What are feline blood groups or blood types?
Our blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma. The red cells carry oxygen and their well-being is essential for life. Red blood cells, like most other components of the body, are made of protein, and proteins can be recognised and destroyed by the bodys immune system. The cat has essentially two blood groups: A and B (although there is a third, very rare, group, AB, which is a combination of the two). The red blood cell proteins are A in one group, B in the other (see figure 1). In fact, the proteins on the surface of type A and B red blood cells are only slightly different, but of course the immune system can detect the difference. As you know, if you have a blood transfusion, it is essential to get the right type of blood, a transfusion of the wrong blood type could kill you it is no different for cats. The immune system of the cat or person receiving the blood transfusion reacts to the blood which it sees as alien, and the consequences can be fatal. What is neo
