At this time we are not able to ship to Russia nor process samples that come from Russia.

Yes! MyCatDNA™ is available to many additional countries through our bulk ordering process for 5 or more kits purchased. Requests can be sent to our Breeder Customer Support Team at breeder@wisdomhealth.com. Please indicate how many kits you wish to purchase, your shipping address, and whether you have your own swabs, as this will influence pricing.

 DNA testing can be performed on a cat of any age, and MyCatDNA™ results will not change with age. Blood samples can be obtained from kittens as soon as the cat is large enough for your veterinarian to obtain 1-2 mls of blood (less than one teaspoonful) safely. Swab samples can also be taken on young kittens, though it is best to wait until the kitten is weaned to prevent contamination from the queen’s milk or skin, or until the kitten is nursing infrequently such that a cheek sample can be taken three hours after last nursing or food.

Yes, you would receive personalised results for your non-pedigreed cat for disorders, traits and diversity as compared to all cat breeds, with no breed-specific information or ancestry provided. 

Sampling documentation is needed to verify that the samples have been taken officially by a veterinarian when official test results are required by a cat registry or a breed club. We recommend that our customers keep the signed sampling documentation to themselves to be able to show it to the authorities together with the test results when requested. We are exploring ways to bring scanning functionality for our users to be able to save the sample documentation on their user account. 

Worried about DNA cross-contamination skewing results? Don’t be! As a quality control measure, our computer alerts us when a sample contains markers from more than one individual. (Another red flag is the presence of DNA from different species entirely. For example, the domestic cat has 19 chromosome pairs and a specific genetic structure that’s quite different from that of a canine, which has 39 pairs.) In such an event, samples typically fail and we would send you fresh swabs so you can collect a new sample. If you suspect contamination due to unexpected results, or if you think your cat’s sample may be contaminated and haven’t mailed it in yet, please email breeder@wisdompanel.com to discuss. 

Yes. We offer discounts for cat associations and groups that use MyCatDNA™ or Optimal Selection™. Multi-kit discounts are available for all breed product purchases of four (4) kits or more. Larger discounts are available for purchases of 20 kits or more. To order, please contact our Breeder Customer Support Team at breeder@wisdomhealth.com for details and pricing.

Some breed registries accept health disorder results from the MyCatDNA™ test. At the bottom of your pet’s results summary page, you’ll find a technical report PDF that you may submit to your registry.

Yes, Optimal Selection™ and MyCatDNA™ DNA profiling results are accepted by TICA in most cases.

Registries vary in their requirements, so please check with them. Ask if ISAG 2020 SNP profiling is accepted, and if there are any requirements for sample collection, such as veterinary verified collection and chain of custody for the sample which must be followed for results to be recognised.

Yes, DNA profile samples collected during pregnancy are accurate as the amount of circulating fetal DNA present in a blood sample is negligible, and not present for cheek swab samples.

Cheek swab (buccal mucosal) samples and whole EDTA blood are considered standard sample types for DNA profiling. Non-traditional samples such as semen and soft tissue can be submitted. Requirements are minimum 50 microliters semen (used semen straw does not provide adequate DNA, must be unused straw/pellet), and frozen, not fixed, approximately sugar cube size soft tissue samples. Please contact us in advance for arrangements. Special shipping requirements and charges apply for non-traditional samples, and no refunds are provided in the event of sample failure. Please contact our customer service team for details at breeder@wisdompanel.com.

DNA profiling should be available in 2-3 weeks after receipt at the laboratory if ordered at the time of your MyCatDNA™  or Optimal Selection™ kit . You should get an email notification when your sample has arrived at the lab, and again when results are ready. You can also log into your account to check the status and view the DNA profile certificate when completed.

Please note—due to the digital nature of our product your results will be available in your online account only. No physical report will be mailed.

In order to ensure the highest quality, there is no way to expedite the lab process at this time. This means that if you need DNA profiling right away, please be sure to give plenty of time for shipping and processing. Once received at the lab samples generally take 2-3 weeks for processing.

We consider the owner of the DNA profiling results to be the person submitting the sample of the cat. Please ensure you’ve obtained all necessary permissions prior to submitting a sample for DNA profiling if it is not legally your cat.

Yes. A minimum of 50 microliters is required for semen samples, so used semen straws do not provide adequate DNA; it must be an unused straw/pellet. Please contact us in advance for arrangements. Please contact us in advance for arrangements. Special shipping requirements and charges apply for non-traditional samples, and no refunds are provided in the event of sample failure. Please contact our customer service team for details at breeder@wisdompanel.com.

Cheek swab (buccal mucosal) samples and whole EDTA blood are considered standard sample types for DNA profiling. Non-traditional samples such as semen and soft tissue samples can be submitted. Soft tissue samples must be frozen, not fixed, and approximately sugar cube size samples. Please contact us in advance for arrangements. Special shipping requirements and charges apply for non-traditional samples, and no refunds are provided in the event of sample failure. Please contact our customer service team for details at breeder@wisdompanel.com.

No. Account owners are responsible for sharing results with their registry if needed. We have a strict privacy policy that requires written consent from the cat owner (as submitted during kit activation) before we may share any information about testing with anyone who is not listed on the account, including registries and associations. For this reason, reports are emailed only to the email address on file. If the sample was submitted through your registry, and you gave permission to share results as part of that submission process, we may share the results to your registry.

Yes, we accept purified, archived DNA and frozen semen for deceased cats. A minimum of 50 microliters is required for semen samples, so used semen straws do not provide adequate DNA; it must be an unused straw/pellet. If using archived DNA from another lab, please contact us in advance to arrange the sample transfer. Special shipping requirements and charges apply for non-traditional samples, and no refunds are provided in the event of sample failure. Please contact our customer service team for details at breeder@wisdompanel.com.

Veterinary collection and veterinary verification are not required to submit a sample for DNA profiling and receive results. However, results may not be accepted by all registries or associations without specific sample collection and handling. Please check with your registry in advance for their requirements. Wisdom breeder products do not currently support vet verified samples.

There are two common submission errors. The most common is that there was a typo or an update that must be made regarding your cat’s information (e.g. from “Unregistered Kitten #1” to “Registered Name”). Some fields cannot be edited except by Customer Service, in order to reduce risk of fraud. Please email us your request at breeder@wisdompanel.com if you need this information updated.

Another type of error is that the sample as it was submitted was activated or labeled as another cat. This usually occurs at home, most often swapped with another cat sampled and submitted at the same time. If you suspect this is the case, contact Customer Service at breeder@wisdompanel.com to determine the nature and scope of the problem so it can be corrected.

If you realise there is a problem after generating parentage testing reports and suspect a different sample error, please contact Customer Service to discuss and determine a plan to correct the problem.

If you realise after parentage testing that your pedigree is incorrect, please notify Wisdom prior to contacting your registry if you will need to update your cat’s pedigrees, so we can answer any questions you might have and conduct a secondary analysis if needed. There is a rare exception in which parentage testing provides a conflicting result called chimerism, in which the parent has more than one set of DNA in their body, and the DNA in their sperm/ova does not match the DNA in their blood or cheek swab sample.

Updates to cat name will automatically update in the parentage report if you contact customer service to correct. We currently do not support editing of manually-entered breeder or owner name associated with parentage report generation once that particular parent-offspring parentage combination analysis has been completed.

How much does parentage testing cost?

Parentage testing is no additional charge! Please note that the cats to be tested must have an ISAG 2020 DNA profile with Wisdom in order to perform parentage analysis. Parentage analysis is complimentary for cats within the same user account with ISAG 2020 DNA profiles on file.

Parentage analysis typically takes less than 1 minute. When the report is ready, you will receive an email and also find it archived in your “Reports” tab for viewing or download.

No. We recommend always testing cats that will be bred. It is best to leave relying on "Clear by parentage" for pets or cats that won't be bred.

Yes, we are able to see your cat's genetic sex in the raw report data. But their results will default to showing the gender you enter when activating the test kit.

The MyCatDNA™ Feline DNA test is neither designed nor intended to determine or validate whether your cat is purebred. We recommend if you wish to have your cat registered with a pedigree that you contact a registry, such as TICA or CFA, to learn more. 

Currently, there is no clinically validated, commercially available method for determining a pet’s age using genetics. But your veterinarian may be able to provide an age estimate upon examination.

No. A new sample will be needed in the event you wish to update results on a previously tested cat, as all new genotyping will need to be performed.

No. Although mutations can occur within individual cells throughout life, a cat’s DNA does not change with age. Some specific tests may be added or removed as technology changes.  

You are welcome to select “Other breed” and type the name in. You may also send an email to our customer service team to request addition of your breed at breeder@wisdompanel.com; we update our breed list every 6-12 months. We request you provide some background information on your breed, and if the breed is rare, you are welcome to request additional information on how Wisdom Health can support early adoption of health testing in your breed.

The old reports are still available in your account and should have all the tests that were available when the panel was originally processed. To find the original (legacy) report select “manage pet profile” under the cat in question and scroll down to the bottom of the page; the PDF link for the legacy report can be found there. When older tests were migrated to the new platform, only tests that are performed in the same manner now as they were then could be moved over; otherwise the specific test information on the details page would be incorrect. Some of the tests in question are Colourpoint Siamese (cs)  and Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK Def). 

MyCatDNA™ tests for two variants of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), the A31P mutation found in the Maine Coon, and the R820W mutation found in the Ragdoll. Both variants are located in the MYBPC3 gene. However, HCM has also been found in about 5.4% of Maine Coons negative for A31P, thus indicating that this mutation is not the sole cause of HCM in Maine Coons, and other genetic variants contributing to the risk of HCM are likely. Because HCM cannot be reliably detected by routine examination, lines or breeds suspected to be at risk of HCM should be examined at least once a year by a veterinarian, preferably a cardiologist, and an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) used for screening, definitive diagnosis and characterisation of severity.

As MyCatDNA™ is a panel test, the submitted cat’s sample will be tested against all reportable health disorders regardless of the breed indicated at kit activation. The PKD1 mutation included in the current panel behaves in an autosomal dominant manner, and is historically associated with PKD in Persians and Persian-derived breeds. It has also been noted in other breeds, such as the Devon Rex, Siberian, Siamese and random-bred cat family lines. It is worth noting that there is at least one other unidentified PKD variant within the cat population that we are not able to test for at this time, and it acts in a recessive fashion.

There are two known variants for Factor XII deficiency. In 2020, the second variant was added to MyCatDNA™, with a renaming of the variants for clarity. What was formerly called Factor XII deficiency has now been renamed Factor XII Deficiency, Variant 1. The following key may be helpful:

Breeder Reports

Prior to October 2020

Breeder Reports

October 2020-Present

Factor XII deficiency

Factor XII deficiency (Variant 1)

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Factor XII deficiency (Variant 2)

We have found that Variant 2 is more widespread than Variant 1. If a kitten was tested after October 2020 and found to carry Factor XII deficiency, and its parents tested clear prior to that time, the likely cause is Variant 2. The parents can be retested to verify Factor XII Deficiency (Variant 2) status if desired.

As we have learned more about the behavior and frequency of this disorder, we have made updates to the reporting of the two known Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) Type VI variants. The variants have been renamed and the disorder descriptions have been updated for improved clarity. The following key may be helpful:

Breeder Reports 

prior to October 2020

Breeder Reports 

Oct 2020-May 2021

Breeder Reports 

May 2021-current

MPS Type VI typical form

MPS Type VI Variant 2

MPS Type VI

---

MPS Type VI Variant 1

MPS Type VI modifier 

MPS Type VI Variant 1 was renamed as a modifier because it was found that the cat must also inherit one copy of the primary disorder variant (formerly Variant 2), at which time the modifier variant may then have an effect on the severity of the disease. The Modifier variant is not typically associated with disease when present without the primary disorder variant. Thus, cats with one or two copies of only the modifier variant, and no copies of the primary disorder variant, are considered carriers. Although they are not at risk for development of the disorder, they may pass the modifier variant on to their kittens if bred.

MPS Type VI (formerly Variant 2) is also known by the name MPS Type VI severe form. While MPS Type VI modifier (formerly Variant 1) corresponds with MPS Type VI mild form.

MyCatDNA™ tests for two known variants responsible for natural bobtail, but other variants are known to exist. If your cat has a short tail but is negative for one of these variants, he or she may be carrying another variant causing bobtail, or in some cases, trauma or other causes may result in a shortened tail.

MyCatDNA™ tests for two known variants responsible for Lykoi coat, but other variants are likely to exist. Two copies of any Lykoi variant are required to show this coat type. If your cat has a Lykoi coat type but was found to carry 0 or 1 copy of these variants, he or she may be carrying another variant

MyCatDNA™ tests for one variant of hairlessness, the form found in the Sphynx, but other variants are known to exist. Notably, the hairlessness found in the Russian breeds Donskoy (Don Sphynx) and Peterbald is caused by a different genetic variant than that of the Sphynx, and is not included in testing at this time.

MyCatDNA™ tests for two variants of rexing, that of the Cornish and German Rex, and the Devon Rex. The previously reported Selkirk Rex genetic variant has become challenging to test using the technology of MyCatDNA™ with recent updates to our testing process. Because of this, we have chosen to halt reporting on this trait until a more robust assay can be developed. If your cat’s rexing is caused by the variant found in the Selkirk Rex or from another variant, such as demonstrated by the Tennessee Rex, your report will indicate a normal coat is likely because these are different genetic variants than those being tested at this time.

MyCatDNA™ does not currently test for variants associated with the coat pattern known as Ticking, which is characterised by multi-coloured or multiple (e.g. 2-3) bands of colour on the hair shaft. Ticking appears to be epistatic to, or mask, most tabby markings, showing only the agouti pattern if the cat is non-solid. It is most commonly seen in the Abyssinian, Somali, Singapura and Asian breeds, but can also occasionally be seen in random-bred cats.

Blue eyes are classically caused by a lack of pigment within the iris, or coloured portion of the eye. All kittens are born blue-eyed, only to gain their true eye colour around six weeks of age. But for cats whose eyes stay blue, one of three known genetic factors could be at play. In some cat pedigrees, blue eyes tend to be “fixed,” or predictable. This is especially true in breeds with colour points, as a recessive albinism gene is what causes their coat colour restriction. Other cats may have white fur (which is actually a lack of colour pigment) around the eye. This produces an effect similar to albinism, and it can also result in odd eyes, or heterochromia—when a cat has one blue and one pigmented eye. Cats with Dominant White may also have varying degrees of hearing impairment. Lastly, a dominant blue eye (DBE) variant was discovered in the PAX3 gene in 2024 that accounts for the blue eyes seen in the Celestial cat breed (DBECEL), and other DBE variants are suspected in the Topaz, Altai and Ojos Azules breeds.

Wisdom Health™ is committed to providing trustworthy results to breeders. With recent updates to our testing process, and because this particular genetic variant is challenging to test using the technology of MyCatDNA™, we have chosen to halt reporting on this disorder until a more robust assay can be developed. 

MyCatDNA™’s DNA-based blood type determination screens for four genetic variants determining blood group AB in pedigreed cats in accordance with the latest scientific literature. Wisdom Health™’s own research confirmed that a genetic variant resulting in blood type B in Turkish breeds significantly improved DNA-based blood type testing in the European Shorthair, Siberian cat, Turkish Angora and Turkish Van, and also increased the accuracy of DNA-based blood typing in over 10 different breeds. Reporting for this variant began in 2018, and is now called b variant 2. The genotyping for an additional third genetic variant resulting in blood type B in Ragdoll was confirmed by Wisdom Panel’s™ own research and genetic testing for this variant has been offered since October 2021 as a part of the MyCatDNA™ test, now called b variant 3. B variants have been renamed in current reports to reflect these additions. We will continue both in-house research efforts as well as monitoring of outside research findings to ensure that your cat’s blood type results are based on the most current understanding of this complex subject. Reports continue to return blood type A, B, or AB based on these findings. The following table summarises reporting changes:

Breeder Reports 

prior to November 2018 blood type determination based on:

Breeder Reports 

November 2018-September 2020 blood type determination based on:

Breeder Reports 

October 2020-current blood type determination based on:

• Common b variant (linked marker test)
• c variant
• Common b variant
• b variant (discovered in Turkish breeds)
• c variant
• b variant 1 (common b variant)
• b variant 2 (discovered in Turkish breeds) 
• b variant 3 (discovered in Ragdoll)
• c variant

To provide better support and improve the experience of all customers, we’re consolidating all products onto the same web platform. Due to the technical complexity of supporting the Breeder Tool for our large breeder base, it will not be available in the immediate future. We are exploring ways to bring this functionality to our users in future updates.