What to expect when bringing your cat to donate
Thinking about registering your cat to become a blood donor but want to know exactly what is involved? Here’s everything that happens at a donation session, step by step.
From the moment you arrive at the session to the moment you head home, everything we do is designed to make sure your cat feels safe and calm.
Cats donate consciously and we follow a stress reduction approach to ensure your cat is settled and comfortable throughout their appointment. If at any point your cat seems stressed or unhappy, we will pause or stop the session. Everything we do is entirely on their terms, and we will only proceed if they and you are happy. Your cat’s welfare is always our priority.
How long will the appointment take?
Taking our time and giving your cat plenty of time to feel settled and comfortable is so important, which is why we ask that you allow 2-2.5 hours for your appointment. However, your first appointment and subsequent annual appointments may take up to 3 hours due to the addition of a heart scan. We appreciate that this is a big time commitment but by giving your cat time, it means the experience is a calm and positive one for them.
Before the donation session
You can follow your cat’s normal routine for mealtimes and exercise on the donation day, ensuring they have access to fresh water before your appointment.
The journey to the session can sometimes be the most stressful part for cats, so doing some training and familiarisation with them beforehand can make a big difference – take a look at our page on training your cat for donation for tips and guidance on making their journey as smooth as possible. The training tips are quick and easy to follow and will help make any journey in the car more comfortable for your cat.
We will use calming pheromone products at the donation session, so your cat will be greeted by a familiar, soothing scent from the moment they arrive. If you feel your cat would benefit from this before the session too, we’d recommend using a natural calming product (such as Feliway) at home and in the car. However, please note that prescription calming medication is not permitted. If you are unsure what to use, our team are always happy to advise.
Arriving at the session
When you arrive at the venue, our team who are hosting the session will welcome you. You will be shown straight to your cat’s donation room, which is a calm, quiet space that is theirs alone for their full appointment.
If you are bringing more than one cat, they can either share a room or have a room each, depending on what you feel would make them the most comfortable. If you would prefer them to have their own rooms, we recommend bringing someone else with you so one person can stay with each cat during their appointment. Reducing waiting time is important for our cat donors, so having both cats in to donate at the same time, either in the same or different rooms, helps to keep them calm and comfortable.
We give your cat as much time as they need to explore and relax in their new surroundings. This is very important as giving cats time to settle into their environment ensures they feel safe and reduces the chance of any stress.
We actively encourage you to stay with your cat for the whole appointment. You being with them makes a big difference in helping them feel relaxed.
Pre-donation health check
Once your cat is comfortable, our vet will carry out a thorough pre-donation health check to ensure they are fit and healthy to donate.
Before any blood sample or donation takes place, we shave a small amount of fur and apply a numbing cream to two small areas, one on your cat’s leg and one on their neck, to ensure your cat feels as little sensation as possible. We allow up to 45 minutes for this to take full effect. The rest of the health check includes:
- Going through their health history
- A full physical examination
- A blood pressure check
- A small blood sample
- A heart scan, which needs to be done annually for donation purposes
Donation
If your cat passes their health check, they’re ready to donate. Your cat will donate either by sitting or lying down, whichever they feel most comfortable with. Our team will reassure your cat throughout and keep them nice and calm. The donation itself takes just a few minutes and the volume we collect is 6.6ml of blood per kg of bodyweight.
The moment it’s done, your cat gets their ‘tea and biscuits’, which is some food and a drink.
After donation and going home
With your permission, we will take your cat’s photo for our Facebook page so we can celebrate them as a lifesaver and give you a goody bag to take home.
For the rest of the day following donation, your cat should take it nice and easy, avoid any strenuous exercise, and stay indoors to relax. Your cat can return to their normal routine and activities the day after donation.
Use of treats at donation sessions
Making the donation experience positive for your cat is really important to us, which is why we give them treats throughout the appointment. This helps us build a warm, trusting relationship with your cat from the moment they arrive, and allows us to thank them in a meaningful and continuous way.
Your cat’s health always comes first, so if they’re on a special diet or you’d prefer to bring treats from home, please do – we will use whatever you’re happy with and our team will always ask before offering your cat anything to eat.
