How is blood drawn from my cat?

Very similar to people. We use a needle, and we draw from whatever part in the kitty that is comfortable for them. Most frequently, that's going to be one of their limbs, either the front limb or back limb. If it's more comfortable for the kitty, we might draw from the neck, but it depends on what works for them.

We collect the blood through the cat’s vein. We often do that from the back leg or perhaps from the jugular. The latter’s advantage is that we can get it quicker and usually get a larger volume without stressing the cat out.

There are several ways to draw blood from a cat. We can draw it from the jugular vein, located in the neck, or a back leg vein, where the cat lays on their side and we draw it from the inside of the back leg. The method used depends on the cat, as we aim to decrease any stress the cat might be feeling. We understand that one of the major concerns with bringing a cat into the veterinary office is causing stress or discomfort to the cat, which we strive to avoid.

Drawing blood from a cat is similar to humans having blood drawn. Reactions vary, with some individuals not bothered by the process while others may find it distressing. If we have a cat that is extremely stressed or nervous, we will not push them. Instead, we will discuss the situation with you and may suggest bringing the cat back in on a mild sedative to help alleviate the stress.

There are different methods to draw blood from a cat. Typically, the cat is gently restrained on its side to access one of the peripheral blood vessels, similar to how blood is drawn in human medicine. In some cases, blood may need to be drawn from other areas like the jugular, but this is not more painful or uncomfortable than routine blood draws.