What does a DNA test for a Sphynx cat check for?

A broad feline panel checks for dozens of known genetic variants, including inherited diseases such as congenital myasthenic syndrome and polycystic kidney disease, blood type, and coat traits. Our breeding cats are DNA tested for 40+ genetic predispositions.

Can a DNA test rule out HCM in a Sphynx?

No. Research has reported a variant associated with HCM in Sphynx, but much of the inherited risk is not explained by any single test. Echocardiogram screening of breeding cats by a veterinary cardiologist remains essential.

Is it bad if a breeding cat is a carrier?

Not on its own. Carriers of recessive conditions are usually healthy. What matters is that the breeder knows the results and never pairs two carriers of the same condition, so no affected kittens are produced.

DNA Testing in Sphynx Cats: What a 40+ Panel Covers and What It Cannot Tell You

October 30, 2026

“DNA tested” appears on a lot of breeder websites, often without much explanation. It is a genuinely useful tool, and at Wrinklebottom every breeding cat is DNA tested for 40+ genetic predispositions, because health is our number one priority. But a DNA panel is one part of responsible health screening, not the whole of it. This guide explains what feline DNA testing is, what a broad panel looks for, which results matter most in Sphynx, and — just as important — what DNA testing cannot tell you.

What a feline DNA panel actually is

A feline DNA panel is a laboratory test, usually run from a cheek swab, that checks a cat’s genes for specific known variants. Some variants cause inherited diseases. Others determine blood type, coat colour, pattern or hair type. Commercial panels test for dozens of these markers at once, which is why you will see breeders describe cats as tested for “40+” or more conditions and traits.

Each marker tells you one of three things about that specific variant:

Clear (no copies). The cat does not carry the variant tested for.
Carrier (one copy). For recessive conditions, the cat is typically unaffected but can pass the variant on.
At risk or affected (two copies, or one for dominant conditions). The cat may develop, or already has, the condition.

The value for a breeder is in planning pairings. Two carriers of the same recessive condition should not be bred together, because some of their kittens could be affected. A carrier paired with a clear cat produces no affected kittens for that condition. DNA testing lets breeders avoid producing disease without throwing healthy carrier cats out of a small gene pool.

Markers that matter for Sphynx

Panels cover conditions seen across many breeds. A few results deserve particular attention in Sphynx and related breeds:

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS)

CMS is an inherited neuromuscular condition described in Devon Rex and Sphynx cats, causing muscle weakness that can become apparent in young kittens. It is recessive, and a DNA test is available, so responsible breeding can avoid producing affected kittens.

Blood type

Most cats are blood type A, but type B is more common in some breeds, including Sphynx and Devon Rex. Blood type matters for two reasons: transfusions, and a condition called neonatal isoerythrolysis, where kittens with type A blood born to a type B mother can become seriously ill after nursing. Knowing the blood type of every breeding cat lets a breeder plan pairings and births safely. It is also worth knowing for your own pet if it ever needs a transfusion.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM is the most important heart disease in Sphynx, and it is where DNA testing is most often misunderstood. DNA tests exist for HCM variants identified in Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats, and research has reported a variant associated with HCM in Sphynx. But a negative DNA result does not mean a Sphynx will never develop HCM. Much of the inherited risk in the breed is not explained by any single test. That is why heart screening by echocardiogram remains essential — see below and our full article on Sphynx health, HCM and lifespan.

Other inherited conditions

Broad panels also screen for conditions such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD), several forms of progressive retinal atrophy, pyruvate kinase deficiency and others seen across the cat population. In a well-managed Sphynx line most results should come back clear, but the point is to know rather than assume.

What DNA testing cannot tell you

This is the part that is often left out. A DNA panel:

Only finds what it tests for. It checks known variants. It cannot rule out conditions with no known genetic marker, or with complex inheritance involving many genes.
Does not replace a vet. Clear results say nothing about infections, parasites, injuries or the cat’s current condition.
Does not replace heart scanning. In Sphynx, echocardiography of breeding cats by a veterinary cardiologist — repeated over the cat’s breeding life, because HCM can develop later — is the core of responsible heart screening.
Does not test for infectious disease. FeLV and FIV status needs a separate blood test.

This is why our health programme has several parts. Our household is FeLV and FIV negative, our cats are HCM scanned, and they are DNA tested for 40+ genetic predispositions. Each test answers a different question.

How to read a breeder’s health paperwork

When you speak to any breeder, ask to see the documents rather than a summary. Good questions include:

Which laboratory ran the DNA panel, and can I see the report for both parents?
Are any of the parents carriers, and if so, how were pairings planned around that?
What are the parents’ blood types?
When were the parents last heart scanned, and by whom?
What is the household’s FeLV and FIV status?

A carrier result is not a red flag on its own — it is normal and manageable. What matters is that the breeder knows the results, understands them, and can explain the pairing. We show families our paperwork before they ask for it.

Should you DNA test your pet Sphynx?

For a desexed pet from a breeder who tested both parents, it is usually optional. Some owners like to know their cat’s blood type in advance, or enjoy the trait results. If your cat came from an unknown background, a panel can be genuinely informative, alongside regular veterinary checks. Talk to your vet about what makes sense, and remember that for heart health, the right test is an echocardiogram if your vet hears a murmur or recommends screening.

The bottom line

DNA testing is one of the best tools breeders have, and in Sphynx it sits alongside heart scanning and infectious disease testing rather than replacing them. When a breeder says their cats are “DNA tested”, the right follow-up is: for what, by whom, and can I see it?

If you would like to see the results behind a Wrinklebottom litter, start with the Available Kittens page — families on First Look hear about pairings, and the parents’ health paperwork, first. Our guide to how reservations work explains the steps.

Meet the cats behind the advice

Everything here comes out of running a household of Sphynx and Donskoy cats — meet the queens, studs and kittens, or send us an enquiry if you have a question we have not answered.

Frequently asked questions

What does a DNA test for a Sphynx cat check for?: A broad feline panel checks for dozens of known genetic variants, including inherited diseases such as congenital myasthenic syndrome and polycystic kidney disease, blood type, and coat traits. Our breeding cats are DNA tested for 40+ genetic predispositions.
Can a DNA test rule out HCM in a Sphynx?: No. Research has reported a variant associated with HCM in Sphynx, but much of the inherited risk is not explained by any single test. Echocardiogram screening of breeding cats by a veterinary cardiologist remains essential.
Is it bad if a breeding cat is a carrier?: Not on its own. Carriers of recessive conditions are usually healthy. What matters is that the breeder knows the results and never pairs two carriers of the same condition, so no affected kittens are produced.