We had never thought about it until we needed it ourselves: a kitten, Angel, needed a transfusion, and it saved her life. On that occasion we found out that for cats there is no service like AVIS (the Italian blood donors’ association), and not even pharmaceutical companies deal with blood or blood derivatives. So we decided that our Leones would become donors, and we can proudly say that since that day there have been truly many!

Our founding cat Bono donated until he was 10, Flirty until he was 8 and a half. We asked all our friends to have their very lucky and very healthy Leones screened, and many of them agreed and became proud of their little heroes.

The cat suffers no side effects. All tests are carried out before donating, which also allows early diagnosis of any minor problems that had not yet shown any symptoms.

Another great advantage, and a sign of health for our cats, is the complete absence of the infectious diseases FIV-FeLV. Specific tests are done at every donation, and in so many years nothing has ever been found.

All this makes us happy, first of all for having saved a feline life, and because we can give back to the cat world something important in return for what cats give to us humans.

​

Our Maine Coons donate here: Transfusion Medicine and Hematology (University of Bologna Veterinary Hospital)