Here's what you should know about this gift of life.

By Karen Commings

Blood can be the gift of life not just for us, but also for our cats. "A cat suffering severe injury or trauma may require blood transfusions," says Marjory Brooks, DVM, internal medicine specialist and co-director of the coagulation section at Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory.

Feline blood donors take a battery of tests prior to giving blood — and not every cat qualifies.

Other indications for transfusion include surgical complications and anemia caused by autoimmune disease, renal failure, chemotherapy, parasites in the intestinal tract or fleas. "Young kittens are especially at risk for blood-loss anemia caused by flea infestation," says Dr. Brooks. Cats that need plasma proteins to combat liver disease, clotting problems or rat poisoning may also require a transfusion. …

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