Cat owners contacted for UK’s very first feline blood bank | Cats

However, a mix of policies and logistics indicates the scenario has actually been more complex for cats.

“Currently, vets in practice cannot easily source feline blood products to use on very sick cats,” said Samantha Taylor, an expert in feline medication.

The result is that when a cat requires a blood transfusion, veterinarians should usually discover a donor cat there and after that.

That, said Taylor, can suggest hold-ups, inappropriate donors or the transmission of contagious illness. In addition, cats have blood groups – although these are various from those in people – and even a teaspoon’s worth of the incorrect feline blood group can be deadly.

“The current situation has been very problematic as far as cats dying because there’s not appropriate blood available,” said Taylor.

While the Royal Veterinary College shops feline blood, this is just for animals being dealt with or described the college as it is a transfusion service instead of a blood bank.

However, a Portuguese organisation called Banco de Sangue Animal (BSA) is wanting to establish the UK’s very first feline blood bank to offer a resource for veterinary practices around the nation – and it desires cat owners to register their furry buddies.

“We’ve run a couple of sessions [for blood donation] just to see how it goes. And that’s been going well, but we need more owners and more cats,” said Taylor, who is dealing with BSA on the endeavour.

According to brand-new requirements for feline blood banking set out in upgraded assistance by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in 2015, to name a few requirements, cats contributing to a blood bank should be at least 5kg in weight, go through a heart evaluation prior to contribution and have their high blood pressure examined. Only 10% of the cat’s overall blood volume can be taken – a more conservative volume than in basic practice.

It is not allowed for animals to be sedated when contributing blood for storage in the UK. While dogs can be trained to provide blood while awake with relative ease, cats can be more difficult to deal with.

“You may find it harder to find suitable [feline] donors than you would with dogs. But that’s just the nature of cats and we should respect that,” said Charlotte Russo, head of transfusion medication nurse at the RVC, including the requirement indicates it is vital to discover cats with the ideal character for being a blood donor.

The BSA has actually animal blood banks in Portugal, Spain and Belgium, and has found out how to gather contributions securely and effectively with very little tension to donor cats, so Taylor said the organisation was a natural option for UK veterinarians to partner with to establish a UK-wide feline blood bank.

“The BSA has undergone a very strict and long process of approval,” she said.

The organisation was just recently given non-food animal blood bank authorisation (NFABBA) by the VMD, and the group is working to build up a network of cats who, like Pingo, can contribute blood.

Dr Jenny Helm, a trustee of the charity Pet Blood Bank UK, which generally offers canine blood to veterinary practices, said there was a considerable requirement for a feline blood bank in the UK, especially as other items that formerly bridged the space – such as a haemoglobin-based blood alternative – were no longer available.

“[The BSA bank] will benefit so many cats across the country that will be able to access blood products at any time of day just like dogs can, just like people can,” she said.

• Those eager to register their family pets so that they can be evaluated for viability can register at uk.animalbb.org