gavel Policy page

Medical, Veterinary and Cat DNA Testing Disclaimer

This cat DNA test disclaimer explains the veterinary, scientific, sample, reporting and informational limitations that apply when you use CatDNATest.us, purchase a feline test, submit a sample, contact support or review a report.

Please read this veterinary testing disclaimer together with our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, product instructions and any consent or laboratory documents supplied with your test.

Visit Support Contact Us

calendar_month Last updated: June 23, 2026 language United States

Read this before using a report

medical_information

Not a veterinary diagnosis Reports do not replace examination, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian.

biotech

Each product has a limited scope A genetic, allergy, microbiome or wellness report only addresses the items included in that test.

medication

Do not change care solely because of a report Medication, supplements, food and treatment decisions require appropriate veterinary review.

verified_user

Authority and accurate identity are required You are responsible for lawful, humane collection and correct identification of the tested cat.

Veterinary limits Consumer reports do not replace professional veterinary care.

Scientific limits Interpretations depend on current research, databases and methods.

Sample limits Quality, identity, storage and collection can affect testing.

Official-use limits Consumer reports may not satisfy registry, legal or insurance requirements.

emergency

Not for veterinary emergencies or urgent treatment decisions

CatDNATest.us, its email addresses, website forms and customer-support channels are not veterinary emergency services. If your cat appears seriously ill, injured, poisoned or in distress, contact a licensed veterinarian, an emergency veterinary hospital or an appropriate animal poison-control service immediately. Do not wait for a response from CatDNATest.us.

Disclaimer guide

Find the section you need

The page is grouped by test and user type so pet owners, breeders, rescues, shelters and veterinary professionals can find the limitations relevant to them.

description

General scope

Intended purpose, veterinary relationship and overall service limitations.

View sections arrow_forward

genetics

Genetic testing

Disease screening, PKD, breed, ancestry, parentage and relatedness limitations.

View sections arrow_forward

science

Allergy and wellness

Allergy, intolerance, gut microbiome and biological-age report limitations.

View sections arrow_forward

biotech

Samples and results

Collection, identity, contamination, inconclusive results and changing science.

View sections arrow_forward

health_and_safety

Decisions and users

Veterinary care, breeding, rescues, clinics, registries and official uses.

View sections arrow_forward

policy

Service and policies

Turnaround, comparisons, third parties, privacy and customer-support limits.

View sections arrow_forward

About the service

General scope and intended use

These sections explain what the disclaimer covers and what CatDNATest.us content, kits and reports are—and are not—intended to do.

Scope and definitions

This disclaimer applies to:

CatDNATest.us and its website content;
product and category descriptions;
cat DNA tests and feline genetic reports;
genetic health, breed, ancestry and parentage services;
allergy, sensitivity and intolerance testing;
gut microbiome, wellness and biological-age testing;
at-home collection kits and sample materials;
sample reports and completed reports;
articles, comparisons, alternatives, case studies and educational resources;
emails, calls, forms and customer-support communications; and
laboratory, fulfilment and other third-party services arranged through the website.

In this disclaimer, “CatDNATest.us,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the website operator identified in the Terms of Service. “Services” includes the website, products, kits, testing, reports, educational content and administrative support.

Product-specific descriptions, sample instructions, laboratory requirements and consent documents also apply. This disclaimer does not replace any document supplied for a particular test.

Educational, screening and wellness purposes

Unless a service is expressly identified in writing as a regulated veterinary diagnostic service, website content and consumer reports are provided for general informational, educational, screening or wellness purposes.

They are not intended to:

diagnose, confirm or rule out a veterinary disease;
replace a physical examination, imaging or clinical laboratory testing;
determine the cause of symptoms;
prescribe medication, food, supplements or treatment;
predict a medical outcome with certainty;
monitor disease progression;
guarantee health, lifespan, behavior or breeding outcome; or
replace advice from a licensed veterinarian.

Review our cat health screening information and the individual product page to understand what each test is designed to report.

No veterinarian-client-patient relationship

Using the website, placing an order, submitting a sample, contacting support or receiving a report does not create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

Veterinary practice requirements and veterinarian-client-patient relationship rules may vary by state. CatDNATest.us and its support personnel are not acting as your cat’s veterinarian unless a separately identified professional veterinary service expressly states otherwise.

Support may assist with product information, ordering, kit use, shipping, sample return, order status and report access. Support cannot examine your cat, diagnose symptoms, prescribe treatment or provide an individualized veterinary treatment plan.

Not every service is a DNA test

CatDNATest.us offers or describes multiple testing categories. Some services analyze inherited DNA, while others may analyze blood-based immune reactivity, fecal microbiome patterns, biological-age markers or other non-DNA information.

The phrase “cat DNA test” used on the website does not mean that every product uses the same sample type, analytical method or scientific interpretation. Always review the selected product page, sample requirements and report scope before ordering. Our cat DNA test pricing page and features overview can help distinguish the available services.

Genetic reports

Feline genetic testing limitations

A cat health DNA test or breed report provides targeted genetic information. It does not provide a complete health assessment, complete pedigree or guaranteed outcome.

Genetic health screening limitations

A test in our genetic health category examines only the genes, variants and markers listed for that product.

A detected variant may indicate carrier status, an association or increased genetic risk. It does not necessarily mean the cat currently has the condition, will develop it, or will develop it with a particular severity.

A “clear,” “normal,” “negative” or “not detected” result means the tested variant was not detected using the selected method. It does not mean the cat is free from every inherited disorder, cannot develop the condition through another variant, cannot develop a similar condition for a non-genetic reason, or will remain healthy.

Important findings should be reviewed with a veterinarian. Clinical or confirmatory testing may be appropriate before treatment or breeding decisions. See our cat health DNA test guide.

PKD genetic screening limitations

A feline polycystic kidney disease DNA test is a genetic screening tool. It does not assess current kidney function, count kidney cysts, determine disease stage or predict precisely whether or when clinical signs may develop.

A positive result does not show how severely a cat is affected. A negative result does not rule out every kidney disorder, every genetic cause or every cause of renal disease.

A veterinarian may recommend physical examination, blood or urine testing, diagnostic imaging or other follow-up based on breed, age, history and symptoms.

Breed identification and trait limitations

A cat breed identification test compares selected genetic patterns with available reference populations, databases and analytical models.

Breed percentages, breed groups and trait predictions are estimates. They may be affected by database size, breeds represented or omitted, genetic similarity between breeds, mixed or distant ancestry, markers examined, laboratory platform, algorithm and later database updates.

A breed result does not:

prove that a cat is purebred;
replace registration papers or a breeder-issued pedigree;
establish ownership or identity;
guarantee appearance, temperament or behavior; or
confirm eligibility for a registry, show or breeding program.

Read the cat breed DNA test guide for more context.

Ancestry limitations

A cat ancestry report estimates genetic similarity to available reference populations. Geographic, breed-group or ancestral labels are probabilistic and may overlap.

An ancestry result cannot identify every ancestor, reconstruct a complete family tree, prove a breeder’s representation or establish a cat’s nationality, registration status or official breed identity.

Different providers may return different estimates because they use different markers, reference populations and models. Results may also change as databases develop. See our cat ancestry DNA test guide.

Parentage, relatedness and identity limitations

A cat parentage DNA test or relatedness report may estimate whether submitted cats are genetically consistent with a claimed relationship. Accuracy depends on sample identity, sample quality, the individuals tested, the markers examined and the statistical method used.

Unless a service is expressly sold and documented with identity verification, witnessed collection and an appropriate chain-of-custody procedure, an at-home consumer result is not intended as legally verified proof of:

parentage or pedigree;
ownership or identity;
breeder registration;
contract compliance;
insurance eligibility;
court evidence; or
the animal from which an unsupervised sample was collected.

The receiving registry, insurer, court, breeder organization or other third party decides whether it will accept a report.

Wellness reports

Allergy, sensitivity, microbiome and biological age

These services use different methods and answer different questions. None should be treated as a complete veterinary diagnosis or stand-alone treatment plan.

Cat allergy test limitations

A service in our allergy testing category may report IgE reactivity, sensitization or another response to substances included in the selected panel. A laboratory result alone does not establish that an allergen is causing the cat’s current symptoms.

Results may include false-positive, false-negative, cross-reactive, clinically insignificant or unexpected findings. A cat can show laboratory reactivity without clinical symptoms, while a clinically important allergy may not be identified by the selected panel.

Veterinary allergy assessment generally requires medical and dietary history, physical examination, parasite-control review, symptom patterns, environmental exposure, response to treatment or diet trials and other clinical findings.

Do not use an allergy report as the sole basis for medication, immunotherapy, environmental removal or a major dietary change.

Food sensitivity and intolerance limitations

“Food allergy,” “food sensitivity” and “food intolerance” are not interchangeable terms. A service in our sensitivity and wellness category may use a method different from a genetic test or blood-based IgE panel.

A sensitivity or intolerance report does not by itself diagnose an immune-mediated food allergy, digestive disease or the cause of skin, ear or gastrointestinal symptoms.

Veterinary assessment of suspected food allergy commonly requires a carefully controlled elimination diet followed by an appropriate dietary challenge under veterinary guidance.

Do not remove multiple ingredients, use a nutritionally incomplete diet or make a long-term feeding change solely because of a consumer report. This is especially important for kittens, pregnant or nursing cats and cats with existing conditions.

Cat gut microbiome test limitations

A service in our gut health category provides information about organisms, markers or patterns detected in one submitted sample using the selected method.

A microbiome report is a snapshot from one sample at one time. Results may be influenced by diet, recent diet changes, medication, supplements, antibiotics, age, health status, stress, environment, collection, storage, shipping, analytical methods and reference databases.

A cat microbiome test does not independently diagnose infection, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic enteropathy, food allergy, malabsorption, cancer or another gastrointestinal condition.

An association between a microbial pattern and a health characteristic does not prove that the pattern caused a symptom or disease. Do not begin antibiotics, probiotics, supplements or a therapeutic diet solely because of a consumer microbiome report.

Biological-age and cat wellness limitations

A service in our cat wellness category may provide a biological-age estimate generated from selected markers, the submitted sample, laboratory method, reference population and algorithm.

A biological-age result is not:

the cat’s exact chronological age;
a prediction of remaining lifespan;
a diagnosis of disease;
a complete assessment of current health;
a guarantee of future health or longevity; or
a substitute for veterinary examination or senior-cat screening.

Results may vary between providers, methods, sample dates and reference datasets. Wellness insights should not be treated as a prognosis.

Testing process

Sample collection and report limitations

Correct collection, labeling, identity and handling are essential. Even a correctly collected sample can produce an incomplete, unexpected or inconclusive result.

Sample collection and identification

Different tests may require oral swabs, blood, hair, fecal material or another sample type. Always follow the instructions supplied with the selected product.

Testing may be affected by:

insufficient quantity or poor sample quality;
food, environmental or cross-animal contamination;
mixed samples from more than one cat;
incorrect or incomplete labeling;
sample degradation or improper storage;
shipping delays or temperature exposure;
collection from the wrong animal; or
failure to follow instructions.

Our at-home cat DNA test kit guide provides general information, but the instructions included with the purchased product control.

Humane collection, ownership and authority

You must own the cat or have lawful authority from the owner, guardian, breeder, rescue, shelter or other responsible organization before collecting and submitting a sample.

Collection must be safe, humane and consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Do not use force or continue an attempt if collection may injure or seriously distress the cat or collector. Seek veterinary assistance when home collection cannot be completed safely.

Do not submit:

a sample taken without authorization;
a deliberately misidentified or substituted sample;
a human sample;
a sample from another species unless expressly accepted; or
a sample obtained through abuse, injury, theft or unlawful conduct.

We may refuse, suspend or cancel testing where authority, identity, animal welfare or lawful collection is uncertain.

Multiple cats and contamination risk

Each cat must have separately assigned and clearly labeled collection materials. Shared food bowls, grooming, close contact, litter boxes and reused collection items may increase contamination risk depending on the sample type.

Keep collection materials separated, collect from one animal at a time and follow any pre-collection restrictions stated in the kit instructions.

If identity or contamination is uncertain, stop collection and contact Support before returning the sample.

False, incomplete and inconclusive results

No testing method is perfect. A result may be:

false-positive or false-negative;
incomplete, inconclusive or unavailable;
affected by contamination or sample mix-up;
limited by the markers, organisms or analytes included;
limited by current scientific knowledge; or
affected by technical, analytical, clerical or human error.

The laboratory may request a new sample, recollection, clarification or additional information. Learn how to read common report sections in our cat DNA test results guide.

Scientific knowledge, databases and interpretations may change

Feline genetics, allergy testing, microbiome science, epigenetics, breed databases and veterinary research continue to develop. A classification, interpretation or estimate considered reasonable when a report is issued may later change because of new research, newly discovered variants, updated reference populations, revised databases, improved analytical methods, corrected information or changes in scientific consensus.

Unless expressly included in the purchased service or required by applicable law, CatDNATest.us is not obligated to continuously reinterpret, update or reissue a previously delivered report.

Published accuracy figures apply only to the test, method, samples, markers and conditions for which they are supported. Review our cat DNA test accuracy guide for general context.

Using the report

Veterinary decisions and professional users

Consumer reports can support discussion and planning, but important veterinary, breeding, placement and official decisions require independent judgment.

Confirm important findings with a veterinarian

Do not use a consumer test as the sole basis for diagnosis, medication, surgery, therapeutic diet, breeding exclusion, rehoming, euthanasia or another serious decision.

A veterinarian may recommend:

a complete medical and family history;
physical examination;
blood or urine testing;
diagnostic imaging;
pathology, microbiology or other clinical testing;
repeat or confirmatory testing;
referral to a specialist; or
a supervised elimination diet.

A veterinarian may reasonably disagree with a consumer report’s interpretation or suggested priority.

Medication, supplements, diets and treatment

Do not start, stop, increase, decrease or replace medication, supplements, therapeutic food or veterinary treatment solely because of website content or a report.

Medications and supplements may cause side effects, interact with other products or be unsuitable for a particular cat. Dietary restriction may create health risks when it is not nutritionally complete and appropriately planned.

CatDNATest.us does not guarantee that any food, supplement, probiotic, medication or wellness action will be safe, suitable or effective for an individual animal.

Symptoms, illness and urgent care

Website content and reports may discuss symptoms for general educational purposes. Similar symptoms can have many causes, and a consumer test cannot determine the cause without appropriate veterinary assessment.

Do not delay, avoid or discontinue veterinary care because a report appears normal, a variant was not detected, a suspected allergen was not listed, a microbiome result appears favorable or customer support has not yet responded.

If your cat may be seriously ill, injured, poisoned or experiencing an urgent condition, seek immediate veterinary assistance.

Breeders and breeding decisions

Genetic screening can provide useful information for cat breeders, but no single result should be treated as a complete breeding assessment.

Breeding decisions may require clinical health, family history, breed-specific recommendations, genetic diversity, mode of inheritance, carrier pairings, age, reproductive health, temperament, welfare and additional testing.

A negative panel does not guarantee healthy offspring. A detected variant does not automatically determine whether an animal should or should not be bred. Seek guidance from a veterinarian or appropriately qualified animal-genetics professional.

Rescues, shelters and placement decisions

Rescues and shelters should not use a consumer result as the sole basis for intake refusal, adoption eligibility, medical classification, behavioral labeling, euthanasia or placement decisions.

Breed estimates and health-risk markers do not determine an individual cat’s behavior, present health or suitability for a home. Decisions should consider examination, observed behavior, history, welfare, organizational policy and applicable law.

The organization submitting the sample is responsible for authority, identity, recordkeeping and communication of limitations to adopters or other recipients.

Veterinary clinics and professional users

Products and reports used by veterinary clinics or through veterinary-clinic integrations remain subject to the test’s analytical and interpretive limitations.

A report does not direct professional judgment, establish a diagnosis or replace validation, confirmation or documentation required under applicable professional standards and state law.

The treating veterinarian remains responsible for clinical interpretation, communication, follow-up recommendations and the standard of care owed to the patient and client.

Registry, insurance, legal and official-use limitations

Unless a service is expressly sold and documented for a particular official purpose, consumer reports are not represented as satisfying the requirements of a breed registry, breeder association, insurer, court, government agency, research institution or other third party.

A breeder-registry integration does not guarantee that every registry will accept every product or report. Acceptance may depend on identity verification, chain of custody, laboratory qualifications, marker requirements, documentation and the receiving organization’s current rules.

Customers are responsible for confirming requirements before ordering. At-home collection generally cannot be converted retroactively into a witnessed, chain-of-custody collection.

No guarantee of benefit, suitability or outcome

CatDNATest.us does not guarantee that:

a test will explain symptoms, health or behavior;
a report will identify a clinically important condition;
a veterinarian, registry or other third party will agree with or accept a report;
a result will lead to diagnosis, treatment or improved health;
a diet or wellness change will be beneficial;
a sample will produce a complete or conclusive result;
breed or ancestry estimates will match appearance, pedigree or documentation;
a biological-age estimate will predict longevity;
a microbiome result will predict digestive health;
testing will prevent disease or produce healthy offspring; or
a report will meet every customer expectation.

Choose a product according to the question you want answered. Our cat DNA test guide, cost guide and pricing page can help you compare the available categories.

Service terms

Delivery, comparisons, providers and privacy

These sections explain operational limitations involving turnaround estimates, marketing content, external providers, personal information and customer support.

Turnaround, shipping and availability estimates

Any stated laboratory turnaround generally begins only after the correct laboratory receives a complete order and an eligible sample, unless the product page expressly states otherwise.

Turnaround, delivery and availability statements are estimates rather than guarantees unless expressly guaranteed in writing. Delays may result from postal or courier service, weather, natural disasters, customs, incorrect addresses, incomplete information, sample quality, recollection, laboratory workload, technical issues, holidays, supply interruptions or events beyond reasonable control.

Contact Support for help with an existing order.

Sample reports, testimonials and case studies

Sample reports demonstrate possible structure and presentation. They may not contain every section, result, limitation or outcome that appears in an individual report.

Testimonials, reviews and case studies describe individual experiences or illustrative scenarios. They are not veterinary evidence and do not guarantee that another customer will receive a similar result, benefit or experience.

Images, charts and diagrams may be simplified or illustrative and may not show the exact kit, laboratory process or biological mechanism.

Comparisons, alternatives and third-party brands

Content in our comparison section, alternatives section and cat DNA test reviews is provided for general consumer information.

Third-party features, prices, claims, availability and policies may change after publication. References to another company or product do not imply endorsement, partnership or affiliation unless expressly stated.

Customers should verify material information with the relevant third party before relying on a comparison or purchasing decision. Testimonials and rankings do not replace substantiation for objective product or health claims.

Third-party laboratories and service providers

We may use independent laboratories, couriers, payment processors, hosting providers, software providers, fulfilment partners and other contractors to provide parts of the Services.

These providers may have their own testing methods, reference data, technical limitations, terms, privacy practices, turnaround times, retention procedures and service interruptions.

A reference to accreditation, certification or a quality standard applies only to the laboratory, service, method and scope for which that status is current and expressly stated.

Privacy, animal information and test records

Orders, customer information, animal information, samples and reports may involve collection, processing, storage and disclosure by CatDNATest.us and relevant providers.

Review our Privacy Policy for information about personal information, cookies, providers and applicable privacy choices.

Do not send unnecessary human medical information, government identifiers or other sensitive documents through ordinary email or website forms. Contact support before sending material that was not requested.

Animal genetic information may not receive the same legal protections as human genetic or medical information. Customers should consider this before sharing a report with a breeder, registry, insurer, marketplace or other third party.

Customer-support limitations

Customer support can help with product information, ordering, kit use, shipping, sample receipt, report access, billing and account questions.

Support staff cannot:

diagnose a cat or determine why symptoms are occurring;
prescribe treatment or provide veterinary care;
recommend changes to prescription medication;
guarantee clinical significance, registry acceptance or legal admissibility;
provide emergency assistance; or
replace a licensed veterinarian.

Visit our FAQ or Contact page.

Commercial integrations and downstream communications

Veterinary clinics, breeder registries, ecommerce retailers and other organizations using CatDNATest.us content, referrals, integrations or resale arrangements are responsible for their own advertising, customer communications, professional duties, consent, recordkeeping and compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.

An ecommerce integration or other commercial relationship does not authorize a partner to make unsupported diagnostic, treatment, prevention, accuracy or outcome claims.

Partners must communicate relevant product limitations and must not present a consumer report as veterinary diagnosis, guaranteed pedigree, official identity or guaranteed health outcome unless the specific service and supporting documentation expressly justify that representation.

Relationship with other policies

This disclaimer should be read together with:

Privacy Policy;
Terms of Service;
product and category descriptions;
checkout disclosures;
kit and sample instructions;
laboratory documents; and
consent or authorization documents supplied with a test.

Product-specific terms control where they address a matter more specifically. Nothing in this disclaimer removes a right, remedy, warranty, duty or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

State and local requirements

Veterinary practice, animal ownership, breeding, shelter operations, sales, laboratory services, insurance, privacy and consumer-protection requirements may vary by state and locality.

Customers and professional users are responsible for determining whether a test, collection method, report or proposed use is permitted and appropriate in their jurisdiction.

CatDNATest.us does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee that a product or report will satisfy a state-specific, contractual, registry or professional requirement.

Updates to this disclaimer

We may update this disclaimer to reflect changes to products, laboratories, scientific information, legal requirements, integrations or business practices.

The revised version becomes effective when published on this page unless a later date is stated. The “Last updated” date identifies the most recent revision.

Contact us

Questions about a product, kit, order or report can be submitted through our Support Center or Contact page.

Customer support provides administrative assistance only and does not replace veterinary care, professional judgment or emergency services.

Need help?

Questions about a cat test or report?

Our support team can help with products, ordering, kits, sample returns and report access. For diagnosis, symptoms, treatment or urgent care, contact a licensed veterinarian.

Visit Support Contact Us