Blood types

I'm not sure if this is where this topic goes so feel free to move it.

So I read in this cat owner's veterinary book about blood types and I found it very interesting. I'll type out some interesting facts that I found:
First off, cats only can be type A, B, or AB and about 95% of cats are type A. Type B is found strangely in some geographic areas such as northwestern part of North America. Some breeds of cat can also be more likely to be Type A such as the Devon Rex (41%) and the British Shorthair breed (36%).
Now as for breeding! All type B cats have antibodies against type A by about 3 months of age. So what does this mean? Well if you breed a type B queen with a type A tom the kittens with type A blood may be affected by neonatal isoerythrolysis as a result of nursing, which exposes them to type A antibodies in the queens milk.

So if you're still with me, I ask the more advanced members if they know how to determine your cats blood type. I would love to know how because all my cats are extremely healthy and would love to have them donate blood. Cats that need transfusions that get the wrong type a life-threatening reaction can happen.

Interesting thread? Let me know

Originally Posted by Ashpie21

So if you're still with me, I ask the more advanced members if they know how to determine your cats blood type. I would love to know how because all my cats are extremely healthy and would love to have them donate blood. Cats that need transfusions that get the wrong type a life-threatening reaction can happen.

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It's just a simple blood test done by a vet that tests specifically for blood type. My vet asked me if I would allow my Lucky Pierre to be a blood donor, until she found out that he still goes outside sometimes. She told me she likes to use large, healthy, muscle bound indoor cats. Lucky is 18 pounds of muscle, and would still qualify even though he'll be 8 in a few months.

I don't recall which one of my cats had their blood typed one time, but they were type A.

Ok good because in the book they are like "You can have your cats blood tested by sending it to this university blah blah blah" But I was thinking, "Couldn't a vet just do it?"

Originally Posted by Ashpie21

Ok good because in the book they are like "You can have your cats blood tested by sending it to this university blah blah blah" But I was thinking, "Couldn't a vet just do it?"

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Yes, if the vet had the right equipment in their office. My last vet had no real diagnostic equipment in his office and nearly always sent out things to a lab. My current vet can do it in her office.