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This Exists: DNA Tests for Cats

Now you can verify your cat's lineage

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 27, 2012 1:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – Do you have a burning desire to know your cat's ancestry? Are you dying to know if she's really a pure Abyssinian or if the guy at the pet store ripped you off? Well, now you can. Lyons Feline Genetics Laboratory at the University of California now offers cat genome tests that can determine what part of the globe your furry pal's family hails from, whether her parents belonged to one of the 29 "fancy breeds," and more, Wired reports.

Once the lab sends you your kit, all you need to do is swab your cat's back cheek. Within 15 days you'll have a 90% accurate report. But don't get too excited; if your cat isn't particularly well bred, odds are the test won't come up with much. "A true random bred cat will not match to specific breeds," the lab warns.

Where did she get that eye? A good DNA test might be able to tell you.
Where did she get that eye? A good DNA test might be able to tell you.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
fancygapva
Jul 27, 2012 11:24 PM CDT
I had a mutant white cat like the one pictured. One blue eye and one brown and ALL white hair all over everything. I loved her but she was crazy and my legs were scratched up for the entire 12 years she lived.
OuttaHere
Jul 27, 2012 3:06 PM CDT
Read the fine print on the kit. It says "don't try this at home with a live cat."
LoginsSuck
Jul 27, 2012 2:43 PM CDT
Ummm, just try to get a DNA sample from the inside of my cats mouth with that swab and you will know for sure what he is made of. 
 

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