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Abstract Background During the storage of packed red blood cells (pRBC), packed cell volume (PCV), bacterial contamination and percentage of haemolysis [percentage of free haemoglobin (HGB) in relation to the total HGB] are important quality parameters. Both PCV and haemolysis are indicators of the cellular integrity of stored units. There are no published experimental studies that evaluated these parameters during storage of feline pRBC using SAGM (adenine, dextrose, mannitol and sodium chloride) as the additive solution. The present study aims to (1) evaluate the quality of feline pRBCs stored in SAGM; (2) test for the semi-closed system’s suitability for use and risk of bacterial contamination; (3) establish the maximum storage time that may be appropriate to meet the criteria established by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) guidelines for human blood banking; and (4) evaluate the need to calculate the percentage of haemolysis prior to the administration of units stored for more than 4 weeks. Four hundred eighty nine feline pRBC units were analyzed. Bacterial culture, PCV and percentage of haemolysis were determined within 6 h after processing (t0). One hundred and eighty units were re-tested for haemolysis and PCV after 29–35 days of storage (t1) and 118 units after 36–42 days (t2). Results Bacterial contamination was not detected in any pRBC unit. Mean PCV at t0 was 52.25% (SD: ±5.27) and decreased significantly (p

Objectives The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of feline blood types in the Iberian Peninsula and to determine the potential risk of incompatibility-related transfusion reactions in unmatched transfusions and the potential risk of neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) in kittens born to parents of unknown blood type. Methods Blood samples were obtained from blood donors of the Animal Blood Bank (BSA-Banco de Sangue Animal). Blood typing was performed using a card method (RapidVet-H Feline Blood Typing; MDS). Results The studied population comprised 1070 purebred and non-purebred cats from Portugal and Spain aged between 1 and 8 years. Overall, frequencies of blood types A and B were 96.5% and 3.5%, respectively. No AB cats were found. Based on these data, the potential risks of NI and transfusion reactions in unmatched transfusions were calculated to be 6.8% and 2.8%, respectively. Conclusions and relevance Unlike previous studies, no type AB cats were found in this study. Although the calculated potential risks of transfusion reaction in unmatched transfusions and neonatal isoerythrolysis were low, blood typing prior to blood transfusion and blood typing of cats for breeding purposes are highly recommended.