The University of Melbourne’s U-Vet Animal Hospital has launched a blood bank for cats.
Staff at the Werribee clinic have put out a call for owners who can volunteer their cats to donate blood to the bank.
Blood Donor Program co-ordinator Kerry Bozicevic said ill cats sometimes needed emergency blood transfusions, in the same way humans did.
“If a cat loses blood due to trauma, surgery, immune system diseases, cancer or has a blood clotting disorder, it may require a blood transfusion to survive and to return to a meaningful life,” Mrs Bozicevic said
Mrs Bozicevic said that at present, if a feline patient needed blood, vets would call on one of their regular donor cats, such as James. She said this could result in delays of between three to six hours in getting blood to a cat in need.
Mrs Bozicevic said that in contrast, having blood on hand for emergency and critical care could help to save a cat’s life.
“One blood donation can potentially save the lives of two cats,” she said.
“So we need lots of donor cats.”
To donate blood, cats must be aged between one and five years old, weigh four kilograms or more, be healthy with a calm temperament, up-to-date with vaccinations and parasite control, a Victorian resident (who has never travelled out of the state) and not a blood transfusion recipient.
A cat’s blood will be tested to make sure it is safe for donation.
For more information visit www.u-vet.com.au, email UOM-Blood_Donor-Program@unimelb.edu.au or call 9731 2328.
