Gloves (Birman – White Feet)

Quick Summary

Birman cats have clearly defined white feet ("gloves") as part of their breed standard. This characteristic gloving is caused by a variant in the KIT gene and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

Birman Cat
Birman exhibiting the breed standard gloving pattern

Click here for Price and Turnaround Time

Phenotype: Birman cats have clearly defined white feet ("gloves") as part of their breed standard.

Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive

Alleles: N = no Birman gloving, G = Birman gloving

Breeds appropriate for testing: Birman

Explanation of Results:

  • Cats with N/N genotype will not have the Birman gloving pattern and cannot transmit this gloving pattern variant to their offspring.
  • Cats with N/G genotype will not have the Birman gloving pattern, but are carriers. They will transmit this gloving pattern variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers of Birman gloving are predicted to produce 25% kittens with the Birman gloving pattern.
  • Cats with G/G genotype will have the Birman gloving pattern and will transmit the Birman gloving variant to all of their offspring.

Turnaround Time
At least 15 business days; may be delayed beyond 15 business days if sample requires additional testing, or a new sample is requested.
Price

$44 one test per animal

Sample Collection:

Cat DNA tests are carried out using cells collected from your cat's cheeks and gums using household cotton swabs.

The cat DNA submission form with instructions, pricing, and a place to tape the cotton swabs can be printed from your home computer after signing up for a MyVGL account and placing an order. Test kits are not mailed.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1.

Person looking at different brands of cotton swabs in a storePurchase regular household cotton swabs for cat DNA collection (the cotton swabs can be purchased at a pharmacy or drug store)

 

2.

Label indicating both ends of the two cotton swabsUse both ends of the two cotton swabs for a total of four swabs.

 

3.

Demonstration of swabbing the inner cheek of a cat with a cotton swabCollect the DNA sample by swabbing the cheek and gums of the cat.

 

4.

Cotton swabs taped to bar-coded submission form for VGLAfter swabbing the cheek and gums, tape the cotton swabs to the bar-coded submission form printed from your MyVGL account.

Additional Details
Birman Cat showing white feet
Birman cat showing the breed's clearly defined white feet (aka gloves)

Birman cats must have clearly defined white feet as part of their breed standard. Research by Dr. Barbara Gandolfi in the Lyons Feline Genetics Laboratory at University of California, Davis identified a variant in the KIT gene (c.1035-1036delGCinsTG) that is associated with the gloving pattern characteristic of Birman cats. Gloving is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, thus a cat must have two copies of the mutation in order to have the gloved white feet. This mutation is virtually fixed in Birman cats, implying that all Birmans must have two copies of it. The variant is found at lower frequencies in other cats such as Ragdoll, Egyptian Mau, Exotic Shorthair, Maine Coon, Manx, Seychellois, Siamese, Siberian, Sphynx and Turkish Van, but is not associated with gloving in breeds other than Birmans.

Purebred Birmans typically have two copies of the variant, which can be verified by means of a genetic test. A 2022 population study including 174 Birman cats showed an allele frequency of 95.6%, with 6.9% (12/174) of cats being heterozygous N/G. Testing for the Birman gloving pattern mutation in Birman cats can assist owners in understanding and verifying their animal's genetic makeup.

 

Note: This test is specific for the KIT mutation found to be associated with the gloved white pattern of Birman cats. It does not detect yet-to-be identified mutations that may cause gloving patterns in other breeds of cat.