Cat blood donation is here!

The cat is out of the bag, blood donation for cats is here!

After years of planning, dreaming, and a lot of hard work, it’s finally happening! Pet Blood Bank has received approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to launch the UK’s first national cat blood donation service.

This is a massive moment for cats and their owners across the UK. Until now, access to cat blood products has been extremely limited. Our new service aims to change that by helping vet teams access the blood products they need when a cat's life depends on it, just as we do for dogs.

So, if you have a cat, we’re finally ready to invite you to be part of the founding community of this landmark new service. Read on for all the details…

Could your cat be one of our first lifesavers?

We’re looking for confident, sociable cats who are happy being handled and meeting new people to join our lifesaving pride!

We know your first question might be ‘will my cat be okay?’ Please be reassured that your cat’s welfare is at the heart of everything we do. Cats will donate consciously with us, and everything will happen at their pace in a calm, quiet environment. You’ll stay with your cat throughout the whole appointment, and if at any point they seem unhappy, we stop. We focus on stress reduction and making the experience a safe, comfortable, and positive one for your cat.

Every donor also receives a free health check at every session, an annual heart scan, food and treats throughout, and a goody bag to take home.

To become a donor, cats need to be:

• Fit and healthy
• Between 1 and 8 years old
• Weigh 4.5kg (9.9 pounds / 0.7 stone) or more
• Happy to be handled and comfortable around people

Meow accepting donors – register your cat today!

If this sounds like your cat, head over to our newly updated cat owners section of the website, where you’ll find everything you need, including a full guide to what happens at a donation session, information about cat blood types, and training resources to help get your cat ready to take up their lifesaving position.

We’ll be gradually building up our donation sessions and aim to host them across the UK. By registering your cat now, you’ll help us see where all our potential donors are so we can look for the best places and venues nearby.

We’re so excited to get started on this new chapter for Pet Blood Bank! It’s no longer just about dogs… the cats are here and raring to go!