Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,
So you may have been around when we were first excited to get Beau’s DNA checked with Basepaws. When we initially got the kit from Basepaws we were promised results in a few months, however, this wasn’t true. Unfortunately, since Basepaws was fairly new at the time and they were still hammering out all the kinks with their DNA testing and along the way, they were unable to extract the DNA from Beau’s fur.
After updating the previous article and questioning whether or not Basepaws would have a turn around I received the following e-mail:
Hi Johnny,
I came across your post this weekend about Basepaws and read some of the comments. I wanted to personally reach out and explain about your results delay.
I know your blog and your community are very important to you, and I do not want you in any way to feel that you have been led astray. When we started working with you last year, Basepaws was still in it’s infancy – we just got our product working and were eager to test it out. A lot has changed since – we finally got a well working prototype, and have been sequencing and creating new trait reports. Plus a lot more is in the works.
Because your sample was one of the very first ones we had, unfortunately we were not able to successfully extract DNA from it. We tried multiple times but the results kept failing. We’ve since revamped a lot of our protocol and our success rate is 99%, but your sample of the DNA wasn’t enough to test again. Please let me sincerely apologies for this, and ask you if you would re-do the test again.
I know it’s frustrating to hear this and I’d like to also offer you 3 other CatKits for free to gift to your community. Our timeline for delivering results is still 2-6 months, however I hope by Q2 it will drop down to 10 weeks, as we originally planned.
Please let me know if you would be open to this offer, and again please accept my apologies that were not able to work with your sample correctly the first time.
Please let me know if you have any questions,
Anna
So we’ve accepted the offer because I would still like to know some information about Beau’s DNA. Basepaws mailed me a replacement kit along with 3 others that I am happy to give away to our followers. This will come at no charge to you. Unfortunately, we have to limit the giveaway to US and Canadian residents and US residents will be able to mail their DNA tests back for free. Canadians you will have to pay for the shipping, which shouldn’t be too expensive. I can see how much we paid last time, and can also confirm when I send it in this time around (which should be in the week).
I’m very appreciative of Anna and Mini reaching out and letting me know what’s going down at the Basepaws headquarters and hope that this time around we can get some answers about Beau’s DNA. I haven’t given up hope on this company and understand the difficulty of progress with new technology. So here’s to hoping!
As is a Pets Overload standard I will always be 100% honest about products, even if they were given to us for free. I will give you updates as they come about Basepaws, especially for folks who are going to be purchasing the kits and as always, I will link this article to any previous/future articles about the product for easy navigation.
So are you interested in getting a DNA kit? Enter the giveaway below with the options provided. The winners will be e-mailed instructions and I’ll get you the DNA kits to you ASAP!
Louise says
April 29, 2018 at 10:22 amI sent my cat’s sample at the end of October; it was taking way too long, so I asked for a refund (I paid $65 instead of the usual $95) and they quickly complied.
BUT, last week they got the first results so they sent it to me anyway, according to which, he’s most likely an Abyssinian. I’m thinking his DNA got mixed up with another cat’s, since he looks like a Maine Coon! I figure he’s a mix though, since he doesn’t have the Lynx tips on his ears, but Abyssinian???
I can’t complain, since I was refunded, but makes me wary of them.
Johnny Salib says
April 29, 2018 at 10:40 amHey Louise, thanks for letting me know. I actually haven’t received any results yet, but it’s good to hear from someone who has. I’ll let you know what happens when I get my results and really hope they’re legit 🙂
Louise says
April 29, 2018 at 10:51 amIf you’d like, I can cut & paste my results – they’re difficult to decipher.
If you’re interested, where should I send it?
I can also send you a pic of my cat so you can see what I mean.
Johnny Salib says
April 29, 2018 at 11:07 amHey Louise, sure thing! That would be interesting to see. You can contact me through the contact page. It doesn’t let you add pictures, but I’ll e-mail you right back so you can send them to me 🙂
Louise says
April 29, 2018 at 11:15 amJust tried to do it but only takes the text, not the essential graphics.
I’ll just put “DNA Results” so you can email back
Louise says
May 8, 2018 at 1:42 pmFYI – I rec’d an email from Basepaws asking for feedback, so I complied.
Johnny Salib says
May 8, 2018 at 4:22 pmLet me know about their response 🙂
Louise says
May 10, 2018 at 12:03 pmTheir response – looks like a standard reply, though:
Hi Louise,
Thank you for your feedback, I really appreciate it.
The current version of a report will be changing as we are getting more cats on board and continuously running new experiments. Also please know that these early samples from cats like yours are what’s building the results for all of the cats we will sequence and many of the discoveries we will do. Thank you for your patience and for being an early cat citizen scientist:)
Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions!
Johnny Salib says
May 11, 2018 at 8:24 amI’ve heard some similar responses. Did you ever get a chance to send me the results because I didn’t see them in my inbox. I still haven’t gotten my results yet, so still waiting to see what they look like.
Louise says
May 11, 2018 at 9:37 amI sent them to you that same day by sending you the link because they wouldn’t copy & paste with the essential graphics – will send it again later.
Louise says
May 11, 2018 at 3:07 pmI sent it again; please LMK if you got it.
Johnny Salib says
May 11, 2018 at 4:14 pmHey Louise, oddly still didn’t get them. Going to send you an e-mail right now 🙂
Teresa says
March 31, 2018 at 1:11 pmI’m really interested in testing my cats DNA, it was recently suggested that I may be caring for a wildcat without a permit.
Johnny Salib says
March 31, 2018 at 2:17 pmOh that’s really crazy! Do you have any pictures of your little one! I’d love to see this Wildcat ;P
Milu Mimi says
March 27, 2018 at 5:44 pmAny idea how much these kits cost? Would love to find out more about our cats heritage!
Johnny Salib says
March 27, 2018 at 10:22 pmIf I remember correctly the kits are $95 USD.
Will Rae says
March 26, 2018 at 8:24 pmI really want to learn more about what our little buddy is, Thanks for the great review
Johnny Salib says
March 26, 2018 at 9:44 pmYou should definitely check it out Will!
Andrea says
March 25, 2018 at 11:15 amVery excited to have found your blog posts about Base Paws.
I have 3 Manx cats that I would love to have tested but unfortunately there have been such poor reviews… your post gives me hope though!
I look forward to following your future reviews.
Love from New Furriends,
@croutonthemanx @wildwhitekittens @beveragebanter
Johnny Salib says
March 25, 2018 at 11:24 amI’m sad to hear there have been poor reviews. I’m really hoping for the best. I have send in my new DNA cards and I’m just waiting on results now!
Elena says
March 23, 2018 at 10:29 amCarl is a rescue, and his appearance leads us to believe he is either a long haired Russian Blue or a Turkish Angora. I’d love to know more about this ancestry so we can better prepare for his diet and health! It’s so great that they have communicated with you about the delay, and it’s equally great of you to offer this giveaway! 🙂
Johnny Salib says
March 23, 2018 at 1:21 pmAgreed 🙂 I’m glad you guys also get to try the product!
The Swiss Cats says
March 23, 2018 at 1:41 amThat was very nice of the company to send you a new kit. Purrs
Johnny Salib says
March 23, 2018 at 9:17 amAbsolutely 🙂
Eastside Cats says
March 21, 2018 at 5:23 pmThere is integrity, that they’ve been honest and then offered extra kits. The veterinarian is sure that Chili Bruce has some Meezer in him, due to his silky fur and head shape, compared to his ‘twin’ brofur Manny. Would be interesting to know!
Johnny Salib says
March 22, 2018 at 9:03 amAbsolutely interesting! I have absolutely no clue what Beau is… he’s been classified as a “domestic shorthair” whatever that actually even means 😉
Linda says
March 21, 2018 at 12:20 pmWould love to find out what my Ali is. I think she may have some Somali in her.
Johnny Salib says
March 21, 2018 at 1:09 pmIt’s a pretty awesome chance eh?
William's Kith & Kin says
March 20, 2018 at 10:52 pmIt’s nice to see excellent customer service like that. We hope the next try yields something good!
Johnny Salib says
March 21, 2018 at 9:04 amWe hope so too! We have a lot of belief in this company 🙂 <3
Ellen Pilch says
March 20, 2018 at 7:21 pmSounds like a great company. I am not sure which cat I would choose of my 12 to test DNA.
mommakatandherbearcat says
March 20, 2018 at 5:25 pmOH! We’d LOVE this! Sounds like the company cares about its customers.
The Island Cats says
March 20, 2018 at 5:03 pmThat was nice of the company to send you a new kit.
VickyC says
March 20, 2018 at 4:49 pmI had 3 beautiful girls, 2 are still with me and 1 went to the bridge. They were all from the same litter but all so different in color and fur length. I would be interesting to see what at least one of them has going on.
Johnny Salib says
March 20, 2018 at 7:51 pmThat’s really interesting! I would have been very interested to see if they had different mixes even if they were from the same litter.
da tabbies o trout towne says
March 20, 2018 at 2:02 pmdood….that waz veree nice oh Basepaws ta reech out N explain what waz goin on…we look forwerd ta lurnin if yur LION….ore TIGER !!!! 🙂 ♥♥
Johnny Salib says
March 20, 2018 at 3:07 pmI’m definitely a lion 😉 – Beau
Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs says
March 20, 2018 at 11:59 amTat was so nice of tose peeps to be honest about what was happening.
I would love to know if Pipo really is purebred Siamese as I was told. Too bad Minko is an angel, because though he too was supposedly pure, I had other thoughts about it.
Too bad they don’t do doggies, cause Dalton is such a mystery to us:)
Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs says
March 20, 2018 at 12:01 pmCan’t do the twitter entry, we don’t do that…sigh…oh well!
Johnny Salib says
March 20, 2018 at 12:18 pmAww boo! But no worries, you’ll still have a really good chance of winning even with the two entries <3
Johnny Salib says
March 20, 2018 at 12:17 pmI hope you can find out what Pipo really is! I think that would be super awesome! And yes, it’s a shame they’re not doing dogs too… but who knows! Maybe one day!