Genetic blood group determination
The natural anti-A and anti-B antibodies can leed to bloodgroup incompatibility that can be... more
Disease
The AB system is the major blood group system in domestic cats. The common blood types are A and B. Cats with blood type B usually have anti-A antibodies at a high titer and cats with blood type A usually have anti-B antibodies at a low titer. Cats with the rare AB blood type (also called blood type C) do not have anti-A or anti-B antibodies (universal receiver).
By the use of a incompatible blood type in a blood transfusion, the natural antibodies lead to blood type incompatibility which could be lethal. First symptoms are dyspnea, vomiting and agitation.
Neonatal isoerythrolysis occurs when a female cat with blood type B is bred to an A-type male cat and the A-type kitten absorb the anti-A antibodies from the breast milk. This hemolytic disease can also be lethal.
Genetic blood type - the variants and inheritance
The genetic determination of the blood types in cats enables the genetic differentiation of the serologically determined blood group before breeding. Blood type A is dominant to B. With the genetic test, it´s possible to identify the recessive b allele which is associated with the B serotype. Cats with two copies of the b allele have the type B. Cats with blood type A can carry the genotype AA or Ab.
To clarify the genetic basis with blood type A or AB the gene test is recommended.
Summary | |
Serological blood group | Possible genotypes |
A | N/N, N/b, N/c |
C | c/c, c/b |
B | b/b |
Breed
Abyssinian,
American Bobtail Longhair,
American Bobtail Shorthair,
American Curl Longhair,
American Curl Shorthair,
American Shorthair,
American Wirehair,
Anatoli,
Arabian Mau,
Australian Mist,
Balinese,
Bengal (Leopard cat),
Birman (Sacred cat of Burma),
Bombay,
Brazilian Shorthair,
British Longhair,
British Shorthair (BSH),
Burmese,
Burmilla,
Ceylon cat,
Chartreux,
Chausie,
Cornish Rex,
Crossbred / Mixed Breed,
Cymric cat,
Devon Rex,
Donskoy,
Egyptian Mau,
Exotic Shorthair,
Foldex,
German Longhair,
German Rex,
Himalayan,
Japanese Bobtail Longhair,
Japanese Bobtail Shorthair,
Javanese,
Kanaani,
Kartäuser,
Korat,
Kurilian Bobtail,
LaPerm Longhair,
LaPerm Shorthair,
Maine Coon,
Manx cat,
Munchkin,
Nebelung,
Neva Masquerade,
Norwegian Forest Cat,
Ocicat,
Ojos Azules,
Oriental Longhair,
Oriental Shorthair (OSH),
other / unknown,
Persian,
Peterbald,
Pixie-bob Longhair,
Pixie-bob Shorthair,
Ragdoll,
Russian Blue,
Savannah,
Scottish Fold Longhair,
Scottish Fold Shorthair,
Selkirk Rex Longhair,
Selkirk Rex Shorthair,
Serengeti,
Seychellois,
Siamese,
Siberian,
Singapura,
Snowshoe,
Sokoke,
Somali,
Sphynx,
Thai,
Tonkinese,
Toyger,
Turkish Angora,
Türkisch Van,
Ural Rex
Test duration
3 - 5 days
