|
Pet Health Information
FELINE BLOOD TYPING
"IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE"
(Blood Typing Your Cat and The Feline Blood Donor List)
You’re unloading your groceries, the door stays open a little longer than it should, the cat slips out. "It’s ok", you think, "he always comes back". Later that night he still hasn’t returned. The phone rings, it’s your vet. Someone brought your cat in, "he’s been hit by a car and he’s losing a lot of blood". "Can you save him doctor?"
Most hospitals do not keep a blood bank for cats. Instead, there is a "donor list". This is a list of cats that are young adults, infectious disease free, and vaccinated. These special cats have special owners who are "on call" to make an emergency donation possible when needed.
Cats have two major blood types. The majority of cats are Type A. Some breeds have only type A blood such as the Siamese, Burmese, and Tonkinese. Most domestic shorthair cats have Type A blood. Type B blood is only found to 1% to 6% of cats in the United States. The most common breeds to have type B blood are the British or Exotic Shorthair, or the Devon or Cornish Rex. There also is a very rare AB blood type. Both the recipient and the donor need to be blood typed before a transfusion can take place.
Can your cat help other cats?????
Is your cat between the ages of 2 and 10?
Is your cat current on vaccines and without medical problems?
Does your cat spend 100% of his time indoors?
Does your cat weigh at least 8lbs?
If you answered yes, yes, yes and yes, then the answer to the first question is "probably".
Your cat also needs to be free of infectious diseases such as feline leukemia and feline AIDS. If your cat meets the qualifications to become a donor, we will have him tested for these diseases, at no cost to you. If he or she passes this stage, they will be on the donor phone list. Your cat will be blood typed for free as well. Your cat may never even be called upon; but if he is, he will get his choice of a bag of dry, or a case of wet cat food. Yum! Yum! Plus, you get a warm, fuzzy feeling that you and your kitty helped one in need.
If you are interested in joining this unique bank of caregivers, please speak to one of our veterinarians or technicians.