Basepaw Cat DNA Kits Uses and Usage Guide

December 6, 2022June 24, 2024 Agric4Profits

We might not currently have the best cat DNA kits if it weren’t for Basepaws. Cats’ DNA is examined for traits, ancestry, and disease risks by the genetic testing business Basepaws.

CEO Anna Skaya founded Basepaws, a consumer genetics business for cats, in 2016. Basepaws’ objective is to provide ancestry (breed) information and to screen for genetic mutations that could increase the risk of disease, similar to human DNA testing.

Basepaws offers direct-to-consumer cat DNA sequencing and bills itself as the industry’s pioneer in this field. On the television program Shark Tank in 2016, two investors gave it money to grow its company. Currently, Basepaws is situated in El Segundo, California, in the United States.

Data collection makes up a sizable portion of its business strategy, and it plans to use this information to create future products like pet food and coaching services for pet health.

A business that focuses on the health and genetics of cats is called Basepaws. To find out more about your cat’s ancestry and health, they sell test kits that analyze its DNA. Their signature item, the Breed + Health Cat DNA Test, aids cat owners in learning about the breed, health, traits, and habits of their feline companions.

It can be used to assist owners in making knowledgeable decisions about the health of their furry child. Additionally, they provide a feline dental health test kit that screens for the majority of serious dental issues that are common in cats without the need for anesthesia.

This examination examines the microbes in your cat’s mouth to look for disease signs that aren’t yet obvious to the naked eye.

For cat owners and their pets, Basepaws offers genetic testing services. Basepaw can sequence your cat’s DNA from a straightforward cheek swab, similar to many human services. Basepaws claims that by studying your cat’s genetic data, it can:

Determine your cat’s breed, traits, and ancestry; and
Screen your cat for potential health issues.

Information about the breed and its health is divided into a number of categories.

By comparing your cat’s genetic data to that of well-known breeds, Basepaws can provide you with information about its genetic background and ancestry. It can categorize the breed of your cat into groups like American shorthair, Maine Coon, etc.

You can use this information to find out what possible breed combinations your cat may have. It also enables you to determine which species of wild cat your cat most closely resembles (cheetah, cougar, leopard, or tiger).

Your cat’s genetic makeup will remain unchanged. However, the interpretation of the data may change as we learn more about cats. Your cat’s report is automatically updated as new breed-based data is added to Basepaws’ database.

Health information: By knowing your cat’s breed, you can determine whether they are genetically predisposed to any diseases.

Many cat owners and veterinarians attempt to identify cat breed using physical traits without performing a DNA test. Since most cats are mixed breeds with genetic resemblances to multiple breeds, making this determination can be difficult.

By examining the DNA and genetic markers of your cat, Basepaws examines the genes that are connected to specific diseases. A genetic marker report that details your cat’s specific health is produced from this. Making better health decisions is possible with the knowledge of this information.

Basepaw knowledge of feline health is constantly expanding, just like the breed information. Your cat’s report is updated as Basepaws learns more about the genetics of felines through the Breed + Health Test and Full Genome Test.

Basepaw provides three services, each with a different cost. The Whole Genome tier comes with every feature of Breed + Health services. A screening called the Dental Health Test looks for potential dental issues that could be harmful to your cat’s health.

The newest item from Basepaws is the Oral Health Test. The active stages of periodontal disease, tooth resorption, and bad breath are all detected by this test. Basepaws advises routine testing because food, liquids, and other outside factors can change.

You might want to compare prices with other businesses that offer pet DNA testing services. The cost of genetic sequencing is decreasing, making consumer testing more accessible and widespread. The availability of this technology is expanding, which gives businesses more chances to provide distinctive services.

Basepaws analyzes human DNA using the same genetic testing methods as other businesses. Only a few studies have contributed to the field of feline genetics, which is largely dominated by research on the human genome.

Despite the fact that there may not be much knowledge about the feline genome, Basepaws regularly updates its reports.

Online registration for your cat’s DNA kit is the first step. When a sample arrives at the lab, registration enables the lab to determine which one belongs to your cat.

The next step is to gather a sample from your cat. Basepaws uses the same cheek swab technique as Nebula Genomics to extract it from saliva in your cat’s mouth. Although this is one of the best methods for collecting a DNA sample, not all cats will be enthusiastic about taking part.

Once you have obtained a sample from your cat, Basepaws will pay for return shipping to send it back to you. Your report should then be prepared in a few weeks after that (advertised 4-6 weeks).

Breed Claims:

Basepaw Cat DNA Kits Uses and Usage Guide — Basepaws Cat

Cat owners are aware that every cat in the world is different (especially theirs). Given the genetic similarity of all cats, four basic breed groups can be established based on traits. Western, Eastern, Persian, and exotic are these groups.

Additionally, these four main groups are further broken down into distinct breeds like Burmese, Ragdoll, Himalayan, and Egyptian Mau.

A domestic cat is unlikely to fit completely into any of these categories. The majority of cats will typically be a mixture of all four.

Moreover, a customized Chromosome Map is included in the breed report. Cats have 18 autosomal (non-sex related) chromosome pairs in addition to one sex chromosome.

Basepaws analyzes particular chromosomal regions and compares them to various breeds and breed groups. Similar genomic regions are noted as suggesting a link rather than necessarily proving ancestry or pedigree.

Your cat is classified by Basepaws as Clear, Carrier, At Risk, or At High Risk. Some pet owners find comfort in knowing their pet has a lower risk of contracting an unexpected illness. If any of these disease markers come back showing an increased likelihood of a disease, the company advises you to consult a veterinarian.

Kidney Polycystic Disease

The most prevalent genetic disease in cats is polycystic kidney disease. Small fluid-filled cysts that form in the kidney as a result of this PKD eventually cause kidney failure.

Similarly, the capability of Nebula Genomics to sequence your entire genome distinguishes them from other providers of human DNA testing.

Common DNA tests only sequence a small portion of genetic material, which typically corresponds to the regions we are most familiar with. But the vast majority of your genome is ignored by this.

Basepaws offers complete genetic sequencing to the cat community, much like Nebula Genomics does for humans. It is unclear how this additional data can be used in the latter case, however, due to the lack of studies on the entire cat genome. However, as Basepaws learns more about these areas, it plans to update its customers’ reports.