Discover the True Age of Your Cat with the Cat Age Test
You may know your cat’s personality, favourite treats, and daily habits, but one detail is often uncertain: “How old is my cat really?” The Cat Age Test provides a reliable answer using advanced scientific methods. This specialised test estimates your cat’s age through a quick and gentle mouth swab, offering one of the most precise assessments available for felines. It is particularly beneficial for rescued cats, shelter adoptions, strays, or any feline whose exact birthdate was never recorded. The test delivers impressive accuracy, typically within ±12 months, with 75% of cases falling within a five-month margin.
- Rescued or stray cats with unknown histories.
- Cats adopted without a verified age.
- Companion animals whose birthdates were never documented.
- Any cat owner looking for age-specific health or care guidance.
Please note: This test is not recommended for kittens under 1 year of age.
What Are The Benefits of the Cat Age Test?
The Cat Age Test provides more than just a number, it offers clarity and helps improve your cat’s long-term wellbeing. Understanding your cat’s real age allows you to tailor nutrition, veterinary schedules, and lifestyle choices to better suit their life stage. For example, if your feline is older than initially assumed, you can adjust their diet, encourage appropriate activity levels, and plan age-relevant health checks.
The Cat Age Test offers three essential benefits:
- Certainty: Many cats arrive in homes without age documentation. This test provides science-based evidence to support informed decisions.
- Personal Insight: Age significantly influences dietary needs, exercise habits, and preventive care. Knowing your cat’s life stage allows you to anticipate their needs.
- Useful Data for Vets: A clear age estimate supports more accurate diagnostics, risk evaluation, and healthcare planning.
What The Cat Age Test Reveals and How to Interpret the Results
Once your cat’s sample reaches the laboratory, a validated epigenetic model is used to calculate chronological age. Your results provide an estimated birthday (month/year) and a typical accuracy window of ±12 months. This method is far more dependable than traditional visual age assessments based on teeth or appearance. For instance, if the results indicate your cat is entering the senior stage, you can plan dietary changes and routine health screenings accordingly.
Important: This test does not diagnose medical conditions and should not replace veterinary examinations.
Sample Collection for the Cat Age Test
Collecting your cat’s DNA sample is quick, easy, and stress-free. Your kit includes everything required: a mouth swab, a tube with DNA preservative, step-by-step instructions, and a return mailer box.
Important Tips for Accurate Results:
- Collect the sample before feeding for the most reliable outcome.
- Handle the swab gently and avoid contamination.
- Return the sample promptly to ensure timely processing.
How the Cat Age Test Works
The process is entirely non-invasive and can be completed at home. No needles, vet visits, or sedation, ideal for cats that become stressed in unfamiliar environments.
- Open the kit and review the included instructions.
- Use the swab to gently collect cells from the inside of your cat’s cheek.
- Place the swab into the DNA preservative tube and secure it.
- Label the sample as directed.
- Pack the sample using the return mailer box.
- Send the sample back using the provided prepaid return envelope.
Which Cats Can Be Tested?
The Cat Age Test is designed exclusively for cats of all breeds, sizes, and backgrounds. Whether your feline is a purebred, a shelter rescue, or a stray with an unknown past, this test provides a reliable estimate of their true age. It is suitable for all adult cats over 1 year old.
Summary of cats suitable for testing:
- Purebred and mixed-breed cats.
- Rescue and adopted cats with unknown ages.
- Cats with missing or approximate birth records.
- Any feline requiring age-specific health or lifestyle planning.
The Science Behind the Cat Age Test
This test relies on epigenetic biomarkers, specifically, DNA methylation patterns associated with feline aging. Methylation levels change predictably as cats grow older, allowing scientists to estimate chronological age with high accuracy. Most results fall within ±12 months of the true age, and 75% of validation samples are within five months.
How It Compares the Cat Age Test With Other DNA Tests
The Cat Age Test focuses on estimating life stage rather than identifying breed or detecting intolerances. While other tests examine ancestry or health traits, this test provides actionable age-based insights, making it uniquely valuable for cats with unknown backgrounds.
Every cat deserves personalised care. Whether your feline companion arrived as a tiny kitten, a mysterious stray, or a shelter adoption, understanding their true age allows you to support their health with confidence. Order your kit today, collect the sample from home, return it, and discover your cat’s real age with scientific precision.
| Feature | Cat Age Test. | Other Pet Age Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Species Covered | Cats of all breeds and backgrounds | Often limited to dogs; many do not support cats |
| Accuracy | Accurate within ±12 months; 75% within ±5 months | Varies widely; fewer studies on feline accuracy |
| Sample Collection | Quick, non-invasive mouth swab at home | May require vet support or more complex methods |
| Key Differences | Designed specifically for cats Based on epigenetic aging markers Provides life-stage context and suggested birthday |
Often excludes cats Limited validation data Less detailed life-stage guidance |
Special Offers and Discounts
The price of a single Cat Age test is $249.
If you plan to purchase multiple tests, you can enjoy a $10 discount per subsequent test.
Other Cat Testing Services Available from EasyDNA
We offer a number of other tests for cats including our CatCheck Feline Genetic Disease DNA Test which is one of the most comprehensive genetic screening tests available in the market to date and our Cat Intolerance Test which seeks to confirm sensitives of your cat to various food, environmental, and artificial allergens. Check our complete list of Cat DNA testing to find out more about your pet.