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I don’t know about you, but I have always found the subject of genetics to be fascinating. While you have probably heard a thing or two about human DNA, you may not know much about cat genetics. That’s right, we’re going to share fun facts about cat DNA. But first, let’s start with the basics.
According to Genome.gov, DNA is the chemical name for the molecule that carries genetic instructions in all living things. It is a remarkably simple structure consisting of two strands that wind around one another to form a shape known as a double helix. Each DNA strand contains genes, which carry information needed to specify traits. A cat’s DNA contains more than 20,000 genes. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, scientists have been able to learn a lot of interesting things about our feline friends.
Before we get into the list, we want to thank this blog post’s sponsor: Basepaws. You’ve probably heard of DNA tests for people. Perhaps you have even done one yourself! But did you know that it’s also possible to have your cat’s DNA tested? Yes, it’s really a thing! What a time to be alive, right? Basepaws offers an at-home cat DNA test. At the end of this article, we’ll tell you all about their service. Now, let’s dive into 10 fun facts about cat genetics.
10 Cat DNA Facts
1. Cats and Humans are Genetically Similar
Cats and humans are more alike than you think. Believe it or not, cats have 90.2% of their DNA in common with humans! Genetically speaking, cats are closer to humans than dogs, who have around 84% of their DNA in common with us. With this in mind, it should also be no surprise that studying these similarities can potentially help researchers treat or even cure diseases. This is because cats can suffer from many of the same diseases as humans, one of which is Polycystic Kidney disease. Discovering the right treatment for a disease in cats can give scientists clues to treat the same disease in humans. Talk about a win-win!
2. Cats Have 38 Chromosomes… Most of the Time
Obviously, cats and humans are not similar in every way. While cats have 19 pairs of chromosomes (making that 38 chromosomes), humans have 23 pairs (46 chromosomes). But what’s interesting is that some cats, like the Ocelot, have 36 Chromosomes instead of 38. So, what happens when a 36-er mates with a 38-er? The Offspring ends up with 37 chromosomes. However, if a cat with 37 chromosomes is male, he will likely be sterile.
3. All Domestic Cats Share the Same Ancestor
It’s no secret that domesticated cats descended from wild cats. But what’s really interesting is that all living domestic cats are believed to share the same ancestor: the African Wildcat. Scientists were able to make this conclusion by analyzing ancient feline DNA. Some of this genetic material came from mummified cats in Egypt, and it just so happens that the African Wildcat was the most common species among these feline remains.
With this evidence, scientists were also able to theorize that the African Wildcat was first domesticated 9,000-10,000 years ago in the Middle East. It appears that farmers used wildcats to keep rodents away from their stockpiled grain.
4. Cat Breeds Are Fairly New
Although this may sound hard to believe, cat breeds commonly seen today are fairly new. While all cats share a common ancestor, selective feline breeding didn’t begin until the 19th century, which is fairly recent on an evolution timeline. For comparison, selective canine breeding is a millennia-old practice. This means that our concept of a purebred or pedigreed cat is a very modern one.
Due to this relatively new breeding process, the vast majority of modern cats are not the result of intentional breeding, nor do they have ancestors of a defined breed. In fact, 93% of all cats in the world are actually mixed-breed. But with genetic data and the help of scientists and our community of pet parents, we are learning more about what makes each mixed-breed unique!
5. Cats Were Bred for Their Looks
Unlike dogs, cats were bred for their looks instead of their skills. The focus of feline selective breeding was primarily on reproducing or creating new aesthetic traits, such as fur length, color, or pattern. In contrast, canine selective breeding spanned a variety of body structure, functional, behavioral, and aesthetic traits. For example, the dachshund was bred to hunt badgers. So they were bred to have long, skinny bodies to go down badger holes. On the other hand, there was little to no reason to breed cats based on specific skills, because cats aren’t easily trained. Plus, all cats are good at the same thing: hunting mice. This led breeders to focus on breeding felines for looks instead.
6. Heterochromia is Most Common in White Cats
Heterochromia is when a pair of eyes are two different colors. This odd-eyed condition is most common in white cats because the gene that gives their eyes unique coloring also causes their fur to be white. It can also be seen in cats with at least some white fur, such as the tuxedo cat. On the flip side, this means that heterochromia is extremely rare in black cats or those with darker fur. Thankfully, heterochromia does not cause any vision or health problems. These cats are just lucky enough to have a beautiful and unique feature!
7. Chimera Cats Are Their Own Twins
A chimera cat has two different sets of DNA, caused when two embryos fuse together. In other words, the cat has its own set of DNA, plus DNA from a second embryo. The result? A cat that looks like two different faces fused together! For this reason, the Chimera is often called its own twin. Or more specifically, its own fraternal twin. For those of you who are unfamiliar with twin types, fraternal twins result from the fertilization of two separate eggs during the same pregnancy. Unlike identical twins, fraternal twins are no more similar than two siblings born from different pregnancies.
So, how do scientists find out if a cat is a chimera? They can take a skin sample from each side of the cat. If the DNA is different on each side, the cat is a Chimera! Aside from being a genetic rarity, these cats are also quite beautiful.
8. Most Orange Tabbies are Male
If you ever have to bet on an orange tabby being male or female, we suggest you put your money on male. With about 80% of orange tabby cats being male, the odds would be in your favor! Now you may be wondering, why are so many of them male? Well, surprise surprise, the answer can be found when looking at an orange tabby’s genetics. The gene that produces orange fur is on the X chromosome.
As a throwback to biology class, females have two X chromosomes and males have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. Since females have two X chromosomes, female orange tabbies need two copies of the gene to end up with orange fur, while males need only one.
9. Most Calicos and Tortoiseshells are Female
On the other hand, if you have to bet on a calico or tortoiseshell cat being male or female, put your money on female. The odds would especially be in your favor because only about 1 in 3,000 are male. Putting it in a percentage, that’s only 0.033%! Seriously, those are odds worth betting over! Since two X chromosomes are needed to make a calico or tortoiseshell coat, the majority of cats with these coat patterns are female.
But, as indicated by this strikingly low percentage, there is an exception to this rule. A male tortoiseshell or calico is possible if he is born with an extra X chromosome. But needless to say, with odds that are only about 1 in 3,000, this occurrence is pretty rare.
10. Inherited Diseases are More Common in Purebreds
Okay, as a disclaimer, this last fact isn’t “fun,” but it’s important to know. Diseases are typically acquired or inherited. Like the name sounds, acquired diseases are acquired during one’s lifetime, such as HIV. On the other hand, hereditary diseases, like polycystic kidney disease, are inherited from certain genes. It turns out that inherited diseases tend to be more common in purebred cats. Why is that? Well, in order for a purebred to prove its pedigree, it must meet certain characteristics.
Selective breeding and in-breeding (breeding together cats that are closely related) for specific traits leads to a much higher risk for genetic disorders. This is not to say in any way that a purebred cat won’t be healthy. But they are at a higher risk than mixed-breed cats. Thankfully, there are now DNA tests that can determine a cat’s risk for certain diseases. That leads us back to our sponsor: Basepaws.
About Basepaws
I am very excited to tell you guys about Basepaws, which offers an at-home cat DNA test. Basepaws was kind enough to send us a kit to test our cat Maggie’s DNA. The process was fairly simple and involved three steps. First, after receiving the kit in the mail, we registered it online and created a profile for Maggie. Next, we collected a saliva sample by doing a quick cheek swab on her. Finally, we mailed the sample back to the Basepaws lab using the prepaid return shipping label included with the kit.
After about a month we got our results, which were emailed in a digital report. The report has a lot of information, but I’m going to focus on 2 main parts: the Breed Analysis and the Health Markers.
Basepaws Breed Analysis
The Breed Analysis report shows Maggie’s genetic similarities to the top 21 different breeds in Basepaws’ reference panel. As mentioned earlier, most cats are mixed-breed and selective cat breeding is a fairly new practice. That’s why this report is all about genetic similarities. To determine these similarities, Basepaws looks at four foundational cat breeds: Eastern, Western, Persian, and Exotic, and they compare the cat’s genetics to patterns seen in other known breeds and breed groups.
What’s really cool is that they have a slider that modifies the results according to statistical confidence. So, under “confident,” Maggie shares the most similarities with western cat breeds, including the Maine Coon, Siberian, and Norwegian Forest Cat. These results also say that she is about 37% polycat. Polycat is just the term Basepaws uses for domestic shorthair, which is a cat that has mixed ancestry. And then as you click through the slider, you’ll see other possible matches.
This report also contains a brief overview of each breed with which your cat shares genetic similarity, as well as information currently known about a breed’s origins, personality, genetic predisposition, and any health risks that may be associated with a particular breed type.
Basepaws Health Report
The next notable section is the most valuable part of this test, which is the Health Marker report. Currently, Basepaws tests for 38 feline genetic health markers that are associated with 16 genetic conditions. So, this indicates if your cat is at risk for any of these diseases. For each disease that they test, your cat will get one of four results: “Clear,” ‘”Carrier,” “At-risk” or “At high risk.”
Thankfully, Maggie came back clear for everything on Basepaw’s list. But if she was at risk for any of these diseases, I could show this report to my veterinarian. Then we could keep a closer eye on her and look for signs of any disease she may be at risk for. This tool takes preventative healthcare for a cat to the next level.
The best part is that your first report is never “final.” That’s because this is a “living” document that continues to share breed and health information with greater and greater accuracy. So as more cats do this test, Basepaws is able to grow their database. As they learn more, Basepaws releases lifetime updates to a cat’s original reports at no additional cost. For the Health section in particular, this means that additional diseases will be added in the future.
Special Discount
If you are interested in this DNA test, Basepaws is offering our viewers a special discount. If you apply our exclusive promo code at checkout, you’ll get $45 OFF your order. This offer is valid until December 31st, 2021.
Get your Cat DNA Test HERE!
Promo code: PURRING
Resources
https://www.mypetneedsthat.com/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
