Cat

As cat lovers, we all know how much our furry family members love naptime. They'll happily catch some shuteye basking in a ray of warm sunshine or cozying up in other places around the house where they feel safe. Some kitties even snore while they sleep. Learn all about why some cats snore when they snooze, whether snoring is normal, and signs to watch out for that may warrant a vet visit to ensure everything is A-OK with your sleeping prince or princess.

Pyruvate kinase is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of red blood cells. When mutations in the PKLR gene occur, it reduces the functionality of  this enzyme and subsequently affects the ability of red blood cells to survive and function properly. Learn about pyruvate kinase deficiency in cats, symptoms and treatment, and the cat breeds that are known to be at a higher risk for this condition.

From time to time, we update the Basepaws digital report of results for our Breed + Health Cat DNA Test. Today, we’d like to take a moment to share some details about two recent changes to our report—one for a genetic health marker linked to the common cat heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and one for a genetic trait marker associated with the Siamese colorpoint coat pattern.

Today, we’re decoding one of the mysteries of genetics that relates to your Basepaws DNA report of results. It's called epistasis. When epistasis occurs, the observable expression (phenotype) of a gene—such as one responsible for the color of your kitty's coat—gets modified in some way by a completely different gene that has the ability to mask, suppress, or inhibit how that coat color gene is expressed. Epistasis helps explain why sometimes you may get a “likely to have” result for a genetic trait in your cat’s Basepaws report that doesn’t quite match up with their physical appearance.

The short answer to this question is, yes—snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) are indeed toxic to cats. Why are snake plants toxic to cats, and what are signs of snake plant toxicity in cats?  Keep reading for the answers to these questions and more. You won’t want to miss out on important information to help keep your cat safe and healthy.

Too many pet parents have known the heartbreaking loss of a beloved pet to cancer. As part of our commitment to helping all pets live healthier, happier, and longer lives, Basepaws is studying the genetic and oral microbiome factors associated with certain types of cancer. We welcome your participation in this research, which could inform the development of new screening tests for earlier detection of cancer in pets.

Familiarizing yourself with cat first aid could help save your cat’s life. In honor of Responsible Animal Guardian Month, discover these tips to help your cat in case of an emergency.

The breed analysis that you receive from a Basepaws Breed + Health Cat DNA test offers an exciting glimpse into your cat’s DNA story, yet much of it remains to be told. This includes a definitive story of ancestry, which is difficult to pin down for cats. In today’s post, we’d like to share some insight into why this is, and to explain the concept of genomic similarity that is at the heart of the Basepaws breed analysis.