S10.E21: Basepaws, Best Pocket Square Holder, Kymera Body Boards, The Bang Shack

[GoldenGirl90]

April 28, 2019

A high-tech product to discover hidden secrets about one's cat; a fashion accessory that helps men look refined; all-electric water sports equipment; a delicious, multipurpose dip; four high school students chat with their favorite shark.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Basepaws Cat DNA kit and disease screening will probably sell very well, and I think it will be a great investment for Robert and Kevin.

Pocket Square holder found the right partner with Daymond.    

Kymera Body Board is right for Robert, with his other outdoor investments, but Robert was right, the company needs to concentrate in one area for now, solve their inventory issues, and then branch out someday.

The Bang Shack was totally too early in the process, and the man just wasn't prepared enough for the presentation.    Unfortunately, getting something into the refrigerated dip cases at the stores will take a lot of work, and maybe licensing to a major manufacturer would be better.  

[rhys]

Has Daymond ever swooped in after being out before? That was fun to watch. I liked that he wants to keep the sewing jobs in the US.

I thought the cat DNA thing would be laughed out of the tank. Shows what I know. I do see an application for horse racing industry tho.

Edited April 29, 2019 by rhys

[eel21788]

28 minutes ago, rhys said:

I thought the cat DNA thing would be laughed out of the tank. Shows what I know.

I ordered mine as soon as the show ended. I've been watching the show since the beginning, and this is the first time I've ever bought anything. Maybe I'm just the crazy cat lady, but I got a new cat from the Humane Society six months ago, and I've been dying to know what breed he is.  He has the weirdest meow I've ever heard. When he's being sociable he sounds more like a bird than a cat. When he's mad, he squeaks like a mouse. He is also very itchy, so I've been wondering if he has psoriasis or something. Spending a hundred bucks to get my questions answered is totally worth it.

[rhys]

Will you post the results? What's the turn around time? I wasn't paying too much attention. I hope it helps with your cat's health issues. That would be great!

[hoodooznoodooz]

9 hours ago, eel21788 said:

I ordered mine as soon as the show ended. I've been watching the show since the beginning, and this is the first time I've ever bought anything. Maybe I'm just the crazy cat lady, but I got a new cat from the Humane Society six months ago, and I've been dying to know what breed he is.  He has the weirdest meow I've ever heard. When he's being sociable he sounds more like a bird than a cat. When he's mad, he squeaks like a mouse. He is also very itchy, so I've been wondering if he has psoriasis or something. Spending a hundred bucks to get my questions answered is totally worth it.

Could you please post a video of him squeaking like a mouse and his bird-like sounds? And his weird meow? He sounds fun! 

[Gregg247]

I figured the BANG dipping sauce was a no-go when the first 3 contestants last night all got deals.  Not having a "finalized" product to show really did him in.

The financials for the cat DNA product sounded bad, but it looks like this was one of those products where the Sharks immediately recognize the overall value of the technology and completely ignore the current profits and losses.  I like when this happens; it always catches me by surprise and I feel like I learn something valuable about business!

The electric surfboard was really cool, and I knew Robert would be a sucker for it.  I'm glad that guy got his act together and was able to find the help he needed to take his cool idea and turn it into something "real".

I thought the pocket squares guy was selling a whole line of suits, not just the pocket squares.  Kevin would have been an okay partner for him, but Daymond was the obvious pick.  Sniping the deal right under Kevin's nose was very funny.

This was a really good episode.  All the businesses were viable.  I could have used less "drama" with the BANG guy, though.  Either give us the sob story in the pre-packaged video OR from the contestant himself, but stop doing it both times!  We don't need to hear about having his son at 15 twice!

[basiltherat]

Before Daymond even spoke, I'm imagining the pocket square gent getting together with Mo's Bows.  Glad D did the swoop!

[Moose135]

11 hours ago, rhys said:

I thought the cat DNA thing would be laughed out of the tank. Shows what I know. I do see an application for horse racing industry tho.

The GF introduced me to the world of dog shows over the past year and a half, and DNA testing is a big thing there as well, especially in looking for possible hereditary diseases.

[eel21788]

17 hours ago, rhys said:

Will you post the results? What's the turn around time? I wasn't paying too much attention. I hope it helps with your cat's health issues. That would be great!

I'll keep you guys updated during the whole process.

8 hours ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

Could you please post a video of him squeaking like a mouse and his bird-like sounds? And his weird meow? He sounds fun! 

I'll give it a try. Between my technical skills and Agent DiNozzo's aversion to posing for the camera, it may take some time.

[bilgistic]

On 4/29/2019 at 12:18 AM, eel21788 said:

I ordered mine as soon as the show ended. I've been watching the show since the beginning, and this is the first time I've ever bought anything. Maybe I'm just the crazy cat lady, but I got a new cat from the Humane Society six months ago, and I've been dying to know what breed he is.  He has the weirdest meow I've ever heard. When he's being sociable he sounds more like a bird than a cat. When he's mad, he squeaks like a mouse. He is also very itchy, so I've been wondering if he has psoriasis or something. Spending a hundred bucks to get my questions answered is totally worth it.

Cat lady here...short digression from the main topic. It's probably a food allergy/immune reaction. My cat is allergic to every protein source except venison and maybe rabbit. If she eats poultry, fish or beef, nodules in her "armpits" get inflamed, itchy and crusty, and her little bottom lip will swell up and get red. I give her a small daily dose of prescription predinisolone (steroid) to keep her immune system calm, and she eats only horrifically expensive venison food.

PM me for more info/if you want advice about what steps to take.

On 4/29/2019 at 10:53 AM, Gregg247 said:

This was a really good episode.  All the businesses were viable.  I could have used less "drama" with the BANG guy, though.  Either give us the sob story in the pre-packaged video OR from the contestant himself, but stop doing it both times!  We don't need to hear about having his son at 15 twice!

This is not directed at you, commenter, but reminded me of what he said: "I found out my girlfriend was pregnant," as if by magic. As a woman, this pisses me off. Guy, YOU HELPED CAUSE THE PREGNANCY. You don't get points for not bailing on the situation, because the young mother doesn't get to, either.

Edited April 30, 2019 by bilgistic

[theatremouse]

That guy's spiel rubbed me the wrong way in a handful of different ways, none of which had anything to do with his product.

[Gregg247]

Quote

11 hours ago, bilgistic said:

"I found out my girlfriend was pregnant," as if by magic.

Yeah, she was suddenly visited by the stork and, rather than disappear, I actually took responsibility like I'm supposed to do.  Not sure if he wanted a pat on the back for this or what. 

I guess this was what led to the name of his company. 😉

[eel21788]

17 hours ago, bilgistic said:

Cat lady here...short digression from the main topic. It's probably a food allergy/immune reaction. My cat is allergic to every protein source except venison and maybe rabbit. If she eats poultry, fish or beef, nodules in her "armpits" get inflamed, itchy and crusty, and her little bottom lip will swell up and get red. I give her a small daily dose of prescription predinisolone (steroid) to keep her immune system calm, and she eats only horrifically expensive venison food.

PM me for more info/if you want advice about what steps to take.

I switched him to "sensitive formula" cat food, and he at least stopped licking himself bald. I still think he is scratching more than he should.  Once I get his DNA results, I'll take him to the vet to see what she thinks.

[eel21788]

On ‎4‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 8:53 AM, Gregg247 said:

 We don't need to hear about having his son at 15 twice!

or at all. I thought he was saying, "See how irresponsible I am. I can't make a good decision in my own life, but I still think I can run a business. You just have to help me."

Edited April 30, 2019 by eel21788

[JTMacc99]

On 4/29/2019 at 10:53 AM, Gregg247 said:

This was a really good episode.  All the businesses were viable.

I was thinking the same thing, especially after I was underwhelmed the week before.

On 4/29/2019 at 10:53 AM, Gregg247 said:

I figured the BANG dipping sauce was a no-go when the first 3 contestants last night all got deals.  Not having a "finalized" product to show really did him in.

I liked that the show dropped him on us right after we saw a guy come back on the show after he did things like get his product completed, on the market, and brought in somebody to help him run the business. 

[LittleIggy]

On 4/29/2019 at 12:18 AM, eel21788 said:

I ordered mine as soon as the show ended. I've been watching the show since the beginning, and this is the first time I've ever bought anything. Maybe I'm just the crazy cat lady, but I got a new cat from the Humane Society six months ago, and I've been dying to know what breed he is.  He has the weirdest meow I've ever heard. When he's being sociable he sounds more like a bird than a cat. When he's mad, he squeaks like a mouse. He is also very itchy, so I've been wondering if he has psoriasis or something. Spending a hundred bucks to get my questions answered is totally worth it.

My cat Sigurd doesn’t meow. He says “ur”! I say he is a Manx because he has no tail at all (not even a stub). I got him as a kitten from a cat rescue organization.

[LittleIggy]

13 hours ago, Gregg247 said:

Yeah, she was suddenly visited by the stork and, rather than disappear, I actually took responsibility like I'm supposed to do.  Not sure if he wanted a pat on the back for this or what. 

I guess this was what led to the name of his company. 😉

Chris Rock had a funny routine about this. 

[eel21788]

14 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

My cat Sigurd doesn’t meow. He says “ur”! I say he is a Manx because he has no tail at all (not even a stub). I got him as a kitten from a cat rescue organization.

If he's truly a Manx, then his origin is from Scotland. I'm really clueless as to where my cat is from.

[rhys]

21 hours ago, eel21788 said:

If he's truly a Manx, then his origin is from Scotland. I'm really clueless as to where my cat is from.

Sounds like you need ancestry.com's latest push to find out where you are from based on saliva (I'm guessing). What a marriage that would be.

[saber5055]

On 4/29/2019 at 10:05 AM, Moose135 said:

The GF introduced me to the world of dog shows over the past year and a half, and DNA testing is a big thing there as well, especially in looking for possible hereditary diseases.

The cat DNA testing was lacking in its presentation IMO, although it would sell to pet people. There has been a dog DNA ancestry test available for some time. Its accuracy is questionable yet probably fun for owners of pet dogs. Show dog people, however, have been breeding to pedigrees for decades, I can trace the pedigree of my show dogs for a hundred years, back to the beginning of the registry/parent club for that breed, the 1800s.

The DNA test is also misused by the average person. A local person is suing a pet store for selling her a French Bulldog when the DNA test she did on it showed a Boston Terrier as one way-back ancestor. Fact: The Frenchie was created from the Boston.

Most AKC parent clubs have Health Foundations that fund grants to study diseases that breed might be prone to. Blood draws are done at national specialties to add to the blood bank for these studies. Some years ago, a DNA marker was discovered for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in a breed I have, and the parent club helped pay for the cheek-swab tests, the swabs sent to England where they were analyzed and dogs declared affected, carriers or clear of the disease. Breeders now are able to use that information to chose future breedings with the plan of, hopefully, eliminating POAG from the breed.

Some rando DNA test telling my dog's "heritage" isn't going to tell me any of that. But I can give people a multi-generation certified pedigree AND the POAG test results with every dog I place. Show breeders guarantee dogs they place and stand behind their health clearances.

All of the horses I registered, again, purebred show horses, all had a blood draw sent in with their registration applications, DNA is already on file for all horses in that registry. The thoroughbred race horse industry is just as rigid in its registry requirements. However, owners of "generic" horses might have fun trying to figure out what breed(s) their horse is. But show-horse and race-horse people (and show-dog/show-cat people) have no use for the test, they already know what they have.

[LittleIggy]

On 5/1/2019 at 3:32 PM, eel21788 said:

If he's truly a Manx, then his origin is from Scotland. I'm really clueless as to where my cat is from.

Isle of Man actually.

[eel21788]

On ‎5‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 10:58 AM, rhys said:

Sounds like you need ancestry.com's latest push to find out where you are from based on saliva (I'm guessing). What a marriage that would be.

Are you saying the will test my cat's saliva to see where he is from? I already know my own ancestry.

[rhys]

18 hours ago, eel21788 said:

Are you saying the will test my cat's saliva to see where he is from? I already know my own ancestry.

No, ancestry.com's DNA testing + this new shark tank dealio for your cat. I was trying to be clever/funny. I widely missed the mark! Sorry.

[Whimsy]

On 5/2/2019 at 4:20 PM, saber5055 said:

The cat DNA testing was lacking in its presentation IMO, although it would sell to pet people. There has been a dog DNA ancestry test available for some time. Its accuracy is questionable yet probably fun for owners of pet dogs. Show dog people, however, have been breeding to pedigrees for decades, I can trace the pedigree of my show dogs for a hundred years, back to the beginning of the registry/parent club for that breed, the 1800s.

The DNA test is also misused by the average person. A local person is suing a pet store for selling her a French Bulldog when the DNA test she did on it showed a Boston Terrier as one way-back ancestor. Fact: The Frenchie was created from the Boston.

Most AKC parent clubs have Health Foundations that fund grants to study diseases that breed might be prone to. Blood draws are done at national specialties to add to the blood bank for these studies. Some years ago, a DNA marker was discovered for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in a breed I have, and the parent club helped pay for the cheek-swab tests, the swabs sent to England where they were analyzed and dogs declared affected, carriers or clear of the disease. Breeders now are able to use that information to chose future breedings with the plan of, hopefully, eliminating POAG from the breed.

Some rando DNA test telling my dog's "heritage" isn't going to tell me any of that. But I can give people a multi-generation certified pedigree AND the POAG test results with every dog I place. Show breeders guarantee dogs they place and stand behind their health clearances.

All of the horses I registered, again, purebred show horses, all had a blood draw sent in with their registration applications, DNA is already on file for all horses in that registry. The thoroughbred race horse industry is just as rigid in its registry requirements. However, owners of "generic" horses might have fun trying to figure out what breed(s) their horse is. But show-horse and race-horse people (and show-dog/show-cat people) have no use for the test, they already know what they have.

There is a researcher at the university I work for who is doing something along those lines of identifying diseases breeds are prone to. I submitted both of my dog's dna since I like to participate in studies to help the researchers whenever I can.  The purpose of the study was not to identify and report the breeds to me in the same way that Wisdom did (I did both since I knew that they may not be giving me the dna results for quite some time through Darwin's Ark) but they finally did send me the results for one of my dogs.  If there is ever any diseases I should look out for or that she has a specific gene for, I would definitely want to know! 

[ljenkins782]

On 4/29/2019 at 10:57 AM, basiltherat said:

Before Daymond even spoke, I'm imagining the pocket square gent getting together with Mo's Bows.  Glad D did the swoop!

I sincerely hope Daymond's first order of business is changing the packaging, that was one of the ugliest, most old-fashioned logos I've seen in a long while.

I couldn't decide if it looked more like some kind of ancient car decal, a bowling alley logo, or maybe a shoe polish logo from the 1940s. I was shocked that no one said anything about it.

I didn't know why Daymond didn't go for it the first time around, but it was funny when he snaked Kevin at the last minute. Daymond is the more obvious partner with his clothing background, BUT Kevin has the big wedding business, which I can see the pocket square thing possibly fitting into.

The BANG guy was unprepared and I don't think his product was necessarily going to be a success with the food industry being so competitive and tough, but if I were one of the Sharks, I'd keep him in mind if I had another business that has a better product but needed a frontman for sales. He really was talented in that area and if he were to get involved in a Shark-run business, he could probably do very well. 

[eel21788]

On ‎4‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 10:33 PM, rhys said:

Will you post the results? What's the turn around time? I wasn't paying too much attention. I hope it helps with your cat's health issues. That would be great!

Update #1:

We got our test kit on Monday. I took pictures but for some reason the photos are too large to upload. I didn't get the "waxing" stirp she was talking about. I was only sent the swab that has to be rubbed on his cheek for 10 seconds. Needless to say, I have been chasing him around the house for two days and haven't been successful yet.

Edited May 9, 2019 by eel21788

[rhys]

27 minutes ago, eel21788 said:

We got our test kit on Monday. I took pictures but for some reason the photos are too large to upload. I didn't get the "waxing" stirp she was talking about. I was only sent the swab that has to be rubbed on his cheek for 10 seconds. Needless to say, I have been chasing him around the house for two days and haven't been successful yet.

Thanks for posting. Is the cheek swab rub thing supposed to be rubbed on the inside? For 10 seconds? Yowza! Good luck with that if that's the case.

[eel21788]

1 hour ago, rhys said:

Thanks for posting. Is the cheek swab rub thing supposed to be rubbed on the inside? For 10 seconds? Yowza! Good luck with that if that's the case.

Update #2:

Yeah. I actually got it into his mouth once but only for about 2 seconds. Now he won't let me come near him with it. I'm wondering if it's a cumulative thing, and I can do 2 seconds five times or if it has to be 10 seconds all at once.

[rhys]

10 seconds in a critter's mouth is hella long! It's hard to imagine most cat wranglers being able to do that.

[eel21788]

On ‎5‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 6:27 PM, rhys said:

10 seconds in a critter's mouth is hella long! It's hard to imagine most cat wranglers being able to do that.

Update #3:

I think we got our specimen! I literally put him in a head lock and shoved the thing in his mouth without getting bit or scratched. I'm not entirely sure I got his cheek or made it to the full 10 seconds, but I'm going to send it in to see what happens. It's too bad I didn't get it on camera, because he was making his "trapped mouse" noise the whole time. I suppose if I tried to post video of it, I'd be in trouble with the SPCA. Now I'm getting the "evil cat" stare from across the room, which is something he's never done before. I opened him a jar of turkey baby food, so hopefully I'll be forgiven soon.  It will go in the mail tomorrow, and they are supposed to email me the results in 8 to 10 weeks.

Edited May 11, 2019 by eel21788

[rhys]

Slow 👏. I hope I remember this in 10 weeks & hope what you did tonight was successful.

[eel21788]

On ‎5‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 11:06 PM, rhys said:

Slow 👏. I hope I remember this in 10 weeks & hope what you did tonight was successful.

Update #4:

I got an email with the following links:

https://www.basepaws.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-basepaws?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=69770345&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9OhIVX6LO6iryTWFpmOdXwhM8Idy_LucluqUannj1vY6A8glc55YAaK6amuaD6JHUxcClTva6itGHeoEuGhclr-u7ysg&_hsmi=69770345

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ehKlPRKQe4&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=69770345&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9OhIVX6LO6iryTWFpmOdXwhM8Idy_LucluqUannj1vY6A8glc55YAaK6amuaD6JHUxcClTva6itGHeoEuGhclr-u7ysg&_hsmi=69770345

Some people may find it interesting. Getting a cheek swab from my cat was nothing like what they showed in their video. I'm wondering if their cat was drugged.

[eel21788]

On ‎5‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 11:06 PM, rhys said:

Slow 👏. I hope I remember this in 10 weeks & hope what you did tonight was successful.

RESULTS ARE IN!

The graphics in the report wouldn't copy and paste, but you can get the basic idea from reading his report:

<iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MVQSQT" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe><img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=272300093171295&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://brandmentions.com/?utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=site" title="BrandMentions.com - Monitoring Your Brand" target="_blank"><img src="//tracking.brandmentions.com/referrer/img.php?uid=73776406&amp;pid=81844091&amp;img=dark&amp;t=noupgrade&amp;token=baOwE5hcck" alt="BrandMentions.com - Monitoring Your Brand" width="114" height="36"></a>

Agent DiNozzo's

genetic report

Version 1.5.1

Contents

0

01

How to interpret your report

This page includes a brief background on the pathway to cat evolution as well as an overview of what we provide in this report to help you interpret your cat’s results.

02

Summary

Discover more about your fur-baby. See what breed groups your cat belongs to, a list of the top three breeds that your cat is more similar to and how similar your cat is to four wildcats.

03

Breed Groups

Here you'll find a percentage breakdown and a chromosome map of breed groups. The chromosome map displays regions on your cat's genome that are similar to the breed groups.

04

Western Breeds

Your cat belongs to the Western breed group. We rank all breeds in the western breed group by how similar your cat is to a specific breed & to the rest of the database.

05

Turkish Angora

Your cat is most similar to the Turkish Angora. This page provides a description of this breed and a chromosome map of your cat's genome relative to this breed.

06

Ragdoll

The second breed your cat is most similar to is the Ragdoll. This page provides a description of this breed and a chromosome map of your cat's genome relative to this breed.

07

American Shorthair

The third breed your cat is most similar to is the American Shorthair. This page provides a description of this breed and a chromosome map of your cat's genome relative to this breed.

08

Health and Wellness

Some actionable insights to help optimize your kitty's health and well being.

How to interpret your report

1

The road to less wild: Simply put, our sweet fur-babies are still wild little beasts. The history of cat domestication is vastly different from the domestication of other companion or agricultural animals. Whereas dogs went through thousands of years of selective breeding for behavioral and physical traits, cats have largely remained similar to their wild ancestors. This is why our feline friends still have excellent hunting skills, feeding and grooming habits and the ability to pounce into action at any given moment.

So, how exactly did cats become part of human life? The pathway to domestication began as human agriculture flourished. The rodent population drastically increased with food storage. Cats played their welcomed role as nature’s exterminator. Since cats chose to live with us, a systematic breeding program was never imposed on them for traits responsible for cohabitation. Our fur-babies are unique and in some sense, the only animals known to have domesticated themselves to live with us.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that we were able to “influence” cat evolution by selectively breeding cats for mostly aesthetic traits. Due to this relatively short breeding process, the vast majority of modern cats are not the result of intentional breeding nor have ancestors of a defined breed.

Unlike other dog or human ancestry tests, we cannot make the assumption that your cat was descended from a mixture of purebred lines since purebred cats are so new. However, using a large panel of purebred cats that we have sequenced, we can try to find parts of your cat's genome that are similar to a known cat breed.

We are thrilled to be celebrating the mutt, the mixed-breed kitty, the polycat! 95% of all cats in the world are mixed-breed mutts. This is all we knew about them until now. With genetic data, we can learn more about what makes each mixed-breed polycat unique! As we gather more purebred data and trait information, we will be able to start narrowing down the parts of the genome that are responsible for certain traits and thus will continue to explore what makes YOUR polycat unique!

Analysis of our reference panel of purebred cats allows us to divide cat breeds into three main groups: Western, Eastern, and Hybrid.

Now let’s talk about Agent DiNozzo! We sequenced Agent DiNozzo's DNA, which we extracted from the sample you've submitted to us. This resulted in 6,880,898 DNA fragments sequenced, which represents 770,021,532 DNA bases that were sequenced. Using this data along with the latest cat genome (felis_catus_9.0), we analyzed genetic variants across 18 chromosomes to generate this report.

We assigned Agent DiNozzo to the Western breed group based on the comparative genomic similarity to breeds belonging to the Western group. Within the Western breed group, we ranked the individual member breeds based on how similar your cat is to each breed.

Western breeds include: American Shorthair, Persian, Siberian, British Shorthair, Maine Coon, Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest Cat, Abyssinian, Exotic Shorthair, Turkish Angora, and Ragdoll.

Eastern breeds include: Oriental Shorthair, Burmese, Birman, and Siamese.

Hybrid cats are the result of mating between a domestic cat and a wild cat. They include the Bengal (asian leopard x domestic) and the Savannah breeds (serval x domestic).

Summary

2

Breed Groups

Western

Eastern

Hybrid

Polycat

Name
Agent DiNozzo

Parent

Ellen 

Gender
Male

Breed group
Western

Date of birth
‎6‎/‎1‎/‎2018

Story

Mostly solid gray with a few white spots on the abdomen; black nose; green eyes...

Your cat is most similar to these breeds

(Ranked by similarity)

Your cat is more similar to these wild cats

Turkish AngoraRagdollAmericanShorthair

1

2

3

cheetahleopardtigercougar

1

2

3

4

Breed groups

3

Our genetic analysis looks for regions on your cat's chromosomes that are most similar to individual/groups of purebred cats. These similar regions do not necessarily indicate purebred ancestry. As feline friends, we all know that cats have their own unique personalities and physical characteristics. So, the exciting part is that there are potential genomic locations that define certain breed traits. As we continue to add more purebred cats to our database, we can start narrowing down the specific genomic regions that define purebred cats and eventually their traits. Based on our database of purebred cats, we can divide breeds into three main categories: Western, Eastern, and Hybrid.
The assignment of your cat to the breed groups is not determined by genomic composition, but rather by the specific breed that your cat is most similar to.

A1A2A3B1B2B3B4C1C2D1D2D3D4E1E2E3F1F2

Genomic composition of breed groups

Chromosome Map

25.57% Western

28.84% Eastern

12.73% Hybrid

32.86% Polycat

western breeds

4

1

Turkish Angora

More similar than 97.92% of the cats in our database

2

Ragdoll

More similar than 97.71% of the cats in our database

3

American Shorthair

More similar than 89.44% of the cats in our database

4

British Shorthair

More similar than 69.97% of the cats in our database

5

Maine Coon

More similar than 62.84% of the cats in our database

6

Russian Blue

More similar than 37.72% of the cats in our database

7

Siberian

More similar than 17.43% of the cats in our database

8

Norwegian Forest Cat

More similar than 13.77% of the cats in our database

9

Abyssinian

More similar than 12.15% of the cats in our database

Turkish Angora

5

Chromosome map

Turkish Angora regions

Agent DiNozzo is more similar to the Turkish Angora than 97.92% of all other cats in our database

Overview

The Turkish Angora is an ancient, natural breed from Turkey. It is thought that this breed is the true origin of the mutation for white coat color and long hair in domestic cats. Turkish Angoras have long, posh and silky coats and their bodies are graceful and agile. Ears are pointed and the tail is rich and upright. Although they are most famous for their shimmery white furs, their coats can also be tabby (brown or white), black with a chocolate brown undercoat or a variety of smoke tones. The eyes are almond-shaped and come in a variety of colors, and heterochromia is not uncommon.

Breed Origins

This breed, like all domestic cats, is descended from the African wildcat, and has developed through natural selection in the regions of Anatolia, Turkey. Turkish Angoras were used for the development of the Persian breed, as cat fanciers selected them for their luxurious coats. In the 20th century a breeding program was started by the Ankara Zoo, which began protecting and preserving pure Angora cats. In United States, The Cat Fanciers' Association officially recognized the breed in 1963, but only white Angoras were accepted until 1978. Today, all cat registries in the US recognize an assortment of coats and patterns of the Turkish Angoras.

Genetic Predisposition

The genes associated with the formation of a white coat (the dominant white gene and the white-spotting gene) seem to be linked to causing deafness shortly after birth. Deafness in white cats is found more commonly among cats with blue eyes or with heterochromia, because the white gene disrupts melanin development in one or sometimes both eyes and occasionally at the same time causing the degeneration of the cochlea (inner ear). This results in irreversible deafness in one or both ears. Other genetic conditions found in the breed are hereditary ataxia, an autosomal recessive neurological disorder and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease that affects the heart muscle (myocardium). Scientists have found that feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be inherited, however the exact cause remains unknown.

Personality

Turkish Angoras are affectionate and intelligent companions. They are curious and enjoy being involved in everyday human activity. They often bond most with one person in the family, and can become very protective of them. They are energetic, athletic, and playful. They are highly trainable, and get along well with children and other pets.

Ragdoll

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Chromosome map

Ragdoll regions

Agent DiNozzo is more similar to the Ragdoll than 97.71% of all other cats in our database

Overview

Alongside the Maine Coon, the Ragdoll is considered one of the world’s largest cat breeds with an average weight ranging from 15 to 20 pounds. These friendly felines often have long, lustrous coats that come in a variety of colors and patterns such as white, tortoiseshell, lynx, lilac, blue, chocolate, and seal.

Breed Origins

The Ragdoll is considered to be a native to the United States. It is said that they originated in California during the 1960s. The breed was created through the crossing of a long-haired, white cat named Josephine, a seal colored mitted cat, and a black cat. It is believed that Josephine may have been a hybrid of a Persian and possibly a Birman or Siamese.

Genetic Predisposition

The Ragdoll is a strong, healthy breed that can live a healthy long life if nurtured properly. There are a few things to keep in mind though. These cats are at a higher risks for developing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM can be caused by several genetic mutations that have been identified in about 20% of Ragdoll cats (Longer, M. 2013).

Personality

These elegant kitties are quite easygoing. They are calm and very sweet-natured, enjoying cuddles whenever available. They're known to possess quirky behaviors like drinking water from the tap or going limp like a “ragdoll” when being held. They are the ultimate lap cat, and because of their docile demeanor, they make perfect pets for families with children or other pets.

American Shorthair

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Chromosome map

American Shorthair regions

Agent DiNozzo is more similar to the American Shorthair than 89.44% of all other cats in our database

Overview

Sturdy, powerful, agile and full of endurance, the American Shorthair has all the characteristic of a skilled hunter. These beauties are defined by their large heads, powerful jaws and full cheeks. American Shorthairs have short, dense coats that come in various colors such as gold, brown, cameo, calico, and the popular silver tabby. Their eyes are large and distinctive and come in colors such as blue, copper, hazel and gold.

Breed Origins

The first American Shorthairs were believed to have accompanied European settlers who left Europe and set their sails for North America. They were brought onboard as mice hunters, protecting the ship's cargo from rodent infestation. These hardy companions didn't receive their American Shorthair name until 1966, when they were crowned the title in order to differentiate them from regular random-bred, domestic shorthair cats.

Genetic Predisposition

Although the American Shorthair is considered a healthy breed with very few health problems, they can be affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). They are also prone to inherited craniofacial defects which can range from mild versions like dermoid cysts to more serious conditions such as cleft palates and crooked jaws, where the latter results in the development of misaligned teeth.

Personality

The American Shorthair is the ideal family cat. These versatile cats are social, easygoing and quite affectionate. Even though they aren't typically known to be lap cats, they will certainly appreciate a spot next to you on the sofa. Being a moderately active breed, they are not overly demanding of attention and activity, and are good at keeping themselves entertained. When not hunting for random insects, the American Shorthair can be found lounging the day away in the sun.

Health and Wellness

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We hope you enjoyed flipping through the first chapter of your kitty’s DNA story. We sure enjoyed getting to know more about them! This is just the start of connecting all of the kitty dots, stay tuned - there is much more to come.

Feline health & wellness is very important to us! Together, we will elevate feline care to a new level on our mission to help cats live healthier and happier lives. We’ve shared some actionable insights to help you optimize your kitty’s health and well being, so that you may get to know your cat better!

Visit your veterinarian

Be proactive and have your kitty examined regularly. Annual (semi-annual for older cats) wellness exams and routine lab tests can help veterinarians find and treat many health conditions before they become life-threatening. Check-ups are especially important for cats, who are excellent at hiding when they’re sick or in pain.

Keep your cat at a healthy weight

Obesity is as dangerous for cats as it is for people. It puts them at risk for health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and lung disease. It can even increase their risk of developing cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about what a healthy weight means for your cat.

Polish those pearly whites

Unlike humans, cats can’t brush their teeth. Partner with your veterinarian to create a dental care plan. The bacteria that collects on your cat’s teeth can also enter their bloodstream, contributing to a plethora of health issues and other feline diseases.

Provide clean water daily

If your kitty isn't drinking enough water, they could become dehydrated or develop a urinary tract disease. Always make sure that you provide a constant supply of clean water. If they are finicky about water, try providing an intriguing fountain or feed them wet canned food which adds more water to their diet.

Give your cat mini exams at home

Petting and brushing your cat is about more than minimizing hairballs and showing your kitty love. It also lets you get your hands on your kitty so you can notice any lumps, bumps, or growths early and get them checked out right away. It’s equally important to look for changes in behavior, stool/urine, coat condition and weight. By knowing your kitty well, you can catch changes before it’s too late.

Proper nutrition can increase life expectancy

Aging includes a multitude of factors: environment, breed characteristics, nutrition and genetics. To help your cat live her best life, she needs a high-moisture, species-appropriate diet. While diet is important, how much and how often your cat eats is also key. Additional Tips: If you have more than one cat, feed them separately and monitor each one’s consumption.

Exercise your cat’s body and mind

Kitties need both physical and mental exercise! Make sure they have plenty of toys to play with, which could include food puzzles and toys that take them through an entire prey sequence (ending with a “kill”). Cat trees, perches and shelves are important too – they allow your cat to monitor what’s happening outside a window, or keep an eye on what’s happening in your home.

There is no mention of skin conditions or itching in his breed(s). There is also nothing to explain his weird vocalizations (still trying to upload examples for you). From the personality descriptions, he sounds more like a Turkish Angora. However, the people who surrendered him to the humane society said he couldn't ever get along with other cats. Since I've had him, he has never seen another cat face-to-face; however, when he watches cats in our backyard through the window, he doesn't act very territorial, so I don't know that for sure.

[scootypuffjr]

Thank you for going through the trouble of sharing all that with us! Very interesting reading

[eel21788]

On ‎7‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 8:53 PM, scootypuffjr said:

Thank you for going through the trouble of sharing all that with us! Very interesting reading

Update #6

Basepaws emailed me a couple of surveys with questionnaires about my cat's physical appearance and personality traits, so they could add more detail to their databases.

Edited July 17, 2019 by eel21788