Feline DNA Testing
You may know that DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the blueprint for each and every organism on the planet Earth. From fish and worms to men and women, we are all made up of DNA. Even cats can thank their DNA for their large eyes, silky coats, and carnivorous appetite. But DNA can affect more than what your feline companion looks like. It can affect everything from their temperament to future health problems. Having a feline DNA test can help you and your precious pet get to know one another, and let you know what you should be prepared for in the future.
The first benefit of feline DNA testing is to determine your cat’s true breed. Many people claim to have partially pure breed cats, and some breeders sell kittens without guaranteeing their true breed. Confirming the genetic heritage of your cat can lead to interesting outcomes, often allowing you to see hidden traits from other breeds that you may have missed before. If you are a breeder of kittens and are not selling to the pedigree circuit, you may be able to DNA test the litter’s parents. Having the mother and father’s DNA files will allow you to better market and categorize the kittens, and help to educate their new owners for future generations of cats.
Another important reason to have your cat’s DNA tested is to determine their chances for certain diseases or other issues that may appear later in their life. Polycystic kidney disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Burmese GM2 Gangliosidosis, and Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV can all be detected by a feline DNA test. Many of these diseases are fatal for cats later in their lives, but can be aided by early detection and prevention. In some cases, early neutering or spaying operations can help to eradicate certain genetic disorders by removing them from the gene pool altogether. Other issues may come to light when discovering your pet’s DNA, such as dietary requirements or other necessary steps to help your cat live its longest and healthiest life.
A feline DNA test usually costs between 85 and 120 dollars, depending on the independent company that you choose to use. These options may seem costly up front, but they only have to be done once in your cat’s lifetime to provide accurate and useful answers for your cat’s entire life. Normally the cat’s DNA is collected through easy to handle and sterile cheek swabs. The collection procedure is completely painless and extremely simple. First, you must ensure that your cat has not eaten or drank anything in the past fifteen minutes. Then remove the sterile swab from its packaging and swab your cat’s inner cheek for five seconds. Next place the swab back into its envelope and label it according to your pet’s name. Some feline DNA tests come wth two swabs, if yours is one of these double step products you must perform the previous steps again for the other cheeks. Then you mail out your set and wait for your reply.
Check out out reviews of Feline DNA Testing Sites for more details about specific tests and sites.