How To Treat Seasonal Allergies In Cats
What can you give your cat for allergies? Actually, thereare a few simple home remedies which can go a long way towards relieving thesymptoms without introducing new medications. Try these tricks to keep your catcomfortable during allergy season:
1. Reduce time spent outdoors.
Consider keeping your cat indoors, especially when thepollen count is high.
2. Keep your home allergen-free.
To keep irritants out of your home, remove shoes when youcome inside. Vacuum and wipe surfaces frequently, especially windowsills.Change filters in air conditioning and heating units on schedule and considerpurchasing an air purifier to keep pollen and dust at bay.
3. Give your cat a bath.
If your cat is sensitive to environmental triggers, itsimportant to keep his or her skin and fur clean. Regular grooming helps removeany allergenstry these tips for making cat bath-time a painless experience.If your cat spends time outside, rinse his or her feet daily.
4. Look for other potential triggers.
Something other than pollen or dust could be causing yourcats symptoms. Flea allergies are relatively common in cats. If your cat hasfleas, be sure to treat them promptly and persistently. Some catsmay be sensitive to chemicals present in many popular brands of cat litter.Consider switching to a natural alternative like WorldsBest Cat Litter, which uses the concentrated power of corn to give you acleaner litter box with no silica dust, artificial fragrances or other addedchemicals.
How Are Cat Allergies Treated
If you are trying to help your cat manage their allergies, the best thing you can do is to prevent them from entering your cat’s environment in the first place. For instance, you can:
- Use veterinarian approved flea and tick control
- Use dust-free cat litter
- Bathe your cat to relieve itching
- Keep your home clean of dirt and dust
- Wash your cat’s bedding regularly
- Provide your cat with a healthy diet
- Avoid smoking around your pets
In some cases, your vet may provide your cat with a daily prescription or dietary supplements.
How To Make Pate Cat Food
If you have a cat, you know that they can be picky eaters. You may have even tried making your own cat food, only to have them turn their nose up at it. Never fear, with this guide you will be able to make a delicious pate that your cat will love. This guide will walk you through the ingredients and steps needed to make a healthy and delicious meal for your feline friend.
So, how to make pate cat food?
There is no one definitive answer to this question as there are many different ways to make pate cat food. However, some tips on how to make pate cat food include using a food processor to puree the ingredients, adding some broth or water to create a smooth consistency, and adding some healthy fats such as olive oil or fish oil to help improve your cats coat and skin health.
Lets dig into it and see whats inside.
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Cat Allergy Tips For Parents
Growing up in London, England, we had a cat, as well as other animals including rabbits, chicken and one tortoise. Since then, we have carried on the tradition with two to three cats at any given time. You can imagine my surprise when my daughter moved away from home only to find out that she is highly allergic to cats!
How To Make Cat Food Mousse
Ingredients
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
1/3 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
1. In a medium bowl, mix together cooked chicken, mashed sweet potato, and canned pumpkin.
2. In a small bowl, mix together gelatin and water.
3. Add gelatin to the chicken mixture, and stir until well combined.
4. Spoon mixture into a food processor, and blend until smooth.
5. Pour mixture into a serving dish, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
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Allergy Skin Prick Test
This test is performed in your doctors office so they can observe any reactions.
Using a clean needle, your doctor will prick your skins surface , and deposit a tiny amount of the allergen. Youll likely be tested for several allergens at the same time. Youll also be skin pricked with a control solution that has no allergens. Your doctor may number each prick to identify the allergen.
In about 15 to 20 minutes, the skin prick site may become red or swollen. This reaction confirms an allergy to that substance. A positive cat allergy will usually cause a red, itchy bump to the cat allergen. These unpleasant effects generally go away 30 minutes after the test.
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.
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How Vets Diagnose Feline Food Allergies
If you notice any of the above symptoms, be sure to take your cat to the vet for a check-up. If left untreated, your cats food allergy symptomsespecially itchy skincan get worse quickly.
Once your vet rules out other possible causes for your kittys symptoms, they may decide to conduct a food trial. During a food trial, you will stop all your cats usual foods and feed them a specific diet for 12 weeks. If your cats food allergy symptoms improve, this means they are reacting to something in their usual food. Your vet will then recommend the proper foods to feed your cat.
Cat sitters: Take note of your individual furry clients dietary requirements and ask questions if something isnt clear. Bringing treats along on visits can make you very popular with your kitty clients, but you should never assume its okay for every cat to indulge. Always check with their fur parents first before feeding your cat client anything thats not a part of their usual diet.
How Can Vets Test For Cat Allergies
If your vet suspects your cat has an allergy to cat food they will probably recommend an exclusion diet trial. This is where you will temporarily feed your cat a bland, hypoallergenic diet, where the proteins in any ingredients are so small they cant cause an allergic reaction.
The exclusion diet will last a fixed period of time, depending on your cats symptoms. If, for example, theyre experiencing cat skin problems, they may be given a restricted diet for 4 to 12 weeks, sometimes longer. Gastrointestinal problems usually show signs of improvement in a shorter time frame.
While your cats on the exclusion diet they mustnt eat anything else and that means no titbits or treats from anyone in the family, no matter how tempting it may be! Outdoor cats are best kept indoors during the trial, as eating the odd mouse isnt going to help matters.
It takes patience and perseverance to stick to the diet and, the occasional slip up might happen. If it does, be honest with your vet, as they need to know all the facts, including any refusals to eat the bland diet.
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How To Have A Cat If You Have Cat Allergies
The Spruce / Hilary Allison
Although some people avoid cats because they fear or dislike them, there is some hope for those who avoid cats because of fear of allergic reactions. A lot will depend on the nature of your allergies. If yours are of the sneezing, watery eyes, and running nose variety, you may be able to slowly and gradually build up your tolerance to cats.
However, before getting a cat, you should undergo allergy testing first, particularly if you suffer from asthma. For example, about 30 percent of people with allergies are allergic to cats and dogs, but studies show the rate of cat allergies is actually far higher than that.
Here are tips to help you gain control over your cat allergy symptoms while enjoying the lifelong companionship of a feline.
Maintaining An Optimal Environment
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What Are The Major Cats Allergens
Allergies in cats seem to fall into these major categories. Allergies to fleas, foods, things inhaled, or something they have come in contact with.
1. Contact allergies: they generally result in a fairly localized reaction on the skin. The cat may scratch a lot and/or there may be an indication of irritation at the place of contact, swollen red skin. The most common causes of contact allergies in cats would obviously be items with which they come in close contacts such as flea collars, bedding, toys, and even some plants in the garden, for more information about the later plants check our article Poisonous plants for dogs and cats you must know off ! The simplest cure is to remove the contact, eradicate the plant or Wrap it with a fence, take the collar off or change the bedding, for example. If the irritation persists, or if you still need effective flea control, consult with your veterinarian.
Some cats may also experience allergic reactions to certain plastics and/or metals. If you suspect this in your cat, you may wish to change to a ceramic or glass feeding bowl. Another problem that may mimic a contact allergy can occur if you simply do not rinse your cat carefully and completely after its bath. Residual shampoo or soap on the skin can cause dermatitis which can be mistaken for an allergic reaction.
Happily, contact allergies in cats are the least common type.
Common Types Of Allergies In Cats
There are different kinds of allergies that cats can experience. Like people, cats can have allergies to foods, medications, plants, and more. These allergies generally come with symptoms such as:
- Excessive licking
- Pulling or biting out hair
- Chewing at paws or body
- Red, dry and/or flaky skin
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Snoring due to inflammation in the throat
- Swollen, sensitive paws
The most common allergies in cats are either environmental, fleas, and/or food. Each of these allergens can cause the symptoms listed above.
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How Do You Make Pate Dry Cat Food
If youve ever wondered how to make pate dry cat food, the process is actually quite simple. All you need is a bowl of dry food and some water. To soften the food for kittens, start with the right amount of dry food in a bowl. Add enough water to fill 1/4th of the bowl, but make sure that all of the food gets wet. Let it sit for a few minutes to soak it in. If needed add more water and stir.
Also, Kittens need special food that is softer than regular adult cat food. To soften the food, start with the right amount of dry food in a bowl. Add enough water to fill 1/4th of the bowl, making sure all the food gets wet. Let it sit for a few minutes to soak in, adding more water if needed.
What To Do If Your Cat Has A Cold
If your cat has a cold, you can help them feel less uncomfortable by wiping their runny nose with a clean cloth, and runny eyes with a cloth and saline solution. You can also run a humidifier so the air isn’t too dry.
If your cat seems to be stuffed up, making breathing a little difficult, secure them in their pet carrier, put a bowl of hot water in front of the cage, and cover both with a blanket for about 15 minutes.
Your cat must continue to eat and drink so that it can recover as quickly as possible. Warming up and making food easier to swallow may make this process more appealing to them. They need to stay warm as well, so put an extra blanket in their bed or favorite place to curl up.
Do not ever give human cold medication to your cat. Always speak with your vet to see what they recommend for your pet.
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What Causes Food Allergies Or Food Intolerance
It may take months or years before your cat develops an allergic response to a particular food. However, once she’s allergic, she will almost always have a negative reaction to that food. Allergic reactions are most commonly associated with protein sources usually the meat in your cats food.
Food: The most common causes of food allergies and food intolerance in cats are beef, milk products and fish.
Damage: Inflammation, infection, surgery and some medications can damage the digestive system and may lead to food allergies or food intolerance.
Age: Food allergies and food intolerance can occur at any age.
Breed: Some cat breeds appear more likely to develop food allergies or food intolerance, including Siamese cats.
How Can This Knowledge Help Your Pet
While a little astute detective work on the part of the pet owner may often alleviate the problem, only the veterinarian will usually be able to tell for sure what the cause and effect may actually beand how to best deal with the situation.
However, the vet does not live with your cat, so it is important to note carefully what the symptoms are, when they began, how they have progressed, what steps you have already taken, and what happened as a result of those steps. All of this information will help your vet in getting to the truth behind the apparent allergy in your cat. Your cats veterinarian will also have diagnostic tools at his or her disposal for getting at the cause of your pets apparently allergic reactions.
In the end, we would like to thank you for being a good and humanistic person, and for taking care of your pet. Please, if this article helped you in any way like and share it with your friends so more people are aware.
Its funny how dogs and cats know the inside of folks better than other folks do, isnt it?- Eleanor H. Porter
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How To Tell If Your Cat Has Food Allergies
Amber967
We dont know why exactly it happens, but food allergies in cats are a relatively common issue. Like any other type of allergy, whether in humans or animals, a feline food allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to a specific protein found in their food. The physical response can range from mild to severe, but regardless of symptoms, a regularly occurring allergic reaction lowers a cats quality of life. This is why its important to recognize the signs that a cat has food allergies and to work toward a long-term solution. Every cat, regardless of age, health, breed, or diet, can potentially develop an allergy at any point in their life.
If youve noticed your cat showing concerning physical symptoms, their food could be the culprit. Read through the following list of symptoms to help determine if your cat has food allergies.
What Are The Risk Factors For Food Allergies In Cats
Genetic predisposition plays an important role in food allergies. Food allergies are also often related to atopy many cats react to both food ingredients and environmental allergens. See handout Inhalant Allergies in Cats for further information on atopy. Food allergies can develop in a cat any time after three months of age. Male and female cats are equally likely to develop food allergies.
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Diagnosing And Treating Allergies In Cats
To diagnose allergies in cats, a veterinary dermatologist can look over your pets medical history and perform a physical exam. In some cases, a test can be performed to look for environmental allergies. If your veterinarian believes that the allergy is food related, they may want to narrow down the cause by changing your pets diet until they eliminate the problem food.
When it comes to battling allergies, in some cases, the best thing that you can do for your cat is focus on prevention. If your cat has allergies to cleaners, medications, foods, plants, or other things that are avoidable, try to keep them away from these items. For things like pollen or dust, your cat may need medication to treat the allergies, because these things are very hard to avoid.
Treating allergies can be complicated if the source of the allergies cant be determined. It may take some time with a veterinary dermatologist to find the source of your cats allergies.
