Basepaws Review: the cat’s genetic wager

It is possible to imagine how genetic tests can improve people's lives or solve problems in our society, to a greater or lesser degree. But could we think in this way about domestic cats? They are mammals closely linked to human society itself, and unlike dogs, their domestication has nothing to do with hunting or survival, but with leisure or pragmatism (predation of rats and other vermin). It is precisely these adaptive conditions that make these companion animals particular genetic systems, the analysis of which must be done in a particular way. This is what Basepaws, a company entirely dedicated to understanding cats, is all about. We will evaluate here the competitiveness of this curious alternative on the market.

Basepaws Review
Animals genetic tests Best for
4 /5
Rating
$ 59 /mo
Starting Price
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Table of Contents
    Written by Juan Rivas Santisteban
    Updated: 09/22/2021

    Basepaws Basic Facts

    • Company Name: Basepaws 
    • Foundation Year: 2019 
    • Location: El Segundo, California 
    • Monthly Visits: unknown 
    • Number of Databases: Unknown 
    • Website: https://basepaws.com/

    What services/products are included in Basepaws test? - Rated: 4.5/5

    • General Health 

    Cat-specific genetic markers are analysed. This allows you to get precious information about genetic health predispositions of your pet.

    • Habit Recommendations

    From the gene set, some interesting recommendations will be inferred to more effectively maintain your cat's homeostasis. This is made possible by a specific analysis of several special genes that serve as markers.

    • Breed Groups

    This service is actually a counterpart of the human ethnicity test. Of course, the result will be what breed your cat is. In addition, there are other features such as similarity to other breeds. You will also get a list of different parameters, such as the estimated weight for your cat's breed.

    Basepaws report example

    Availability of Diverse Collection Methods (swab, blood ...) - Rated: 3.5/5

    The company only offers the oral swab method. However, there is no better method to take your cat's DNA samples yourself at home. In addition, the results we are looking for with these tests will not require any other testing methods.

    Basepaws Customer Support - Rated: 3.5/5

    Basepaws has really good customer support. It's not easy to find, but once you do, it solves a lot of problems. It consists of a powerful FAQ, sitemap and contact page. However, it lacks a live chat. This could lead to a greater reluctance to communicate between the company and the user, which can lead to misunderstandings.

    A friendly contact page provided by Basepaws.Basepaws Pricing/Kits cost - Rated: 3.5/5

    It is a good range of offerings for the services they provide, but the fact that lifetime upgrades are only available in the most expensive package is not thought of in terms of the consumer, when it is a feature that has no cost associated with it; and it seems more like they are trying to justify the price.

    Basepaws best deals on the site

    Breed + Health DNA test

    • A potpourri of options to visualise your pet, ranging from habits to breed, including a chromosome map and its "wild cat index". A very interesting general option.

    129$

    Dental Health test

    • A specific option for owners concerned about their cat's dental health. Not only is it not a
    • normal genetic test, but it is the microbiome that is analysed here, but a list of risk rates or predisposition to have pathologies related to the dental apparatus, including even bad breath is also given.

    59$

    Whole genome test

    • With this option you will be able to access the raw data on a USB flash drive provided by Basepaws.
    • Lifetime updates on health and breed reports, which are also included.
    • Includes a 1-hour consultation with a genetics expert.

    399$

    Basepaws Database size - Rated: 3/5

    There are no known public records on the Basepaws database. It is one of the newer companies that can be counted among the best, as it has been able to occupy a good place in the niche. However, although it has a large number of experts as founding members, the feline bases must be much smaller and imprecise than those for humans or even dogs, which makes this product better over time.

    Basepaws Free trial - Rated: 0/5 

    Basepaws does not currently offer free testing services. 

    Basepaws Expected turn-around - Rated: 4/5

    In their FAQ they answer very honestly, something that is not so common and which is appreciated as a customer. They say it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks, which is a very reasonable average. However, they also say that it can take up to 4 months, depending on potential problems that may arise in the sequencing of your samples. 

    Basepaws Accuracy - Rated: 3/5

    There appears to be no publicity about the sequencing methods used. Between this and the lack of information about the databases, there is no reason to believe that the tests they offer have sufficient statistical resolution to compete with others in their category.

    However, they position themselves as a pillar of communication between society and academia, which gives them some credibility. One must also take into account their youth as a brand here, and the results they have already achieved. 

    Basepaws Interface - Rated: 5/5

    Basepaws InterfaceThis company has an incredibly intuitive interface. Already when you enter the website you can see the passion with which they have built the site. They put faces to the team so you can get to know them, they have a friendly email that you can access at any time, and sometimes it even pops up on the screen (meow@basepaws.com) when you can't find a query in their FAQ, etc. On the downside, in the research section there are no labels on the timeline graphs.

    When it comes to reading the results, it's more of the same, a visual pleasure. In case you have not bought the complete package, you will receive the data online. It is very pragmatic and well thought out.

    Basepaws Privacy - Rated: 5/5

    At this point we are perhaps the company that has spent the most time on privacy issues. At least, that is what they show in their FAQ in a tremendously clear way. They assure that your cat's data will be protected by HIPAA, "an act of Congress that provides rules to ensure the security and confidentiality of your health information". 

    The full process is detailed on their website. Of course, we have no reasonable doubt that this is one of the best options in terms of privacy, even though the data is not about people; which makes you realise how seriously they take their privacy policy. 

    Basepaws Innovation - Rated: 5/5

    This is undoubtedly the most surprising aspect of Basepaws. Not only do you get to know the first and last names of the scientists, but they are very committed to increasing the biomedical and genomic knowledge we have of cats. To this end, they have set themselves quite ambitious research goals. These include longevity studies, diabetes mellitus, atopic dermatitis, dental disease and other metabolic diseases.

    They have also published some papers in scientific journals, which are the medium used by research institutions to publish their results.

    basepaws kitty community

    Basepaws Rate and quality of updates - Rated: 4/5

    The rate of updates is unclear. But what they do clarify is that there will be updates "for months and years to come". 

    However, elsewhere on the page they specify that one of the advantages of whole genome sequencing, which is worth much more than the other options, is precisely that you will have lifetime updates for free, so it is a bit contradictory or misleading. 

    Best Alternatives To Basepaws

    • Embark - If it's dogs you have, Basepaws is definitely not the place for you. Instead, there is an alternative counterpart called Embark that will work very well for you.  

      Summary

       Here we have summarised one of the most pioneering projects currently on the market. Although it is weak in some aspects, probably due to the youth of its brand, it is a company with a lot of projection for the future and is moving into the territory of high quality products. Basepaws actively contribute to the communication and popularisation of science and help to give cats a higher profile in the scientific world, as a link between two worlds. 

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

      1. Is the DNA of cats similar to that of humans?

      Of course. All organisms on earth are like brothers in this respect. Even more so the mammals, whose common ancestor is much more recent. However, there are some differences that make analysis with the same genetic markers as with humans or dogs impossible.

      2. Why put my cat's raw data on a flash drive?

      It is not silly for you to actually be able to look at the product you buy. The data is there and you could analyse it yourself afterwards, so it is in fact logical, as you pay for the sequencing. 

      3. What do I do if my oral hygiene tests show a risk of periodontal disease?

      It is best to go to a vet with the test results. However, there will be recommendations to follow in the test itself.

      4. Can my cat's breed be wrong?

      The test should not go wrong. Even if the database is small, they should have a sufficient number of well-characterised different haplotypes.

      Pros

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      Cons

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      AncestryDNA® Kit

      42 supported ethnicities - The largest number offered by a major DNA testing service Connections with living relatives Shows percentage of DNA shared with database matches Auto Clusters and the Theory of Family Relativity tool suggest how you and many of your matches are connected.

      Testing done in certified US laboratory Results in under 5 weeks Results in under 5 weeks

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