Nine-year-old cat Malcolm gave RVC its 500th donation.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has celebrated its 500th stored feline blood donation.
The donation was made by Malcolm, a nine-year-old rescued domestic shorthair cat, the day before World Blood Donor Day. The collection marked his ninth donation.
Although the RVC has been collecting blood donations from cats since 2004, it was only in December 2014 that RVC’s head nurse of transfusion medicine, Charlotte Russo, developed a closed feline blood collection system which allowed them to store feline packed red blood cells and feline plasma.
Feline blood donations could previously only be collected using open collection on an ‘as needed’ basis. The closed collection service has allowed feline blood cells to be stored for up to five weeks and feline plasma for up to five years.
Open collections are still used when required, however stored donations like Malcolm’s help to alleviate the pressure on the blood donation programme and its donors.
Charlotte Russo, head of transfusion medicine nurse at the RVC said: “Our entire team is celebrating this amazing achievement, which of course wouldn’t be possible without our generous donors and their owners.”
Malcolm’s owner Ilaria Vercesi, who also works at the RVC, said: “Malcolm first enrolled on the blood donor program two years ago and has since donated nine times. I am enormously proud of his contribution to helping other cats.
“The Blood Donor team is incredible with Malcolm, ensuring every donation is as quick and stress free as possible. The chin tickles and treats he receives afterwards are his absolute favourite and make the entire process very worthwhile."
To register your pet as a blood donor visit the RVC website.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
