Have you ever watched a dog show and listened to all of the details about the dog’s history, then looked at your cat and wondered what secrets Fluffy was hiding? I’m sure a lot of 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 weight that much? Think about what Jon might have been able to know about Garfield if there were a cat DNA test back in the day.
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, feed the best food and play with using a stuffed mouse. When it comes to cat ancestry, there is definitely a lot to learn.
Small Cats are Bigger Than We Knew
Cats have a regal bearing, a way of stalking through the house and pouncing on toys, or unsuspecting human companions, in a way that makes you think of the tigers and lions at the zoo. In an interesting bit of information, scientists have found that house cat DNA is a 95% match to tigers. So, the next time you watch your cat stalk his or her favorite toy and pounce for the kill, think about the fact you have a miniature tiger in residence – with a few small genetic differences.
Learn Your Cat’s Pilgrimage Story
Cats have a long history of keeping sailors company on long voyages. They helped to keep the rat population on a ship down and also were a friendly face to those men who spent months away from their families and home and probably got tired of their human shipmates during the long treks across the ocean. Cats were a great addition to the sailing crew, since they are small and useful. They were also thought to be a good luck charm to a ship crossing the great ocean.
Knowledge Is Power, and Kitty Will Thank You
One 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 children have to do some type of project outlining their family lineage. Granted, your cats are never going to have a homework assignment to trace their family tree, but your cats are your babies. 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 outline your feline’s cat ancestry in depth.
When it comes to helpful information like a marker for an illness that can be dangerous to kitty’s long life, the cat DNA test becomes a valuable tool to protect your loved one. Even the four-legged members of your family deserve to have protection and be 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.
