Wired·5 min read·medium

What’s the Best Pet DNA Test? We Tested the Most Popular Ones

M
Molly Higgins
What’s the Best Pet DNA Test? We Tested the Most Popular Ones
✦AI Summary

A review of popular at-home pet DNA testing kits, such as Wisdom Panel and Basepaws, highlights significant disparities in results. The author consults experts to determine the reliability and value of these tests for pet owners.

Why it matters

As pet health technology grows, consumers need to understand the limitations and scientific accuracy of commercial genetic testing.

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But because of several factors, such as sample size and comparison, these tests often give dramatically different results for things like genetic ancestry and breed traits (more on that below).

I tested several at-home DNA test kits, including two of the most popular kits—Basepaws ($104) and Wisdom Panel ($97)—on my two adult cats and talked to several animal experts to get insights into these tests—and whether they are worth your money, given the large disparity in results. Think of this as the WIRED guide to the increasingly popular at-home pet DNA test.

Be sure to check out our related guides, like the Best Automatic Cat Feeders, Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Best Automatic Cat Fountains, and Best Dog Accessories.

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Breed

Health Test

Trait Test

Blood Type/Transfusion Risk

Oral Health Report

Family Tree

Wisdom Panel (Cat)

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