If you think your cat may have allergies, you are not alone. Many cat owners do not realize their cat is showing signs of an allergy.
Cats often have a greater chance of having an allergy than not, so any of the signs below can be signs of cat allergies.
Depending on the type of allergy, the symptoms can show within days or even hours.
Four Types of Cat Allergies
The four main types cat allergies are contact, flea and tick, medical, and food allergies. Here is a look at the four types of allergies and how to care for your cat while they deal with them.
Contact Allergies
The first type of allergy is the contact allergy. This is also the most common type of cat allergies.
Signs of contact allergies in cats can include dermatitis, pigment changes in the skin to a darker color and skin eruptions.
Most often these symptoms are noticed around the ears, chin, under the tail and the abdomen. A veterinarian can help determine the cause of your cat’s allergies.
This can include clothing, bedding, other pets and people.
Fleas and Ticks
Along with contact allergies, flea and tick allergies in cats is a common type of cat allergy.
While fleas and ticks can be annoying to any pet, the cat who suffers this type of allergy usually shows signs such as small reddish raised bumps where they were bitten.
Hot spots and severe itching are the most noticeable signs.
A good flea medication given monthly will help calm the problem although the allergy will remain.
Medical Allergies
Most medical allergies in cats can be traced back to vaccines; the three most common medical allergens being penicillin, tetracycline and neomycin.
Signs of allergies in cats in this category include eruptions of the skin and swelling at the injection site.
While these allergies cannot be avoided, they do not last more than a day.
Cat Food Allergies
Animals, like people, have food allergies. Cats are no exception.
Food allergies in cats can stem from being lactose intolerant or allergic to many other items such as beef, peanut oil, corn, or spices. Usually a food allergy in cats is found by accident when feeding them something new.
Swelling around the moth, intense scratching, hot spots and vomiting are all signs of food allergies. If you notice a coated tongue and bad breath, this is a mild allergic outbreak.
If your cat breaks out after trying new food, your vet can help you re-work your pets diet.
While they are common, dealing with cat allergies is not as difficult as it seems. Most times it takes a simple change in routine.
Once you are aware of the symptoms of your cat’s allergies, it is much easier to maintain a healthy environment for them.
