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 about 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 today’s 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 cat ancestry, there is definitely a lot to learn.
Small cats are bigger than we thought
Cats have a regal 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 fact, scientists have found that the DNA of domestic cats is a 95% match to that of tigers. So next time you see your cat stalking his favorite toy and pounce 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 on a ship down and were also a friendly face to those men who spent months away from their families and home and probably grew tired of their human companions during long ocean voyages. The cats were a great addition to the sailing crew as they are small and useful. 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 for it.
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 sort of project that outlines their family lineage. Granted, your cats will never have an assignment to trace your family tree, but your cats are your babies. Just like children who have been adopted, it can be valuable to your family to understand where your cat came from, and a cat DNA test helps further delineate your feline’s feline ancestry.
When it comes to useful information such as a marker of a disease that can be life-threatening to the kitty, cat DNA testing becomes a valuable tool in protecting your loved one. Even your four-legged family members 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.