Proactive Pet Care

Oral Health Test for Cats

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Dental diseases, especially in the early stages, can be difficult to see with the naked eye. The Basepaws Oral Health Test for cats is the first screening tool of its kind that lets you "see the unseen". It identifies active signs of 3 dental diseases (periodontal disease, tooth resorption, bad breath) in your cat's mouth to help you get them the care and relief they need.

This information lets you take charge of their oral health because now you know—and that's hard to put a price on.

Get specific information about your pet’s current state of oral health.

It turns out that at any given time, the types and quantities of certain microbes in your cat’s mouth are indicators of their risk for having any of the three most common dental issues: bad breath (halitosis), tooth resorption, and periodontal disease. The Basepaws Oral Health test lets you know what's going on in your cat’s mouth—giving you the chance to make empowered, proactive decisions and get ahead of dental conditions before they become advanced.

Be in charge of proactive care that helps keep your pet happy and healthy—now and in the future.

Your cat's first oral health test provides you with a baseline of knowledge. From there, you can make empowered decisions to implement personalized care routines for your cat's oral health, which is directly connected to their overall health. This is because the state of your pet's oral health turns out to be a good indicator of their risk for developing other diseases. For example, a high risk of having periodontal disease is associated with increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. So the sooner you know about such risks, the sooner you can work with your veterinarian to support your pet’s health by addressing them.

Track changes in your cat’s oral health over time with regular testing (2-3 times per year).

Retesting gives you more information about what’s working for your pet’s oral health routine and what’s not. For example, if your first Basepaws oral health test indicated that your pet is at medium to high risk of having a dental condition and then you implement a personalized oral care routine for six months, a retest lets you know whether or not your care routine is helping to lower your pet’s risk. It’s information that puts you in control of improving your pet’s oral health.

Retesting right after a professional dental cleaning and then within a few months after the cleaning can also help you to track changes in your pet’s oral microbiome and help you to better understand their unique needs for keeping their mouths healthy and happy.

1-click share with your veterinarian - vets love our actionable insights for highly personalized pet health.

The sooner you know about your cat's health risks, the sooner you can partner with your veterinarian for proactive precision care.

Free two-way shipping for U.S. orders. Ships in 1-2 business days.

Receive your cat's DNA test results in 4-6 weeks.

Please read this before you make a purchase

How it works
Sign Up

Create an account and register your CatKit.

Swab

A quick 5-10 seconds swab is all it takes. Make sure to get both gums and teeth.

Send

Shipping is free both ways, just drop it in a USPS mailbox.

Test Regularly

Stay close to your cat’s dental health & test often to track changes.

It is estimated that 70% of ALL adult cats have a dental health problem, with periodontal disease being the number one culprit.

Most dental disease is below the gum line where it is not seen on a visual exam unless advanced. Dental disease is preventable (and even reversible!) if detected early. The Basepaws Oral Health Test is a highly specific screening test looking for microbial signatures associated with the most common dental conditions in cats: Periodontal Disease, Tooth Resorption, Halitosis.

It is estimated that 70% of ALL adult cats have a dental health problem, with periodontal disease being the number one culprit.
Feline dental disease can be broken down into four stages

Dental disease affects most cats, starting as early as age three and tends to be more common and severe as cats get older. Dental disease in cats can cause serious pain and discomfort and overlooking the need to take care of your cat's teeth can contribute to several serious diseases, such as periodontal disease, autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular problems, and diabetes, further compromising the quality and quantity of your cat’s life.

The sooner the problem is identified, the easier, quicker, and less expensive it is to treat. Cats typically do not show clinical signs until their dental disease is advanced by which time many teeth may need to be extracted. This is why testing early and regularly with Basepaws Oral Health test gives you information to take proactive measures around early recognition, intervention, and treatment.

Proactive health + Cost savings
Bad Breath can be a Killer

Did you know that poor dental health can be associated with more issues down the road, such as renal diseases and diabetes. This is your first line of defense and the most convenient and affordable test on the market.

Test Early

Microbes in the mouth don't have to be a mystery. The more you know, the more likely you are to prevent the onset of diseases such as gingivitis.

Test Regularly

Not a one-trick pony: Individual bacteria can change based on food, liquids, stress or weather. Testing regularly saves thousands of dollars on emergency dental work!

Your veterinarian will thank you (and us)

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Proactive health + Cost savings
What do I get in my report?

Risk scores for 3 of the most common dental conditions in cats: Periodontal disease, Tooth resorption and Bad breath (halitosis)

Evaluation of how your cat’s dental health could be impacting their general health.

Personalized recommendations for improving your cat’s dental health at home.

Personalized clinical care recommendations to share with your veterinarian.

Top 5 plant or animal organisms whose trace DNA we found in your cat’s mouth.

Deep dive into all the microbes that put your cat at risk of dental disease.

Remember, cats are experts at hiding pain
CATS KEEP SECRETS
Remember, cats are experts at hiding pain

Your cat can’t raise their paw and tell you their mouth hurts. Because of this ability to hide pain, usually when they exhibit the common signs, the disease is advanced and needs medical attention.

How Basepaws Oral Health Test Saved This Cat’s Life
Read our customer stories

How Basepaws Oral Health Test Saved This Cat’s Life

Basepaws Cat “Baby” was always a happy and healthy kitty. When the Basepaws Oral Health Test discovered that he was at medium risk for several feline dental conditions, Baby’s parents took him to the veterinarian. In preparation for Baby’s dental cleaning, the veterinarian uncovered a health issue that saved Baby’s life. We interviewed Corinne, Baby's guardian, and here is their story.

Read the story
Easy, clear results delivered to your email

Easy, clear results delivered to your email

Read Sample Report

Frequently Asked Questions

Simple! Order your Cat Dental Health Test online. Once you receive it in the mail, follow the detailed instructions for sample collection and barcode registration located on the inside of the CatKit box. After collecting your sample, send it back to us in the provided prepaid packaging. We will notify you via email once your sample is received. Your report will be available in 4-6 weeks from the date your sample arrives at our laboratory. We are working on trying to shorten this time frame as much as possible. Long-term, we plan to provide the results within 4 weeks. Every sample helps us create the biggest database of feline genetic and oral microbiome data and will contribute to new discoveries in feline health.

This test does not provide a diagnosis. It’s important to share your report with your veterinarian during your cat’s next wellness visit (or sooner based on the results) so that further medical action can be taken if needed.

Basepaws' dental health test is the only feline dental disease screening test available for use at home or at the vet office, without the need for anesthetizing the animal. The test analyses more than 1,000 microbes in your cat’s mouth looking for disease signatures before they become visible to the naked eye. Dental disease is preventable (and even reversible!) if detected early. The Basepaws Dental CatKit is a highly specific screening test looking for microbial signatures associated with the most common dental conditions in cats: Periodontal Disease, Tooth Resorption, Halitosis.

Veterinary dentists recommend regularly testing your cat's mouth, as often as every 3-6 months. This is because changes in your cat's diet, lifestyle and medication can change their oral microbiome and increase their risk of developing dental diseases. It's also a great way to monitor how well your at-home dental routine is working.

Keep your cat’s dental care top-of-mind by making at-home care a priority!

Keep your cat’s dental care top-of-mind by making at-home care a priority!

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What you need to know before ordering a Dental CatKit
  • This test is not suitable for cats with full mouth extractions or those who still have baby teeth.

  • If your cat is currently undergoing treatment with antibiotics, we advise using the Dental CatKit at least 1 month after the treatment has been concluded.

    This is due to the fact that oral administration of antibiotics decreases the bacteria population in the mouth. If the Dental CatKit is used during the antibiotic treatment course, the results of the Dental Health Test will not be representative of the typical state of your cat’s mouth.

  • Identifying trace DNA from plants and animals in your cat’s mouth is a bonus feature of the Dental Health report and is not always possible with every sample.

  • The Dental Health report is based on a comparison of your cat’s oral microbiome profile to the oral microbiome profiles of cats known to suffer from periodontal disease, tooth resorption or bad breath.

    It does not provide information about any other dental conditions.

  • The identification of a certain microbial signature associated with a dental disease does not constitute a diagnosis.

    Conversely, not detecting a particular microbial signature does not exclude the possibility of an unknown disease-causing pathogen being present or dental disease being caused by something other than pathogenic microbes. This report is not intended to substitute a diagnosis by a veterinary professional.