Banner Photo Credit: Cutepawsmeow

Well, probably we should have started our blog with this post. As they say, better late than never ;)

So we are going to talk about basic genetics today. The feline genome was fully decoded in 2007. Of all of the cats in the world, a 4-year old Abyssinian cat named Cinnamon was chosen to be a genetic model for all felines in a project called the feline genome project. By donating a small vial of blood, Cinnamon provided scientists the wherewithal to map the feline genetic structure, eventually allowing for each gene's function to be noted and studied.

You may not have heard about this adorable breed of cat - they keep a low profile. But Munchkin cats are a new "short" breed of cat, quickly gaining fame and love worldwide. They come in all shapes and sizes, but have one thing in common: Unbelievably short, stumpy legs. If you're thinking about getting a Munchkin (or just want to see photos of adorable short kitties), this article's for you.

Banner Photo Credit: Cutepawsmeow

Happy International Cat Day, all your citizen scientists and feline fellows!

International Cat Day, one of our FAVORITE holidays, was created to celebrate our beloved felines across the globe. This holiday helps spread public awareness of the many needs of cats worldwide - because we know that cats need more than just a little TLC. Today, while we are celebrating all that is wonderful about our pawsome kitties, we are asking you to join our fight to improve global cat health.

Please note that you are reading the old version of this article. You can find the updated article here.

Has your cat been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease? You are not alone. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) affects up to 6% of all cats. Many cats with PKD will live long, happy lives despite having cysts in their kidneys. Unfortunately, some cats develop more or larger cysts than other PKD cats, and this can lead to chronic renal disease and kidney failure. It’s best to identify and treat this feline disease as soon as possible.

Genetics-based diets and medicine will revolutionize the way we care for our cats. However, we’re still just getting started. Research on cat DNA lags far behind research for humans, dogs, and even mice. When you join Basepaws, you are joining a community of cat-lovers who are improving the future lives of all cats.

Basepaws is giving away hundreds of FREE DNA tests to special cats willing to give a little fur to improve the lives of all felines, everywhere.

Your cat loves you - Here’s the proof

We recently asked 500 cat parents to answer a short survey about their cats’ personalities. It turns out that many stereotypes about cats are wrong. Here are our surprising results.

Although chubby cats are adorable, those extra pounds can have terrible consequences for kitty’s joints, heart and pancreas. Feline obesity lowers your cat’s life expectancy and increases your cat’s risk for diabetes and cancer. If your cat is overweight, you CAN help your cat achieve a healthy weight before it’s too late. Here are 6 reasons why your cat could have a big belly, and ways to get around them:

Please note that you are reading the old version of this article. You can find the updated article here.

Has your cat been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Don’t panic. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common feline heart disease, and up to 15% of all cats may suffer from it. In fact, many cats with HCM will live long and healthy lives without ever being diagnosed or treated. However, for some cats, HCM can become a devastating disease.

If you’re like 73% of cat owners, then your cat was either adopted from a shelter or picked up as a stray. Many of us love a Kitty Doe, with a secret past you’ll never learn and a family that’s been left far behind. How can we learn more about these mysterious cats?