Genetic Profile of Cats

What is a DNA profile?

DNA profiles are a standardized system for genotyping of domestic cats and are used as a tool by breeders, cat fanciers, and researchers to identify the unique genetic makeup of individual cats. This information can be used to confirm parentage, track the genetic diversity of breeds, and serve as a lifelong identification method.

A cat’s DNA profile is made up of a series of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), also known as microsatellite DNA, which are specific sequences of DNA widely distributed throughout the genome, which vary among each other in their length and number of repeats. These markers are unique to each cat and by analyzing the pattern of microsatellites in a cat's DNA, scientists can create a unique genetic profile for each cat. Profiles of different individuals can then be compared to determine the degree of relatedness. Members of the same family will have microsatellites of exactly the same or similar length. However, two individuals will never have the exactly same DNA profiles, unless they are identical twins.

What is the procedure of creating a DNA profile?

The ISAG DNA profile is widely used in cat breeding programs and is recognized as the international standard for feline genotyping. To obtain a DNA profile for a cat, a small sample of DNA is collected from the cat using a minimally invasive method, such as a buccal swab or a blood sample. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. After the DNA extraction, specific markers are analyzed in order to create the DNA profile. AnimaLabs® performs DNA profiling based on the analysis of 15 microsatellite markers set up by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) that are used to create a unique genetic fingerprint of the cat. The accuracy of such a profile is higher than 99.99%.

*This test does not determine breed type, rather, it identifies specific gene markers that are inherited from both parents.