Feline blood donation: Description and adverse reactions from 29 201 donation events between 2019 and 2023

Abstract

Background: Feline blood transfusion is required for the treatment of various illnesses in cats, and the safety of donor cats is vital. Donor adverse reactions can include cardiorespiratory, venepuncture-related, and behavioral abnormalities.

Hypothesis/objectives: To describe a large number of feline blood donation events and document use of sedation and anxiolysis, record volume of blood collected and describe the frequency, type, and risk factors for, adverse reactions.

Animals: The study included 7812 individual cats and 29 201 donation events at a blood banking center over 5 years.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of donation event records with signalment, donation volume, sedation status, donation number, and adverse reactions (acute and caregiver reported) recorded. Risk factors for adverse reactions were examined by stratifying data according to groups exposed to relevant predictors and calculating odds ratios with 95% and 99% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Adverse reactions were uncommon (0.29%, 2.88/1000 donor events) and most commonly were cardiorespiratory (0.08%, 0.75/1000 donor events) or behavioral (0.06%, 0.62/1000 donor events). The only risk factor significantly associated with adverse reactions was conscious donation, with conscious donors 4.4 times more likely to have an adverse reaction (95% CI, 2.5-7.9, P ≤ .0001).

Conclusions and clinical importance: Feline blood donation is associated with a low rate of adverse reactions. Sedation should be considered to reduce adverse reactions, and the environment and interactions optimized to reduce donor stress. Caregiver education on care postdonation could reduce behavioral adverse reactions.

Keywords: anxiolysis; blood collection; blood donation; blood group; blood transfusion; cat; sedation.

FIGURE 1

Chart illustrating the frequency of donation events per cat with most cats donating once.

FIGURE 2

Chart illustrating volume of blood collected per kilogram at each donation event.

FIGURE 3

Scatterplot showing donation volume in milliliters per kilogram, illustrating correlation between lower body weight and higher donation volume (milliliters per kilogram) stratified by sedation status. Spearman's rank correlation in the sedated group: ρ = −0.8732 (S = 6.7983e+12, P‐value <2.2e‐16); Spearman's rank correlation in the unsedated group: ρ = −0.8741 (S = 648 911 968, P‐value <2.2e‐16).

FIGURE 4

Bar chart showing adverse reactions per 1000 sedated or unsedated donor events.

FIGURE 5

Proportion of cats developing adverse reaction divided by weight groups for the sedated and unsedated cats. The error bars represent the 95% confidence interval (CI) using Clopper‐Pearson method. Scale on the y‐axis is different for visual purposes.