Allergies are common among us, and they aren’t pleasant. About 10% of Americans have pet allergies, with cat allergies being the most common. We know we’re allergic to cats, but what are cats allergic to?
Our pets are prone to allergies like we are. The numerous symptoms can be difficult to relieve. As parents to our four-legged friends, we’re responsible for helping them overcome them.
What Are Cats Allergic To?
There are multiple causes of your cat’s allergies. Each have their own remedies to beat the uncomfortable symptoms.
Over the years, allergies in our pets have been on the rise. Pet owners are still trying to pinpoint the reason for this.
Flea and food allergies are common in our cats. We often see our cats suffer from inhalant and contact allergens as well.
It’s always better to be prepared for the worst, than to not be prepared at all.
Food Allergies
Food allergies can be developed at any age. Even if they’ve eaten the same food for years, they can develop an allergy to it.
Certain ingredients in cat food can cause allergic reactions. Fish, chicken, pork, beef, soy, and wheat are most known to cause reactions.
Itchy skin and reoccurring ear or skin infections are symptoms of a food allergy. Vomiting and diarrhea are also signs.
Diagnosing food allergies isn’t very difficult. Over the course of six to eight weeks, feed your cat a diet with limited ingredients, such as duck and potato.
Alternatively, you can also feed them a hydrolyzed food along with some water.
If you notice the symptoms are gone during this period, your cat is allergic to the food they were eating. There are two possible ways to treat food allergies in cats.
If they’ve adjusted to the diet, continue feeding them the same food. On the other hand, you can reintroduce ingredients individually to find which one they’re allergic to.
Nonetheless, you should contact your veterinarian if the problems persist.
Flea Allergies
Fleas are a common pest to our beloved pets. Many of our pets, cats included, are commonly allergic to them. Even one bite can cause them to be itchy.
Signs of fleas include licking, biting, and scratching around the neck, tail, and lower body.
Cats with flea allergies aggressively clean themselves, so you may not find physical evidence of fleas.
Applying flea prevention can kill of living fleas, flea larvae, and their eggs. If you notice the over-the-counter medication isn’t working, your veterinarian may prescribe something stronger.
You can begin using a flea collar afterwards to prevent fleas. Never use medication for dogs on your cats, as it can make them extremely sick.
Pollen Allergies
Cats are commonly allergic to grass and trees. Symptoms include licking, chewing, and scratching. Significant skin damage be occur in sever cases of pollen allergies.
Most pollen allergies start as seasonal allergies. However, they can affect cats more frequently as they age.
Visiting your vet is the best way to diagnose a potential allergy. They may schedule a skin or blood test to determine the cause.
To keep your cat from suffering, keep them indoors and shut the windows. Using air filters or air conditioners can reduce the exposure to pollen.
Regularly grooming your cat will remove pollen trapped in their fur. Vets can prescribe various treatments to help them overcome the allergy.
Household Allergens
Mold, dust, and mites are just a few of many things can can be allergic to in the household. Indoor allergy symptoms are the same as those from pollen allergies.
Similarly to pollen allergies, visiting your vet for a skin or blood test is the best way to diagnose the problem.
Handle any mold problems through your home to reduce the indoor allergens. Likewise, clean your home frequently and thoroughly. Regularly clean your cat as well.
Replace your old air filters with clean ones. Additionally, an air purifier can help both you and your cat’s allergies. Various treatments can be provided by your vet to help with allergies.
Perfumes & Colognes
Odor-masking sprays added to cat litter causes an uncomfortable reaction in some of our cats. The same stuff is sometimes found in cleaning products, air sprays, and carpet powders.
Likewise, some cats are very sensitive to perfumes and colognes that we spray after showering or before going out. Be considerate when spraying those.
Common symptoms include sneezing or itchy skin after coming in contact with these things. Cats may be avoiding areas altogether where they experienced discomfort.
Try unscented litters and other products if your cat shows signs of an allergic reaction.
Cats Can Be Allergic To Medicines
The rarest allergy in our fuzzy friends are drug allergies. However, it is still possible for your cat to have an unexpected reaction to certain medications.
You’ll likely notice itching, hives, vomiting, fevers, and hair loss from allergic reactions to drugs. The symptoms are various though, as different drugs can cause different reactions.
Call your veterinarian immediately if you notice a negative reaction to a medication your cat was given. If you wait too late, your cat could experience severe issues and even death.
Treating Allergic Cats
Every form of allergy has their own form of treatment. Giving your cat vitamins can help boost their immune system to combat illnesses and allergies.
Since many reactions to allergies includes itching, it doesn’t hurt to have some anti-itch spray on hand.
If you ever have a concern about a cat allergy, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. They’re professionals and want to help your pets.
We love our pets and we want them to live long, happy, healthy lives.
Be prepared to fight their problems.
