Have you ever seen a dog show and heard all the details about the dog’s history, then looked at your cat and wondered what secrets Fluffy is hiding? I’m sure many cat owners have wondered where their cat came from, how their cat got the distinctive color pattern and markings they sport and even if their cat is really supposed to weigh that much. Think of what Jon might have been able to know about Garfield if there was a cat DNA test in the past.
The good news is that current technology has brought us a new option if we want to learn more about the cat we share a home with, give it the best food and play with a stuffed mouse. When it comes to the ancestry of cats, there is definitely a lot to learn.
Small cats are bigger than we thought
Cats have a majestic bearing, a way of stalking around the house and pounce on toys, or unsuspecting human companions, in a way that makes you think of tigers and lions at the zoo. In an interesting tidbit, scientists have discovered that the DNA of domestic cats is 95% identical to that of tigers. So the next time you see your cat stalking his favorite toy and lunging for the kill, think about the fact that you have a miniature tiger at home, with a few minor genetic differences.
Learn the story of your cat’s pilgrimage
Cats have a long history of keeping sailors company on long voyages. They helped keep the rat population down on a ship and were also a friendly face to those men who spent months away from their families and home and probably grew weary of their fellow humans during long ocean voyages. The cats were a great addition to the sailing crew as they are small and helpful. They were also thought to be a good luck charm for a ship crossing the great ocean.
Knowledge is power, and Kitty will thank you
A big trend in today’s world is finding out more about your family tree. Families have genealogists, there are websites to visit to see what family connections you can make, and most kids have to do some kind of project that describes their family lineage. Granted, your cats will never have a task to trace your family tree, but your cats are your babies. Like children who have been adopted, it can be valuable for your family to understand where your cat came from, and a cat DNA test helps to further delineate your feline’s feline ancestry.
When it comes to useful information such as a marker for a disease that can be life-threatening to the kitten, cat DNA testing becomes a valuable tool in protecting your loved one. Even the four-legged members of your family deserve to be protected and understood based on their family history. Give everyone access to this valuable information and be amazed at the story your cat’s DNA can tell you.