Should You Speak To An Expert
If your cats watery eyes are not clearing up, or their persistent itching refuses to go away, its most likely time to take them to a vet for a thorough examination.
Seasonal allergy symptoms can be an indication of a more serious medical condition, and if you are unable to pinpoint the cause yourself, expert advice is definitely the best way forward.
The earlier they are diagnosed, the sooner theyll be back to full fitness.
Following the examination, which may include blood and skin tests, a vet should be able to determine what type of allergy your feline is dealing with.
If they suspect your pet is suffering from seasonal allergies they may prescribe medicines, such as antihistamines, to help alleviate the symptoms. They may also advise you to keep your feline indoors for a period in order to limit their exposure to pollen.
Pets with severe allergies may be referred to a veterinary dermatologist who will carry out more in-depth testing, and will possibly recommend further treatments.
As well as developing a long-term strategy for managing seasonal allergies, dermatologists will also offer their expertise on how to best care for your feline when they are experiencing a reaction to an allergy.
While there is no cure for seasonal allergies, if you formulate an effective treatment plan, and take preventative measures where possible, there is nothing to stop your feline from enjoying a happy and healthy life. Coupled with a healthy diet, you cant go wrong.
Signs Of Feline Seasonal Allergies
Human allergy sufferers tend to associate seasonal irritation with respiratory symptoms like sneezing and watery eyes. For cats, however, allergies more often result in nasty topical symptoms.
These include:
- Red, dry, and/or irritated skin
Less often, symptoms may include digestive and respiratory reactions, such as:
- Red, itchy, and/or watery eyes
Causes Of Cat Allergies
Feline allergies can generally be broken down into a few different categories: food allergies flea allergies. seasonal allergies and environmental allergies.
If your kitty has food allergies, it means she has a negative reaction to certain ingredients in her food. Flea allergies can occur if your feline has an allergic reaction to flea bites.
Common culprits of seasonal allergies include mold, pollen, grass, fungi, and dust. Environmental allergies are similar, though they can occur year-round if your kitty is allergic to certain medications or substances such as cleaning products and certain fabrics.
Don’t Miss: How Many People Have Food Allergies
Reduce Allergens In The Home
You might also want to do a deep clean of your house regularly, which can help remove some of the allergens in your cats environment so her reactions arent quite so severe.
Make sure to wash all bedding, vacuum your carpets and wipe down all surfaces when cleaning.
An air filter might also help to remove the allergens from your home.
Cat allergies can take the fun out of warmer weather, but by following a treatment plan from your veterinarian, your cat will be back to good health in no time!
We independently pick all the products we recommend because we love them and think you will too. If you buy a product from a link on our site, we may earn a commission.
Other Allergies That Can Affect Cats
Most allergic pets fall into one of the above categories. But there are other possibilities.
Contact allergies affect some cats. For example, a fairly common condition happens when a cat is allergic to plastic. For these kitties, plastic food bowls lead to chin acne, or skin lesions caused by their chin touching the plastic while they eat. Certain fabrics, laundry detergents, cleaning products, etc. can also cause contact allergies.As described above, anaphylactic reactions are also possible.
And some pets may suffer from reactions to other inhaled substances like perfume, scented kitty litter, or smoke.
You May Like: Why Do Allergies Get Worse At Night
Seasonal Allergies And Catssigns Treatments And Tips
While it may not seem obvious, cats suffering from allergies can present in different ways. This blog discusses signs to watch for and treatment options for cats experiencing seasonal or other allergies.
Often we think of cats as being the cause of an allergy, rather than suffering from one. But like humans, cats experience seasonal allergies, and the effects can be uncomfortable and stressful for them. Here well quickly review the causes of seasonal allergies in cats, describe how these allergies present symptomatically, and offer some tips on how to minimize the effects of allergies on your cat.
How To Prevent Cat Allergies
As always prevention is better than cure. So, if you are concerned that your cat may develop allergies in the future, its best to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Weve already talked about the different causes and types of cat allergies, so, it shouldnt be that difficult already to identify the ways to prevent allergies in cats. Nevertheless, below are some preventive measures that you can do:
- Always keep the surroundings of your cats clean, including their beddings.
- Use dust-free and unscented cat litter.
- Avoid using strong perfume.
Also read:Can Cats Take Benadryl?
You May Like: Can Allergies Cause Blurry Vision
How Can I Help My Kitty
There are supplements and medications your veterinarian may recommend that can help your cat overcome seasonal allergies. There are also different precautions you can take at home. Bathe your cat to wash all allergens out: however, take care not to bathe too often as this can lead to dry skin and increased irritation. Alternately, you can wipe your cats fur with a warm wet washcloth to remove surface irritants. Make sure to keep your home clean by vacuuming and washing your floors with non-toxic cleaners. Keep your windows shut to avoid allergy-causing molecules from entering your home.
You can also help your kitty by strengthening the immune system. Make sure you use a cat species-appropriate diet with no inflammatory foods to keep your cats immune system healthy. You can also add Omega-3 fatty acids and coconut oil to strengthen your cats immune system further.
Can Cats Have Allergies
People can be allergic to cats, but how about the other way around? Can cats be allergic to people? Or should we just say, can cats have allergies?
Although these questions seem absurd for some, were not kidding, these questions have valid grounds. And after doing our research, cats can indeed be indirectly allergic to us, humans.
Well, they may not show an allergic reaction to our presence per se, but they can be allergic to our perfume, our clothes, our cleaning supplies, our dandruff, or our unhealthy habits .
Just like us, our feline friends can be allergic to a variety of things. But unlike us, they wont know that they have allergies, and they would definitely not know how to free themselves from these allergens.
As cat parents, we should do everything in our power to keep our cats healthy, even if it means changing our perfume, or not leaving a trace of cigarette smoke near them.
We shouldnt take cat allergies lightly. Some cats may exhibit mild symptoms, but some can have severe responses that can even be fatal.
It is therefore important to know what possible allergies can our cats have, how to find out if they have one, and how to manage and treat the symptoms before the situation gets worse.
Also Check: How Common Is Kiwi Allergy
So Short Of Taking Your Cat To The Vet What Can You Do At Home To Lessen The Burden Of Seasonal Allergies
If your cat isnt already an indoor-only cat, consider making the switch. If this isnt feasible for one reason or another, limit the amount of time your cat spends outdoors during allergy season.
For starters, reduce the amount of allergens in your home. If your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, wipe her paws off when she comes inside so that she isnt tracking in pollen and debris. Give her regular baths to reduce the amount of allergens trapped in her fur.
Clean up around the house. Nobody likes housework, but regular vacuuming, mopping and dusting can go a long way in keeping your little buddy happy and healthy during allergy season. You might even see an improvement in your symptoms, too.
Limit the hours you keep your windows open to times when the pollen count is at its lowest. Dawn and dusk are big offenders for high pollen counts, and some days are just miserable. If leaving your windows closed isnt an option, consider investing in a HEPA filter to remove some of the allergens from the air in your home.
Primarily, though, seasonal allergies are a problem for the professionals. Work with your vet and groomer to stop any skin problems before they start. Both can recommend a good shampoo to remove allergens while still being gentle on the skin. Your vet can recommend a topical solution for itching, and if the reaction is severe, may recommend steroid shots to reduce the inflammatory response caused by histamine in the body.
Learn more about your cat with Catster:
What Are Seasonal Allergies
Cats tend to manifest inhaled allergens as skin inflammation. This is mostly due to the fact that when signaled, the immune system begins to produce an antibody protein called immunoglobulin E . This protein attaches itself to cells within the skin and then releases chemicals which cause irritation. The extreme itchiness that follows is often referred to as allergic dermatitis. Sometimes cats with weakened lungs will also develop respiratory signs from an allergic reaction. Seasonal allergies can often be identified in young cats. The longer that the cat is exposed to the allergen, the worse the reaction becomes. This is because the body learns how to react to whatever it has misdiagnosed as a threat and continues to react that way every time exposure occurs. In areas where no true winter takes place, these allergies can become year-round issues.
The immune system provides a defensive response in the body when a harmful material enters, such as bacteria or parasites. Sometimes, the immune system can misidentify non-harmful molecules as a threat to the body, and the defensive response is triggered by the overreaction. This inflammation is generally referred to as an allergic reaction. There are many different things that can cause an allergic reaction in cats. Just like humans, the pollens, and other molecules that are released during the spring and summer time can often cause allergies to flare up.
Seasonal Allergies Average Cost
Average Cost
You May Like: How To Test For Peanut Allergy At Home Baby
Checklist: Prepare These Answers Before You Visit Your Vet For The Pollen Allergy
Your vet will give your cat a thorough examination to rule out common colds and food allergies.
After excluding the possibility of food allergies, the vet will conduct a blood test to check for antibodies, just like in a human allergy test. As a result, the expert should be able to not only tell you if your cat has a pollen allergy but also what specific types of pollen your cat is allergic to.
Recovery Of Pollen Allergy In Cats
While it is not possible to completely avoid pollen, keeping your cat indoors will minimize his exposure to the environmental allergen. There are shampoos and rinses as well as topical-solutions that will help offer short-term relief from itching for your cat. Your veterinarian may recommend a topical solution with hydrocortisone in order to give your cat some immediate relief to the itching he is experiencing. These ointments should be used in areas where your cat is unable to lick it off. Fortunately, when used in moderation long-term side effects are not seen. Other ways that you can help your cat include:
- Wiping his paws and coat with a damp towel to get pollen off of him. This can be done several times a day
- Wet your cats fur with a spray including oatmeal and aloe
- Provide your cat with fish oil caplets these contain omega-3 fatty acids which can decrease the inflammation he is experiencing and minimize his reaction to the pollen
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Allergies Without Medicine
Do Cats Get Seasonal Allergies
Meow-choo! Its sneezing season and youre not the only onewho might be affected by the increase of environmental irritants as thetemperatures change.
Just like people, cats can develop allergies to things likepollen, grass and dust. Cats who spend time outside are more likely to getseasonal allergies than strictly indoor cats. But, there are a few things youcan do to discern whether your cat has seasonal allergies and help alleviatethem.
Addressing Your Cats Seasonal Allergies
Cat allergies can range from minor to severe, some requiring more intervention than others. For some, the solution may be as simple as waiting it out and coping with minor discomfort. Other cats may need prescription medications, topical solutions, or specific anti-itch shampoos to provide relief.
The first step is to try to identify the culprit causing your cats discomfort, and remove them if possible. If you are able to identify the source of your cats allergies, such as specific cleaning products, perfumes, or fabrics, try to switch them out with something more agreeable.
In some cases, removing the offending allergen altogether isnt an optiondust and pollen, for example. In those cases, you should focus on helping your kitty cope with her allergy symptoms.
Some solutions that can help to minimize your kittys discomfort include:
PetHonestys Lysine-Immune Health+ for Cats is a delicious addition to your cats diet. This meal-topping powder promotes immune and respiratory health along with providing relief from seasonal allergies.
Additionally, boost your cats immune system, joint health, digestion, and skin and coat with our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil .
Recommended Reading: How To Clear Your Sinuses From Allergies
Diagnosis Of Pollen Allergy In Cats
Your veterinarian will examine your cat and ask you about the symptoms you have noticed, when you first noticed them and what changes you have observed. If skin symptoms are present in your cat, your veterinarian will likely take a scraping from his skin so that your cats skin cells can be examined under a microscope. Your veterinarian will look at the skin cells to see if parasites, yeast or bacteria are causing his symptoms. A skin test can be performed with the allergens that your veterinarian suspects, or a blood test can be given which may show that antibodies have been secreted in response to different pollens.
Causes Of Seasonal Allergies In Cats
Many different factors can cause an allergy to exist. The time of year and its associated plant growth have an effect on which allergens are being released into the air. Known causes include:
- Molecules in the air from grasses, molds, pollens and weeds
- Genetically inherited immune system reactions
- Environmental exposure
Also Check: What Is Immunocap Allergy Testing
How To Diagnose Allergies In Cats
Finding the exact causes of allergies in cats can be challenging without extensive testing and a veterinarian visit.
Your cat might not be too thrilled about an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist, though.
I mean, who likes going to the doctor, anyway?
So, before you jump straight into skin tests and blood tests, there are pet-friendly at-home tests you could try if you suspect your pet may be allergic to something.
Since environmental allergens are often the hardest to detect, the 5Strands Pet Environmental Intolerance Test might be your best shot. This easy-to-use test kit covers fabrics, cleaning products, mold, dust mites, grasses, trees, and other potential “triggers” found around the home.
What if you’re suspecting that food allergy is the culprit behind the symptoms?
Again, 5Strands has you covered with Pet Food Intolerance Test. The at-home test covers proteins, grains, fruits and vegetables, fats, seafood, and substances such as additives and preservatives, commonly found in cat food.
The alternative to diagnosing food allergies would be feeding your pet a specifically formulated hydrolyzed protein diet for the next 12 weeks or until the symptoms go away. From there, you would reintroduce regular food to see what’s causing the food allergy.
It’ll be less stressful for your cat than a trip to the veterinarian and easier on your wallet, too.
What Are Common Animal Or Pet Allergy Symptoms
Cat, dog, and other animal allergens can land on the membranes that line the eyes and nose. You can also breathe in pet allergens into your airways. Animal allergy symptoms can include:
- Swelling and itching of the eyes and nose
- Other: sleep disruption, fatigue, itchiness of roof of mouth and throat, irritability
It is common to get itchy eyes after petting an animal and then touching your eyes. A pet scratch or lick on your skin can cause the area to become red and itchy. You may get hives. Pet allergy can trigger an asthma attack if you also have asthma.
People with pet allergies have different levels of sensitivity to pet allergens. Some people have very minor symptoms, while other people have severe symptoms. If allergen levels are low, symptoms may not appear until after several days of contact with the pet.
Animal allergens can get into the air. Many airborne allergens are small enough to get into your lungs. For some people, this exposure can make it very hard to breathe. An asthma episode can begin within 15 to 30 minutes of inhaling allergens. Learn more about allergic asthma.
Read Also: Can Ragweed Allergy Cause Nausea
How Do You Treat Seasonal Allergies In Cats
Symptoms caused by cat seasonal allergies can be very uncomfortable. If your cats skin becomes very irritated and itchy, they may overgroom and scratch too much. This can cause them to tear out their hair and even break their skin, which makes them vulnerable to infections.
If your veterinarian diagnoses your cat with spring allergies, they can prescribe allergy medications to help lessen the symptoms. Human allergy medications are not for pets and should not be administered to your cat or dog. They can also offer treatment for wounds from skin irritations. There are also several things you can do at home to provide relief to a cat experiencing spring allergies.
