🐾 Blood Type Incompatibility in Cats: A Silent Danger Between Mother and Kitten
Do you know your cat’s blood type?
Most cat owners would answer “no” to this question. That’s because this information isn’t often needed in daily life. However, if breeding is planned—especially with pedigree cats—knowing the blood type is not just a detail but a life-saving factor that directly affects the survival of kittens.
In this article, we explain the feline blood type system in simple and clear terms and go into detail about a vital issue: blood type incompatibility between a mother cat and her kittens.
What Are the Blood Types in Cats?
Like humans, cats also have different blood types. However, the system is a bit simpler and includes only A, B, and AB types.
There is no “O” type, and cats do not have an Rh factor (positive/negative).
Type A
The most commonly seen blood type.
The majority of stray cats in Turkey fall into this group.
Type A is genetically dominant.
Type B
Less commonly seen.
More common in some breeds such as British Shorthair, Turkish Van, and Turkish Angora.
Cats in this group carry strong natural antibodies against type A.
Type AB
The rarest type.
Carries both A and B antigens.
Theoretically can receive blood from all groups, but this is not always safe.
What Happens if the Mother and Kitten Have Different Blood Types?
One of the greatest dangers in cats is undetected blood type incompatibility between mother and kitten after birth. This is especially dangerous when the mother is type B, and the kittens are type A or AB.
What is Neonatal Isoerythrolysis?
The medical term for this condition is neonatal isoerythrolysis. Here’s how it happens:
After giving birth, the mother cat produces colostrum (first milk). This milk is rich in immunity and contains antibodies.
A type B mother naturally carries strong antibodies against type A.
If the kitten is type A, drinking this milk causes the mother's antibodies to attack the kitten's red blood cells.
Result: severe anemia, weakness, jaundice, dark urine, and sometimes sudden death.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms caused by this incompatibility usually appear within the first 1–3 days after birth:
Constant sleeping, lethargy
Refusing to nurse
Yellowish gums
Dark-colored urine
Sudden death of the kitten
How Can This Be Prevented?
1. Get a Blood Type Test
Blood type of both the mother and father cats can easily be determined by a veterinarian before breeding. These tests usually take 10–15 minutes and are quite affordable.
2. Separate the Kittens for the First 24 Hours
If there is a risk (type B mother – potential type A/AB kittens), the kittens must be separated from the mother for the first 24 hours after birth.
They should be fed with special formula milk during this period.
After 24 hours, the kitten’s intestines can no longer absorb antibodies. Therefore, the antibodies won’t enter the bloodstream, and the risk disappears.
The kittens can then safely reunite with the mother.
Do Cats Have an Rh Factor?
When it comes to blood types in humans, the Rh factor (positive or negative) is also important in addition to the ABO system.
But cats do not have an Rh system.
In other words, cats are only classified as type A, B, or AB. There is no sub-classification such as “positive” or “negative.”
🐾 A Real Story: The First 24 Hours Were Missed…
In England, a female British Shorthair named Luna gave birth for the first time. Her owner hadn’t had any blood tests done before breeding. Luna was healthy and gave birth to four kittens.
The kittens seemed calm on the first day, but on the second day, three of them suddenly became lethargic and stopped nursing. The next morning, one had died.
The remaining two received emergency treatment, but only one could be saved.
Tests revealed that Luna had type B blood, and the kittens were type A. According to the veterinarian, this was a classic case of neonatal isoerythrolysis.
After this experience, Luna’s owner made sure to determine the blood types of both the male and female cats before the next mating. The new kittens were kept away from the mother for the first 24 hours, and all of them grew up healthy.
📌 “If I had known this beforehand, three of my kittens would still be alive,” says Luna’s owner.
This incident once again shows that blood type knowledge is not a luxury but a responsibility of conscious pet ownership.
Conclusion: A Small Test Can Save a Life
Although a blood type test may seem like a small procedure, it can prevent life-threatening conditions like kitten poisoning from mother’s milk.
This knowledge is life-saving, especially for those who breed purebred cats or plan controlled mating.
🐱 One test, one separation (first 24 hours), one life.
Cats don’t speak, but their bodies tell us everything.
It’s up to us to read them correctly.
📚 References
Giger, Urs et al. (1991). "Feline transfusion medicine: blood types and their clinical importance." Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 27(5), 351–360.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Feline Blood Types.” vet.cornell.edu
Day, M.J., Mackin, A.I., & Littlewood, J.D. (2000). Veterinary Immunology: Principles and Practice.
ISFM – International Society of Feline Medicine. “Transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats.”
Griot-Wenk, M.E. & Giger, U. (1995). “Feline transfusion medicine.” Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 17(7), 799–811.
Yorumlar
Yorum Gönder