What Is Feline Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA)? Digit the Cat and Raising Awareness

It’s a really dark day today. I found out that one of my favourite TikTok cats, Digit, crossed the rainbow bridge, and honestly… I haven’t stopped crying since.

A while ago, I fell down a very specific rabbit hole of grey tuxedo cats (because obviously I’m obsessed with any cat that even remotely looks like Trixie). Somehow, that’s how I found Digit. And once you found him, you couldn’t not love him. He was the politest little soul, the gentlest boy, with the kind of calm presence that just stayed with you.

Digit lived with his two siblings, and they were all known for using communication buttons, but what struck me the most about him was how cooperative he was — especially with his medication. Anyone who owns a cat knows how stressful meds can be. I give Trixie her flea treatment every month and, honestly, we both dread it. Watching Digit calmly take his medication with trust and patience was something really special.

I knew Digit had health issues, but I didn’t fully understand the severity until now. And that’s why this post feels important — not just as a goodbye, but as awareness for something that so many people (myself included) knew very little about.

The Message That Broke My Heart

This is the message that was shared on the Pixar and Friends YouTube account — and it completely broke me:

“Digit is officially gone.The moment the sedation began, Digit looked up at me in adoration. He hasn't looked at me like that in weeks.He knew what was happening and was ready. I know that deep in my soul.Sedation took over so quickly it solidified how weak he was. He normally fights it… but not this time.And he watched me the entire time… and I watched him. We were communicating for the very last time.This is my third loss. Princeton. Sapphire. Now Digit. My Digit.But Digit… this amazing boy… he lived almost six years beyond what he should have. Nature could have taken him at nine months, but it didn’t. We fought, and he beat the odds.He spread so much joy. He touched so many lives. He changed mine forever.He was only on earth for a short while, but the impact he made — especially for cooperative care in cats — will live on.I’m forever grateful for my sweet soul pet.” ♥️

Digit fought harder than most of us ever will. And he won, again and again, until he couldn’t anymore.

Digit’s Diagnosis: PRCA

Digit had a rare, life-threatening condition called Feline Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA).

Before writing this, I didn’t know much about it either — and that’s part of the problem.

PRCA is an extremely rare form of severe anaemia in cats. In simple terms, it means the body stops producing red blood cells. Without those cells, oxygen can’t travel properly around the body, leaving cats incredibly weak and exhausted.

Cats with PRCA often show signs like:

• extreme tiredness and weakness

  
  

• pale gums

  
  

• loss of appetite

  
  

• difficulty breathing

  
  

• rapid heartbeat

  
  

It’s most often seen in young cats and, heartbreakingly, there is very little research into it.

What Causes PRCA?

In some cases, PRCA is linked to:

• Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)

  
  

• other infections

  
  

• immune system issues where the body attacks itself

  
  

And sometimes, there’s no clear cause at all. That uncertainty makes it even harder to treat.

Treatment & Reality

Treatment usually involves:

• strong immunosuppressive medications

  
  

• steroids or drugs like cyclosporine

  
  

• blood transfusions to keep cats stable

  
  

Some cats do go into remission, but relapses are common, and long-term management is often needed. There is no guaranteed cure — and for rare conditions like PRCA, funding and research are painfully limited.

That’s the part that hurts the most.

Why This Matters

Digit deserved so much more time. He deserved answers. He deserved a cure.

Over the next few weeks, I want to look into ways we can help raise awareness and, hopefully, funding for rare feline diseases like PRCA. These conditions are often overlooked because they don’t affect “enough” animals — but to the people who love them, they are everything.

Digit wasn’t “just a TikTok cat.”He was a fighter.A teacher.A source of comfort for thousands of people who followed his journey.

Rest in peace, sweet Digit 🤍

You were loved more than you’ll ever know — and you mattered.