The Cat, Bruce

'Bruce' the cat is an integral member of staff at the Southern Animal Emergency Centre. Bruce is the resident feline blood donor and discharges a life-saving role for those pets whose treatment he is involved in.

Bruce joined the Centre in early 2004, having been saved from a local shelter. Bruce is a 6.5 kg male neutered domestic shorthair with type A blood.

Bruce fulfills an essential role at the Centre due to the fact that there is no registered feline blood bank in Australia, despite the fact that many feline blood transfusions are carried out Australia-wide every day. Until such time as feline blood is available, vet emergency centres must keep donors on-site or nearby in the eventuation that a donation is required.

Many people ask about the conditions that Bruce enjoys at the Centre, and all are happy to find that 'clinic cats' are amongst the most spoilt moggies to grace the planet.

Bruce enjoys the affection of no less than 20 staff members on a weekly basis and resides in his own lounge area adjoining the Centre staff room. He has free access to the entire Centre at all times of the day and night, but prefers to lounge on his personal chair away from the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day Centre activities.

In return, Bruce donates blood at most once every month, and on average about once every 6-8 weeks. Donation is a simple and humane procedure which is very similar to the process of donating blood in a human context. Only a small amount of blood is taken to ensure that Bruce remains happy and healthy for future transmissions, just as in humans. The donation process takes around 20 minutes, after which blood can be transfused to a type A recipient.

Bruce is able to donate to other cats of type A blood. Cats can also have blood of what is termed type B, or type AB. Type B cats tend to be exotic breeds and can only receive blood from a type B blood donor. The Centre has access to another willing donor off-site in the event that a type B blood transfusion is required.

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