5 Best Cat DNA Tests – 2025 Reviews and Top Picks
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Most DNA tests on the market seem to be made for dogs, but cats deserve equal time, too, and while not as common as canine kits, there are some feline DNA tests for cat owners to use.
At-home pet DNA tests help owners determine their pets’ breed ancestry and health conditions. Like human DNA tests, you collect a sample and send it in the mail to a lab to get your results.
In this article, we’ll discuss the best cat DNA tests available, and after the reviews, you can check out the buyer’s guide for more tips.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2025
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Basepaws Breed + Health DNA Test for Cats |
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Best Value
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Orivet Health Condition Identification DNA Test for Cats |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice
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Wisdom Panel Cat DNA Test |
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Check Price |
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5Strands Pet Health Test |
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Check Price | |
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5Strands Food Intolerance & Allergy Testing |
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Check Price |
The 5 Best Cat DNA Tests
1. Basepaws Breed + Health DNA Test for Cats – Best Overall
| Test method: | Cheek swab |
| Breeds: | 4 breed groups, 21 individual breeds, lifetime breed report updates as more are added |
| Health conditions: | 38 gene mutations, 16 feline health conditions |
Our pick for the best overall cat DNA test is the Basepaws Breed + Health kit. It includes several cat breeds and breed groups, and the company will send updates as more are added in the future.
It also identifies genetic health conditions like polycystic kidney disease (PKD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), retinal degeneration, and myotonia.
- Many breeds and health issues covered
- 10-second cheek swab
- Lifetime breed report updates
- Long wait time for test results
- Not all breeds and health conditions are available
2. Orivet Health Condition Identification DNA Test for Cats – Best Value
| Test method: | Cheek swab |
| Breeds: | None |
| Health conditions: | 17 genetic diseases and 13 genetic traits |
Our pick for the best cat DNA test for the money is the Orivet Health Condition Identification test kit for cats. It is not a breed test but a good choice when health and other genetic traits are your main concerns. For some of the diseases and traits, you will need to know your cat’s breed. It tests for traits like coat type and color, blood group, and polydactylism.
- Economical
- Includes health and trait testing
- Includes a personalized life plan for your cat
- Not a breed test
3. Wisdom Panel: Cat DNA Test for Comprehensive Health, Traits, Breed, and Ancestry – Premium Choice
| Test method: | Cheek swab |
| Breeds: | Over 70 breeds and populations |
| Health conditions: | 45 genetic diseases and 25 genetic traits |
Our premium choice is the Wisdom Panel test because it contains the most comprehensive selection of tests available in one kit. The company references the world’s largest cat breed database for accuracy.
You can consult their veterinarians about health conditions at no additional charge. Wisdom Panel also traces your cat’s ancestry back to their great-grandparents’ generation and provides you with a family tree.
- Includes testing for breed, health, and traits
- Also includes ancestry and blood type testing
- This test kit can be difficult to find in stock
4. 5Strands Pet Health Test
| Test method: | Hair sample |
| Breeds: | None |
| Health conditions: | Nutritional and environmental intolerances |
This 5Strands testing kit gives cat (and dog) owners a lot of health information. While it’s not a breed test, 5Strands tests for 460 health items. The health issues are grouped under the categories of food intolerance, environmental intolerance, nutrition, and minerals. You’ll learn your cat’s sensitivities and how well your cat absorbs nutrients.
- Tests for 460 nutritional and environmental items
- Fast test processing time
- Does not test for breed
- Does not test for other genetic health issues
5. 5Strands Food Intolerance Testing & Allergy Testing for Dogs, Cats & Horses
| Test method: | Hair sample |
| Breeds: | None |
| Health conditions: | Tests for 355 food and environmental intolerances |
While not a breed test or a genetic health test for heart, kidney, and other inheritable feline diseases, this test is useful if you are concerned about food and environmental allergies and sensitivities. Besides foods, it also tests for sensitivity to things like mold, chemicals, and other pets’ dander.
- Tests for 355 food and environmental items
- Fast test processing time
- Does not test for breed
- Does not test for other genetic health issues
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat DNA Test
Dogs are a little ahead of cats in terms of how many breeds can be identified through DNA testing, but cat owners can discover the genetic makeup of their feline friends.
Identifying genetic health issues in pets is another good reason for DNA testing. Cats are a little behind dogs in that department, but a test still allows you to identify some critical inherited health conditions in your cat.
What Are The Benefits of Doing a DNA Test on a Cat?
With advances in genetic science, at-home DNA testing for our pets is becoming as popular as human genetic and genealogical testing. Cat owners can learn several things with DNA tests. You can learn about the different breeds that went into your cat, inherited traits like coat markings, genetic diseases that might be common to a breed, and any allergies or intolerances your cat may have.
As dog owners have learned, sometimes their dog’s breed ancestry differs greatly from what they thought. The same is true for cats. You always thought your large, fluffy cat was a Maine Coon? You might be surprised to learn they’re a Norwegian Forest Cat instead.
You can also learn more about the genetics of coat color, length, and texture, and there’s testing for other physical traits (like folded ears) you might be interested in.
Precursor to Health Conditions
Of course, testing for genetic health problems is vital for cat breeders and cat owners. Some health conditions are common in breeds or groups of breeds.
Diseases that affect the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system can be identified. There are also tests for other diseases like metabolic disorders.
Hair Sample vs Cheek Swab
Most genetic health tests are performed with a cheek swab, but other tests use hair samples.
The hair sample tests help identify allergies or intolerances. A test can make it easier to pinpoint why your cat might be losing hair or experiencing digestive or skin problems.
Some of the allergy kits can test for hundreds of possible sensitivities in your cat, which is impressive. Besides at-home test kits, some veterinary school genetic labs also offer DNA testing for cats.
Other Reasons
Did you know you and your cat can help researchers learn more about feline genetics? The Feline Genome Project at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine’s Feline Genetics Lab is interested in collecting samples from all kinds of cats to help them research inherited diseases and traits of the domestic cat.
Whether you want to satisfy your curiosity, learn more about inherited health conditions, or contribute to research, there’s a DNA test for your cat!
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to get an at-home DNA test kit for your cat? You’ll see that there are fewer choices for cats than for dogs on the market, but there are still high-quality tests for cats. Here’s a quick summary of our reviews. We like the Basepaws and Wisdom Panel Cat DNA tests because they provide the genetic testing most cat owners are interested in.
The Basepaws test covers both breed identification and genetic health. The Wisdom Panel kit has health and breed tests and a few extra ones, like coat type, color, and other interesting genetic traits.
Both are good choices for cat owners who are curious about breeds and concerned about health.
- See Also: How Much Does A Cat DNA Test Cost?
Featured Image Credit: Simone Hogan, Shutterstock
