A kitten’s adult coat length is mainly inherited, but a fluffy kitten—or a short-haired parent—cannot tell you for certain what coat your cat will have. Long hair is recessive, and short-haired cats can carry a long-hair variant. Physical clues may be suggestive, but they are not a validated way to predict the adult coat. A genetic test can check several known variants, with limits.
How coat length is inherited
UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory identifies FGF5 as the gene associated with feline hair length: “One gene – fibroblast growth factor5 (FGF5) – determines hair length.” The lab describes short hair as dominant and long hair as recessive. In practical terms, a cat can have short hair while carrying one long-hair variant.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The lab lists four tested variants, M1 through M4, and reports associations with particular breeds: M1 in Ragdolls, M2 in Norwegian Forest Cats, M3 in Maine Coons and Ragdolls, and M4 across long-haired breeds and crossbreds. These are reported associations, not a way to identify an individual kitten’s genes from its appearance or presumed breed.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCan you tell from a kitten’s physical traits?
A kitten’s coat can offer a clue, but appearance alone cannot reliably establish its adult coat length. UC Davis notes that hair length varies both among breeds and among individuals within a breed. The lab does not give a validated age cutoff or physical checklist for predicting adult coat length.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Professional Cat Hair Brush】Perfect gift for pet owners, vets, and pet groomers. Using this cat brush for long haired cats on a regular basis can gently and effectively remove loose hair, tangles, knots, dander and trapped dirt. Suitable for short, medium or long, thick, thin or curly haired dogs/cats/rabbits, making your pets shiny and healthy.
- 【Skin-friendly Massage Needles】The mental pins on the cat brush with release button have round rubber tips on the ends. As a cat deshedding brush, it's perfect for shedding and massaging your pets without scratching your pet's skin, even the sensitive skin. After use, you can hang it with the silicone loop strap to protect the bent needle.
- 【Upgraded High Quality Material】The our long hair cat grooming brush made of durable 304 stainless steel and fine ABS material. Our wire bristles is 1.2 times as thick as bristles of other deshedding brush for cats. More sturdy and not easy to deform, can be used for a long time. 150° bent needles designed to penetrate deep into the coat are really easier to groom the undercoat well.
- 【One-click Cleaning Button】After brushing your pet, simply click the button. The shutter will pop out, separating the brushed hair from the metal needle, then wipe the hair off. The button of cat shedding brush on the handle saves time and energy when grooming and cleaning.
- 【SUPPORT · 365 Days】If the pet hair brush have any problems during use, we will provide you with replacement or 100% money back. And we have a professional customer service team and pet experts to provide you with the pre-sales and after-sales service. aumuca is always at your side.
In particular, no single feature such as ear tufts, a bushy tail, or fur between the toes proves that a kitten will be longhaired. Treat visible signs as tentative observations rather than a genetic result. You can consider the kitten’s known background and watch how its coat develops, but any visual prediction remains uncertain.
What genetic test results mean
The UC Davis test checks four common long-hair-associated mutations. Its reported result categories describe the variants detected:
Rank #2
- Cat brushes for long haired cats and short haired cats
- Soft Tip Bristles:Cat comb with soft tip bristles, helping to break up tangles and mats effectively,Your pet will enjoy the gentle massaging
- Soft Gel Handle:Super soft handle with anti-skid curved silicone gel, keeps your hand comfortable while grooming
- Self-Cleaning Button:Simply push the release button, and all the fur will come off the bristles, no more digging in between bristles to get the hair out
- Premium Material:The cat grooming brush is made of resistant and durable material, free of toxins and chemicals, healthy and easy to use
- N/N: shorthaired, with none of the four tested mutations detected.
- N/M: shorthaired, carrying one detected long-hair mutation.
- Two tested long-hair mutations: classified by the lab as longhaired. The two variants may be the same or different.
These results explain the variants the test finds; they are not a prediction you can make by looking at a kitten. A negative result means none of the four tested mutations were detected, not that every possible genetic cause of long hair has been ruled out. UC Davis notes that other mutations may exist.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →When testing may help—and what to check
If knowing the likely genetic coat type matters, testing can provide information beyond appearance. Whether that added certainty is useful depends on your reason for asking; for everyday care, observing your kitten’s coat as it develops may be enough.
Rank #3
- 【Easy Desheding】: Swihauk self cleaning dog brush for long haired dogs with release bottom helps effortlessly reduce shedding. A must have dog brush for short haired dogs, cat brush for indoor cats, cat brush for shedding, slicker brush for dogs.
- 【Safe Design】: Soft and protective plastic round head bristles creating a comfortable feeling while deshedding without hurting your pet. Ideal puppy brush for small dogs, dog brush for shedding and grooming.
- 【Sturdy & Durable】: Premium stainless steel metal and compact design make our product sturdy and durable for long term use.
- 【Ergonomic Design】: Press bottom for easy cleaning, high-quality & lightweight TPR handle make your grooming effortlessly.
- 【Effective to Remove Loose Fur】: Swihauk pet grooming brush is effective to remove loose fur, suitable for dogs, cat with long and short hair, perfect for your lovely pet like puppies, golden retriever, rabbit, kitten, bunny, yokie and more.
UC Davis describes collecting cheek and gum cells with cotton swabs. Its page says DNA kits are no longer mailed and instructs customers to use household cotton swabs and submit them with a printed form. Check the lab’s current instructions and service details before collecting or sending a sample, since availability and other service information can change. The page does not establish that the test is sold through a retail listing.
For details on the tested variants, result categories, sample instructions, and the test’s stated limits, see the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory feline long-hair test page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- REMOVES LOOSE FUR & UNDERCOAT: The 5-inch EquiGroomer deshedding brush gently pulls loose hair and undercoat from cats and dogs without cutting healthy fur.
- PERFECT SIZE FOR CATS & SMALL DOGS: The compact 5-inch blade fits smaller pets and tight spots - face, legs and paws - for easy, precise grooming.
- WORKS ON SHORT & LONG HAIR: Rounded stainless-steel teeth glide through any coat, reducing shedding while keeping your pet calm and comfortable.
- LESS SHEDDING, LESS MESS: Regular use dramatically cuts loose hair on furniture, floors and clothes and leaves a softer, shinier coat.
- COMFORT-GRIP HANDLE: A lightweight, ergonomic handle gives you full control for quick, stress-free grooming sessions.
Rank #4
- WORLD’S #1 CAT HAIR BRUSH: Our cat grooming brush / cat shedding brush is the world's best patented pet grooming brush for cats, small dogs, and rabbits. It is the perfect cat deshedding brush, short hair cat brush, & cat brush for long haired cats.
- EASY AND FAST CLEANUP: SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool is great for removing hair and fur from carpets, pet bedding, cat trees, and more! Our cat comb for shedding is also an amazing pet hair remover and cat fur remover / cat hair remover brush.
- ALL HAIR & FUR TYPES: It is the perfect cat comb for long haired cats and cat brush for short haired cats. SleekEZ works as a deshedding brush for cats, cat deshedding tool, undercoat brush for cats, cat fur brush, cat deshedder, & small dog brush.
- PAINLESS AND ENJOYABLE: SleekEZ serves as a versatile kitten brush, puppy brush for small dogs, & bunny brush / rabbit brush. It's the best pet hair brush on the market and is an absolute essential for cat shedding control!
- GREAT GIFT: SleekEZ makes the industry's leading cat combs for indoor cats & shedding brush cat hair. It is a must have for any cat grooming kit, cat essentials for indoor cats, & cat supplies. Also an amazing cat dander remover & cat undercoat brush
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
