Cat Blood Types: Why Are 90% of Cats Blood Type A?
Cat Blood Types: Why Are 90% of Cats Blood Type A?
In the human world, blood transfusions have become a life-saving medical technique. For cats, blood transfusions are equally crucial and can help them recover from the crisis of blood loss. However, many cat owners have little knowledge about cat blood transfusions and donations, and there are even some misunderstandings. Today, we will delve into the mysterious world of cat blood types!
1. Cat Blood Types
Cats have two blood type systems:
AB blood type system: Includes blood types A, B, and AB, with the same names as the human ABO blood type system, but they are not the same system.
Mik blood type system: Discovered in 2007 by Weinstein et al. at the University of Pennsylvania, it includes Mik negative and Mik positive.
2. Which Cat Blood Type is Most Common?
Blood type A: Is the most common cat blood type worldwide. Statistics show that about 99% of cats in the United States are blood type A.
Blood type B: Is generally uncommon, but more common in certain cat breeds.
Blood type AB: Is relatively rare in all cat breeds.
A research team from China Agricultural University conducted blood type statistics on 262 domestic shorthair and longhair cats in Beijing, showing that:
Blood type A cats account for 88.2%
Blood type B cats account for 11.4%
Blood type AB cats account for 0.4%
3. Do Different Cat Breeds Have Different Blood Types?
The distribution of blood types varies among different breeds of cats:
Breeds predominantly with blood type A: American Shorthair, Bengal, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Oriental Shorthair, Siamese, Tonkinese, etc.
Breeds with higher proportion of blood type B: Abyssinian, Birman, Burmese, Himalayan, Persian, Somali, Sphynx, etc.
Breeds with the highest proportion of blood type B: British Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Exotic Shorthair, Ragdoll, Turkish Angora, Turkish Van, etc., with Turkish Van having as high as 60% blood type B.
It is important to note that purebred cats from different countries and regions may come from different gene pools, resulting in variations in the frequency distribution of blood types.
4. What is the Importance of Knowing a Cat's Blood Type?
Knowing a cat's blood type is crucial as it is closely related to the following aspects:
Transfusion safety: Transfusing blood type B to a cat with blood type A will cause a mild immune response. Transfusing blood type A to a cat with blood type B, even just 1 ml, can trigger a serious immune response, even endangering life. Theoretically, blood type AB is a universal recipient, and can receive any blood type for the first transfusion. However, if AB blood type is unavailable, it is recommended to transfuse blood type A instead of blood type B.
Cat breeding: When a mother cat with blood type B gives birth to kittens with blood type A or AB and breastfeeds them, the newborn kittens may develop serious hemolytic reactions. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the blood types of the father and mother cats when breeding.
Both of the cat's two blood type systems need to be matched during transfusions. Additionally, cross-matching blood tests should be conducted to avoid potential transfusion reactions caused by Mik antibodies.
5. Cat Blood Transfusion Process
When a cat suffers from excessive blood loss due to being hit by a car, falling from a height, accidentally ingesting rat poison, severe anemia, or major surgery, and their life is in danger, timely blood transfusion is an effective treatment method to save their life.
Doctors typically first measure the cat's PCV (packed cell volume) to evaluate the number of red blood cells. When the PCV is below 10-15%, a blood transfusion is usually needed. Normal cats have a PCV between 25-45%. However, the final decision of whether or not to transfuse blood should be based on the cat's clinical condition and the cause of anemia, not just the PCV value.
Once the cat's blood type is determined, it is necessary to urgently find a blood type-matched cat for donation. Due to the rarity of blood type B and the fact that it should never be transfused to a cat with blood type A, the usual appeal is for blood type B cats.
The collection and storage of cat blood is significantly more challenging than that of dogs and humans, making the establishment of cat blood banks still not widespread. Moreover, compared to canine blood transfusions, both donor and recipient cats face higher risks of complications. Therefore, cat blood is best collected and transfused immediately when needed.
Conclusion
Cat blood types are a relatively complex field, and understanding them is crucial for ensuring a cat's health. Cat owners should be aware of blood type-related knowledge and seek professional help from veterinarians when necessary.
In the human world, blood transfusions have become a life-saving medical technique. For cats, blood transfusions are equally crucial and can help them recover from the crisis of blood loss. However, many cat owners have little knowledge about cat blood transfusions and donations, and there are even some misunderstandings. Today, we will delve into the mysterious world of cat blood types!
1. Cat Blood Types
Cats have two blood type systems:
AB blood type system: Includes blood types A, B, and AB, with the same names as the human ABO blood type system, but they are not the same system.
Mik blood type system: Discovered in 2007 by Weinstein et al. at the University of Pennsylvania, it includes Mik negative and Mik positive.
2. Which Cat Blood Type is Most Common?
Blood type A: Is the most common cat blood type worldwide. Statistics show that about 99% of cats in the United States are blood type A.
Blood type B: Is generally uncommon, but more common in certain cat breeds.
Blood type AB: Is relatively rare in all cat breeds.
A research team from China Agricultural University conducted blood type statistics on 262 domestic shorthair and longhair cats in Beijing, showing that:
Blood type A cats account for 88.2%
Blood type B cats account for 11.4%
Blood type AB cats account for 0.4%
3. Do Different Cat Breeds Have Different Blood Types?
The distribution of blood types varies among different breeds of cats:
Breeds predominantly with blood type A: American Shorthair, Bengal, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Oriental Shorthair, Siamese, Tonkinese, etc.
Breeds with higher proportion of blood type B: Abyssinian, Birman, Burmese, Himalayan, Persian, Somali, Sphynx, etc.
Breeds with the highest proportion of blood type B: British Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Exotic Shorthair, Ragdoll, Turkish Angora, Turkish Van, etc., with Turkish Van having as high as 60% blood type B.
It is important to note that purebred cats from different countries and regions may come from different gene pools, resulting in variations in the frequency distribution of blood types.
4. What is the Importance of Knowing a Cat's Blood Type?
Knowing a cat's blood type is crucial as it is closely related to the following aspects:
Transfusion safety: Transfusing blood type B to a cat with blood type A will cause a mild immune response. Transfusing blood type A to a cat with blood type B, even just 1 ml, can trigger a serious immune response, even endangering life. Theoretically, blood type AB is a universal recipient, and can receive any blood type for the first transfusion. However, if AB blood type is unavailable, it is recommended to transfuse blood type A instead of blood type B.
Cat breeding: When a mother cat with blood type B gives birth to kittens with blood type A or AB and breastfeeds them, the newborn kittens may develop serious hemolytic reactions. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the blood types of the father and mother cats when breeding.
Both of the cat's two blood type systems need to be matched during transfusions. Additionally, cross-matching blood tests should be conducted to avoid potential transfusion reactions caused by Mik antibodies.
5. Cat Blood Transfusion Process
When a cat suffers from excessive blood loss due to being hit by a car, falling from a height, accidentally ingesting rat poison, severe anemia, or major surgery, and their life is in danger, timely blood transfusion is an effective treatment method to save their life.
Doctors typically first measure the cat's PCV (packed cell volume) to evaluate the number of red blood cells. When the PCV is below 10-15%, a blood transfusion is usually needed. Normal cats have a PCV between 25-45%. However, the final decision of whether or not to transfuse blood should be based on the cat's clinical condition and the cause of anemia, not just the PCV value.
Once the cat's blood type is determined, it is necessary to urgently find a blood type-matched cat for donation. Due to the rarity of blood type B and the fact that it should never be transfused to a cat with blood type A, the usual appeal is for blood type B cats.
The collection and storage of cat blood is significantly more challenging than that of dogs and humans, making the establishment of cat blood banks still not widespread. Moreover, compared to canine blood transfusions, both donor and recipient cats face higher risks of complications. Therefore, cat blood is best collected and transfused immediately when needed.
Conclusion
Cat blood types are a relatively complex field, and understanding them is crucial for ensuring a cat's health. Cat owners should be aware of blood type-related knowledge and seek professional help from veterinarians when necessary.
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