
|---|
| Polycat (domestic shorthair): 20.61 percent |
| Broadly Western: 16.91 percent |
| American Shorthair: 14.45 percent |
| Maine coon: 12.27 percent |
| Ragdoll: 11.8 percent |
| Persian: 6.99 percent |
| Siberian: 6.2 percent |
| Abyssinian: 5.62 percent |
| Burmese: 3.07 percent |
| Savannah: 2.08 percent |
Another Cat DNA Test Kit I Tested
| Breed | Health Test | Trait Test | Blood Type/Transfusion Risk | Oral Health Report | Family Tree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koko Genetics | Yes; tests against an unspecified number | Tests for 55 genetic health markers | Tests for 40 traits | No | No | Yes |
Koko Genetics was a new name to me, but it offers a similar service to the two major brands above, with tests for both cats and dogs in “starter” basic and “advanced” kits. I tested the latter, which provides additional health insights by screening for genetic disorders or abnormalities. The process is exactly the same as with the other kits, where you swab your cat’s mouth, register your kit online, and mail the results. The Koko Genetics interface wouldn’t allow me to register two kits with different cats under the same login/username, so I had to create two separate accounts with two different emails, which was a slight pain. The results also took surprisingly long—it took over five weeks from mailing to being acknowledged as received, and an additional five weeks to get results.
This interface was the least user-friendly of all I tested, and many of the default options were in Spanish with no English options. The site where you access results is a little bare-bones, with additional information available if you click the tab. I found that much of the health trait info was scientific jargon, and I had to do further research to understand it. Clover was flagged as having a copy of the Acute Intermittent Porphyria (Variant 3) gene mutation, which can cause discolored teeth and urine and may lead to other health problems. Luckily, Clover has just one copy of the mutation and will not develop the disease, but she can transmit the mutation to her offspring. (She’s spayed, so that is not a potential issue.) Wisdom Panel also tests for this, and she was not flagged as carrying it in that test.
Both cats were negative for all physical traits except black coat (which neither has), and I didn’t find the info really helpful or interesting. There’s also a family tree option, like Wisdom Panel’s, where you can see what the previous generations’ breed or coloring might’ve been.
| Clover’s Koko Genetics Results |
|---|
| Domestic cat: 59.5 percent |
| Sphynx: 8.8 percent |
| Turkish Van: 6.6 percent |
| Maine Coon: 6.3 percent |
| LaPerm: 5.7 percent |
| Munchkin cat: 4.6 percent |
| Norwegian Forest Cat: 4.4 percent |
| Chartreux: 4.1 percent |
Best Dog DNA Test Kit
| Breed | Health Test | Trait Test | Blood Type/Transfusion Risk | Oral Health Report | Family Tree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embark Dog | Tests against over 400 breeds | No | No; results for likely personality traits rather than physical | No | No | Yes |
One of my family’s favorite pastimes is placing low-stakes bets on the breeds that make up our beloved rescue dogs. Usually we’re wildly off with our estimates. For my dog Randy, all we knew was that he was a Chihuahua mix. The Embark DNA kit is the dog equivalent of Ancestry DNA for humans, given how detailed it is. The test kit uses a saliva sample, and you ship it off for processing. Within three weeks, we found out Randy had quite the cocker spaniel lineage, with show-dog cousins across the country (Princess Elysia of Eagle’s Wings’ parents, if you’re reading this, hello!).
The Embark app gives detailed breakdowns of behavioral, health, and longevity insights for the breeds that make up your pup. His personality analysis shows he’s closely aligned with his cocker spaniel roots, always on the lookout (check), sometimes high-energy (check), and rarely independent (spot on). —Julia Forbes
The kits below are also specifically for dogs from Basepaws and Wisdom Panel, two companies I’ve tested on my cats.
How Does a DNA Test Kit Work?
Pet DNA tests rely on pet owners collecting cells via a cheek swab, then placing the sample in a sealed stabilizing or preserving fluid for transit. You’ll mail the sample back to the lab in the prepaid envelope. It usually takes about five weeks to get results. (The first time I sent my cat Basil’s Basepaws sample, the company emailed that the results were inconclusive, and I had to wait for another kit to be sent, re-swab him, and wait another five weeks for results.)
At the lab, the sample is analyzed against the company’s breed and genetic health database. They use single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays—the standard technology for identifying breed ancestry—as well as data on inherited traits and the risk of common diseases. Essentially, different breeds have distinct patterns of SNPs in their genomes, which serve as genetic markers. These tests analyze the pet’s DNA sample for specific SNPs and then compare them to the company’s existing database to estimate the animal’s breed composition. This not only tells you about breed composition, but can also identify the specific DNA sequences that are markers for potential health risks, such as predispositions to diseases or hereditary cancers.
Don’t take the health or DNA test results as absolute truth, however. “This can lead to a false sense of security or false alarms,” says veterinarian Amanda Chambers. Forward your results to your veterinarian and always follow up by scheduling a visit to the vet if your pet is marked as a carrier for any genetic disease.
What the Results Can—and Can’t—Tell You
After chatting with Richardson, I’ve found that these are the major areas of limitation with at-home DNA test kits:
- Results depend on the size/diversity of the genetic database
- Most kits test known markers only—not full genomes
- Feline data is less developed
- Misinterpretation of results can lead to unnecessary concern
Wisdom Panel claims its cat breed results are over 98 percent accurate and its dog tests are over 99 percent accurate. However, there’s a huge disparity between the three kits I tested on my cats, particularly in breed ancestry. One problem with the vast disparity in results is that the three companies use different sample sizes and metrics to identify breeds.
But the biggest issue for cat owners taking these at-home DNA tests is that you can’t really identify most cats’ breeds the way you can with dogs. Unless your cat is a purebred, about 95 percent of cats don’t belong to a recognized breed. Cats’ genetic backgrounds are muddied—they’re just similar mixes with different physical characteristics, so the tests only show the breed(s) they share the most markers with. Basically, these tests for cats aren’t able to reliably tell us about breed composition, just similarity to other breeds’ traits in the company’s data pool.
From my research, it seems the breed identification part of these tests is more accurate for dogs, as dog DNA is so much more diversified. Breeds have been clearly defined after centuries of diversification, and dog DNA mutates quickly, with genes changing after just a few generations. Cats are not much different from their Egyptian ancestors.
Interestingly, in a 2023 CBS report, the news organization sent dog and human DNA to different at-home test companies and received varying results, with the dog’s DNA ranging from 65 to only 29 percent German Shepherd. The human DNA results were attributed to a bulldog, border collie, and cane corso mix.
In summation, unfortunately, there isn’t a single catchall way to determine a pet’s genetic makeup or ancestry. Humans like categories, and breeds are essentially human constructs based on how a dog or cat looks. The genetic part of the test is fun, but take it with a grain of salt—especially with cats.
A Note on At-Home Allergy Testing Kits
I recently tested both of my cats for allergies and intolerances using a similar at-home test kit, the 5Strands Pet Food & Environmental Intolerance Test, for $100. For this, you only need to send a fur sample in the mail to a lab; results were sent to my inbox within seven days. The report showed that both of my cats had strong intolerances to common ingredients in their diet, such as various types of fish and chicken meal. This sent me into a panic about my cats’ health and (dis)comfort.
After further research, I learned that hair/fur samples are not an accurate way to measure allergies and intolerances. Studies show that kits claiming to provide these results perform no better than chance and often produce inconsistent or false results.
“There’s no scientific evidence to support allergy testing through hair, fur, or saliva,” says Richardson. “Veterinarian-supervised elimination diets to test for food allergy and intradermal skin testing or blood tests to test for environmental allergies remain the gold standard.”
So, save your money and consult a vet instead if you suspect your pet is suffering from allergies or intolerances.
Meet the Experts
- Amanda Chambers is a full-time small animal general practitioner based in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Jamie Richardson is head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: wired.com
