Look at Physical Features
One of the easiest ways to determine if cats are related is by examining their physical features. Certain traits like coat color, length, texture, and patterns often run in families and can indicate relatedness. For example, two cats with unique colorations like flame point or tortoiseshell are more likely to be related than two tabby cats, since distinctive coat colors are hereditary. Examining body shape is also telling – two cats with a similar slender build or cobby body are likely genetically linked.
Look closely at the shape and size of the head and ears. Cat DNA tests can determine relatedness and breed ancestry which influences facial features and ear shape. Eye color can also indicate relations, as blue or odd-eyes are rare and likely shared by blood relatives. Analyze coat length and texture for similarities as well. Longhaired cats like Persians and Maine Coons pass down their lush coats, while Rex cats share their curly coat gene. If two cats have an identical unusual fur length or texture, there’s a good chance they’re family.
Examine Behavioral Tendencies
When trying to determine if cats are related, examining their behavioral tendencies can provide some clues. Cats that are closely related often exhibit similarities in certain behaviors and temperament traits.
Activity levels can be telling. For example, if two cats are constantly on the move and highly energetic, they may share genes influencing activity levels. On the other hand, two cats that are more laidback and sedentary may also be related (Source).
Vocalization patterns can also indicate a connection. Cats that meow frequently or use similar-sounding meows to communicate may have learned those vocal behaviors from their mothers or siblings (Source).
Sociability is another sign. Cats that are very social and affectionate are likely related to other friendly, people-oriented cats. Shy, aloof cats may also share those traits with relatives (Source).
Hunting instincts can provide clues as well. Cats that eagerly stalk toys or small prey may have a genetic predisposition towards hunting passed down from ancestors (Source).
Finally, how cats interact with humans can indicate connections. Cats that are clingy or demanding of attention may have learned that behavior from mothers or siblings (Source).
Check Medical History
Susceptibility to certain illnesses and conditions can be inherited and passed down genetically within cat families. According to Inherited Disorders in Cats – International Cat Care, there are a number of genetic disorders that commonly affect cats including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease, progressive retinal atrophy, and glycogen storage disease. Checking the medical history of both cats can help determine if they suffer from any of the same genetic disorders, which may indicate they are biologically related.
Some examples of genetic disorders to look for when examining medical histories, according to Genetic Diseases In Cats: Common Conditions To Be Aware Of – Goodvet, include heart conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, kidney disease like polycystic kidney disease, vision issues like progressive retinal atrophy, and metabolic disorders like glycogen storage disease. A strong indicator of relation is if multiple cats across generations of the same family lines have experienced the same inherited disorder.
DNA Testing
The most accurate way to determine if two cats are related is through DNA analysis. There are a few companies that offer cat DNA tests that can look for genetic markers to assess relation, such as Basepaws and Wisdom Panel.
These tests analyze your cat’s DNA and compare it against a database of breed profiles and genetic markers. They look for certain sequences that indicate shared ancestry. If two cats have a lot of overlapping DNA segments, it’s very likely they are closely related. The more DNA they have in common, the more closely related they are.
DNA tests are much more definitive than just looking at physical features. While cats may look alike, their genetic code can tell the real story of their relation. DNA doesn’t lie! These advanced tests for cats can often detect nuances and connections that may not be obvious through visual examination alone.
So if you really want to know if your cats are related, consider investing in a cat DNA test. The results can uncover if they share a mother, father, grandparents, or are from the same purebred lines. DNA is the key to unlocking your cats’ ancestral secrets!
Know the Background
If you adopted multiple cats from the same litter, chances are they are siblings or at least closely related. Kittens raised together will develop bonds from their shared early experiences that can last a lifetime. According to one Reddit user, their two Bengals purchased together as kittens “know they smell in a way that is pleasant to them.”
Even if you adopted cats separately, if they were found together as strays, they may be littermates. Feral cats often stay with their mother and siblings until 6 months old when they venture out on their own. So stray kittens caught together likely grew up together.
Additionally, if your cats are descended from the same parents but different litters, they are still half-siblings genetically. They may recognize each other through scent and appearance. However, without growing up together, half-siblings usually don’t share the close bonds of cats from the same litter.
Talk to a Vet
Speaking with a veterinarian who has examined both cats can provide helpful insight into whether two cats are biologically related. Vets have access to medical records and results from prior exams that may reveal similarities or differences between the cats.
During a physical exam, the vet looks for distinctive features that may be inherited, like coat color/pattern, eye color, body shape, or congenital abnormalities. Cats that share unusual physical traits are more likely to be related. The vet can also note if the medical histories show the same health conditions or susceptibilities.
In talking with the owners, the vet can learn about each cat’s background. Details like age, geographic origin, breed, and family lineage can hint at relation. For example, two 5-year-old orange tabby cats adopted from the same region as kittens have higher odds of being siblings than two cats with completely distinct backgrounds.
While vet exams alone cannot definitively prove relation, they can provide supporting evidence alongside other methods like DNA tests and documented history. But vets have a wealth of insight based on medical records, physical presentation, and background information to determine if two cats are likely related.
Observe Interactions
Cats who are related often interact in friendly and familial ways. According to a study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, cats who are siblings or otherwise related will often groom each other, rub against each other, play together, and sleep curled up against one another (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.650143). These types of affiliative behaviors are a strong indicator that two cats share a close social bond and may be from the same litter or otherwise related. Observing how cats interact can provide clues about their relationship status. Cats who frequently engage in mutual grooming, play wrestling, rubbing, and sleeping together likely share a sibling or familial connection.
Check for Similar Markings
Unusual coat patterns, markings, or colors may indicate relation between cats. Identical or very similar markings on multiple cats are a strong indicator that the cats share ancestry and are related. For example, an unusual tabby stripe pattern appearing on multiple cats in the same household likely means those cats are siblings or share a parent. Calico cats, with their unique tricolor patchwork coats, also frequently show similar markings between related cats.
According to Catster, cats that share lighter coat colors often carry the same dilution gene, which controls coat color. So if you have multiple light-colored cats with similar diluted coat colors, like blue, lilac or cream, this suggests a genetic relation.
The same goes for darker coat colors too. Identical black cats with the same patterns or swirls in their fur are likely related. Similarity in any unusual coat characteristics, like a tuxedo pattern, van pattern, or extra toes, also indicates a blood relation.
Look Into Breed History
Knowledge of a cat’s parents and lineage from a breeder is one of the best ways to determine if two cats are related. Reputable breeders keep detailed records of their breeding cats, including pedigree information going back multiple generations. When acquiring a cat from a breeder, ask for documentation showing the kitten’s parents, grandparents, and other ancestors (Lipinski et al., 2008). This “family tree” allows you to trace lineage and see if two cats have any relatives in common, indicating they are likely related.
Pedigree analysis is especially useful for purebred cats like Siamese or Persians, where detailed records have been kept about parentage since the origins of the breeds. Two Siamese cats that trace back to some of the same founding breed lines are likely to share a common ancestor and be distantly related. However, pedigree information may be unavailable for mixed breed cats of unknown origin. In those cases, other methods may be needed to determine if two cats are related (Vin, 2012).
Conclusion
In summary, while there are many ways to examine potential familial ties between cats, none of the methods are completely definitive. Looking at physical features, behaviors, medical history and DNA can provide clues, but each has limitations. The background and breed history also offer useful context. In the end, cats may share close bonds without being biologically related. Understanding social and family connections in the feline world remains complex and fascinating. While science sheds light, the intricate web of feline relationships retains an air of mystery.
DNA tests, medical records, physical features and breed histories can hint at kinship but cannot prove cat relationships conclusively. Behavior and interactions suggest social ties but not necessarily genetic ones. Vets and specialists observe and analyze but cannot map feline family trees definitively. In the end, cat connections remain partially unknowable. Loving cat guardians can study clues about friendships and pedigree but should also accept that feline families ultimately remain mystifying.