Photo courtesy Hill's Pet Nutrition Cats, our enigmatic companions, captivate us with their independent spirits and often puzzling behaviors. Despite their prominent place in our homes and hearts, our scientific understanding of feline health lags significantly behind that of their canine counterparts. This knowledge gap is often most apparent in a clinical setting, where veterinarians and cat owners seek answers to pressing health concerns. As scientists, we see research is lacking and recognize the need for more comprehensive knowledge, sharing in the desire for a deeper understanding of feline health. This disparity in knowledge is not a reflection of disinterest in feline health, but rather a consequence of historical underinvestment in feline-specific research. Traditionally, funding for genetic research has prioritized human health, with dogs receiving additional attention because they evolved along with humans to serve several specific economic functions, such as herding, guarding, and hunting, as well as their easy-to-read expressions. With their unique biology and often-misinterpreted aloofness, cats have frequently been overlooked in the scientific community. However, a new era in feline health is here, fueled by the collective passion of cat lovers, the unique power of community science, and the collaborative spirit of researchers, veterinarians, and pet owners. A collaborative journey of discovery The Darwin’s Cats initiative, a partnership between nonprofit Darwin’s Ark, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, UMass Chan Medical School, and the Broad Institute, is poised to reshape the landscape of feline genetic research. Born from a shared recognition of the critical need for more robust feline genetic research, this collaboration combines the expertise of institutions with the power of community science. Darwin’s Ark brings its expertise in engaging pet owners and collecting large-scale data sets, while Hill’s Pet Nutrition provides crucial funding and expertise in applying genetic research to improve pet health. UMass Chan Medical School contributed its medical and comparative genomics research capabilities, while the Broad Institute brought its genomic technologies and computational biology expertise. Together, the partnership aims to build the largest open-access database of feline genetic and behavioral information. This data will inform the development of more effective diagnostic tools, preventive strategies, and targeted therapies, with the intention to create healthier, happier lives for our feline companions. Every cat has a unique genetic story to tell, contributing valuable information to groundbreaking research. Photo courtesy Hill's Pet Nutrition The power of community Recognizing the invaluable knowledge held by pet owners, we empower them to become active participants in scientific discovery. Who knows a cat better than their owner? Through short, easily digestible online surveys, Darwin’s Cats gathers crucial data about cats’ appearances, behaviors, health conditions, and lifestyles from the ones that know them best. Currently, more than 13,000 cats are enrolled, and nearly a million survey responses have been collected. The partnership is aiming to enroll 100,000 cats and obtain 5,000 DNA sequences by the end of 2026. The initiative’s genetic data collection method is equally innovative and cat-friendly. Leveraging the simple act of grooming, owners gather DNA samples with a quick comb of the fur, which is used for whole-genome sequencing. This noninvasive method eliminates the need for stressful veterinary visits or potentially traumatic procedures like cheek swabs or blood draws. Combining large-scale genetic data and detailed surveys provides researchers with a resource for understanding the complex factors influencing feline health. The longitudinal nature of data collection, facilitated by ongoing engagement with the community, allows the organizations to track changes in cats’ health and behavior over a long period. This helps researchers identify emerging trends and better understand the factors contributing to disease development and progression. Engaging pet owners directly in this manner will significantly advance understanding of cats compared to traditional research methods involving a limited number of animals studied over a short duration. Cats with similar appearances help researchers study genetic variations, offering insights into feline traits when owners participate in the Darwin's Cats initiative. Photo courtesy Hill's Pet Nutrition Reframing perceptions: Cats as valuable research partners Historically, cats have also been perceived as more difficult to research than dogs due to their independent nature. This misperception has limited research into feline-specific disease and thus the development of effective treatments. Darwin’s Cats is actively challenging this outdated assumption, demonstrating the immense importance of understanding cats better and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries. By engaging cat owners as citizen scientists, we are overcoming the myriad barriers associated with traditional research methods and collecting data on a scale never before possible. Early findings from Darwin’s Cats surveys are already challenging long-held stereotypes about cats, revealing their deep affection for their human companions and their diverse social behaviors. For example, researchers have found cats are not inherently more aloof than dogs but are instead highly affectionate, especially with their human family members. These at-home insights are crucial for better understanding cat-human bonds and enhancing feline health. Transforming veterinary practice The partnership’s scientific approach focuses on advancing foundational research on the cat genome with the long-term goal of translating that knowledge into targeted disease treatments and interventions. By correlating genetic data with detailed owner-reported information, Darwin’s Cats researchers aim to: Improve diagnostic accuracy: Identify genetic markers associated with specific feline diseases, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses, leading to more timely and effective interventions. Develop targeted therapies: Uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying feline diseases, paving the way for the development of novel, targeted interventions that address the root causes of illness. Enhance preventive strategies: Identify genetic predispositions to common feline health conditions, allowing for proactive interventions and personalized preventive care plans that mitigate risk and improve long-term health outcomes. Optimize drug selection and dosage: Understand individual variations in drug response based on genetic factors, leading to more effective and safer drug therapies, minimizing adverse reactions, and maximizing therapeutic benefits. We don’t yet understand as much about feline genetics as we do canine, but an initiative with a powerful community science model can help significantly accelerate the pace of discovery. This is particularly crucial for addressing multifactorial health conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, which arise from complex interactions between genetics, environment, and nutrition. By collecting comprehensive data on all these contributing factors, Darwin’s Cats is uniquely positioned to unravel these complexities and develop more effective management strategies. This comprehensive approach promises to yield transformative insights, revolutionizing our understanding of feline health. Nutrition plays a critical role in feline health research, helping scientists understand how food impacts genetic expression in cats. Photo courtesy Hill's Pet Nutrition Key partners in feline genetic discovery This feline-focused research, including continued work on the feline genome, empowers veterinary healthcare teams with the knowledge and resources they need to provide exceptional care for cats, and Darwin’s Cats is a continuation of this work. Veterinarians are essential partners in this ongoing research. By encouraging clients to enroll their cats in Darwin’s Cats, you will be contributing directly to the growth of the database and the acceleration of research and discovery. As genetic testing becomes increasingly integrated into veterinary medicine, access to comprehensive genetic information will empower veterinarians to make more informed diagnostic and treatment decisions, leading to better outcomes for their feline patients and enhancing the quality of care we provide. Together, we can bridge the knowledge gap, challenge outdated assumptions, unlock the secrets of the cat genome, and ultimately, improve the lives of cats everywhere. To enroll cats in the database, go to the Darwin's Ark online sign up page. Jennifer Radosevich, PhD, is the senior vice president of Research and Innovation at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Dr. Radosevich completed her PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology at Iowa State University. She is a former chair of the American Feed Industry Association and current chair of the BioKansas organization. Radosevich has more than 25 years of industry experience leveraging innovation to further business goals in the agribusiness, human, and pet food markets.
