Forensic scientists at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia have shown for the first time that household cats are covered in human DNA, mostly from the people they live with.

Their recently-published paper raises the prospect of DNA samples from cat fur being used to prove a person was present at a crime scene.

However, they note that the research also raises the reverse contention that human DNA recovered at a crime scene could have been deposited by a cat.

Dr Mariya Goya, one of the co-authors of the paper, said more data would be needed on how human DNA is transferred to and from household pets like cats and dogs.

“This type of data can help us understand the meaning of the DNA results obtained, especially if there is a match to a person of interest,” she said.

“Are these DNA findings a result of a criminal activity or could they have been transferred and deposited at the scene via a pet?”