Should I Keep My Cat If I’m Allergic To It
There is not a single correct answer to this question. But before you decide whether to keep your cat, you must make sure that it is your cat causing the allergic reaction. You don’t want to go through the stress and upset of rehoming a much loved pet if your allergic reaction is caused by dust mites.
You have to decide whether the severity of your allergic reaction means you need to re-home your cat.
In some cases, the symptom-easing tips included above are enough to make living with a cat sustainable, but other people find that their allergic reaction makes living with a cat unbearable.
Differences Between Cats Allergy And Humans Allergy
A big difference between humans and cats, however, is that while humans will most commonly react to inhaled allergens by sneezing or coughing, a cat will more commonly react by scratching an itch caused by those same allergens. Unlike a contact allergy, the cats reaction to inhaled allergens will be a general itching of the skin as opposed to a severe reaction at a specific spot.
If your cat seems to be scratching a lot and it doesnt appear to be local, as in reaction to a flea collar, for example, there is a good chance that he or she is experiencing a reaction to some inhaled substance.
When To Contact Your Vet
Contact your vet if your cat is showing any of the symptoms above especially if they are itchy all the time with no obvious explanation . Skin problems left without treatment often get worse quickly.
You know your cat best. If they dont have the symptoms listed above but you are still concerned always contact your vet.
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Symptoms Of An Allergy To Cats
The symptoms of a cat allergy are typically similar to those of other allergies such as hay fever1, as well as the common cold or flu1.
The best way to tell if your symptoms are from a cat allergy or a cold is when they occur1. If they only flare up when you’re around fluffy animals, the chances are it’s an allergic reaction to cats, not a cold1.
Within minutes of exposure to dander, or just seconds in some cases, sneezing may start, then a sudden runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.
Ongoing nasal stuffiness, sinus pressure over the eyes or cheeks and an itchy throat can follow.
The most common symptoms of a cat allergy include1:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Hives raised, red patches on the skin
If you have asthma, your symptoms may also trigger2:
- Difficulty breathing
- An audible whistling or wheezing when exhaling
- Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
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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What Is The Difference Between Food Allergy And Food Intolerance
How to distinguish between food allergy and food intolerance?
An allergy is a response by a cats immune system to defend itself against something that it perceives as a threat. An allergic reaction doesnt happen the first time an individual cat is exposed to the ingredient but starts showing after repeated consumption.
Food intolerances do not involve the immune system and is more likely to cause only gastrointestinal responses such as changes in the consistency or colour of the cats stool or unusual sounds from the digestive system.
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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Do Cats Have Seasonal Allergies
Unlike humans who usually experience respiratory issues, seasonal allergies typically manifest as a condition known as atopic dermatitis in felines. Your cat will likely not develop a runny nose, itchy eyes and watery sinuses like you would. Instead, you may see signs of allergies on the skin or coat.1 Apr 2018
How To Deal With Adverse Reactions To Alcohol
If you have true alcohol intolerance, Dr. Steven says that you dont necessarily have to go cold turkey if you enjoy imbibing here and there. People with alcohol intolerances can find a threshold through trial and error of how much ethanol theyll tolerate before becoming symptomatic, he shares. Sometimes, symptoms like flushing can be minor or even avoided with certain types of alcohol or intake levels, whichon the bright sideisnt so awful compared to some of the more intense potential side effects of drinking with an ALDH2 deficiency.
On the other hand, if you suffer from allergies that are heightened by alcohol intake, Dr. Steven says your best bet to start would be to address the root of the problem. For instance, if you have sensitive skin due to chronic hives and your symptoms come in full throttle when you drink, treating the underlying condition that is leading to the overreaction will help you better tolerate ethanol, he explains.
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Are Any Cats Hypoallergenic
Despite popular belief, hypoallergenic cats dont exist. All cats produce allergens, no matter their breed, age or sex. Even hairless cats produce Fel d 1, the major cat allergen. The allergen that is produced in the cats saliva is spread onto skin and hair during grooming, and even hairless cats will shed dander with allergen on it.
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.
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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.
Signs & Symptoms Of Allergies In Cats
The first step in treating your cats allergies is being able to identify the symptoms. Symptoms will differ depending on the type of allergy. For example, the signs of food allergies in cats can look different than the signs of skin allergies in cats, so its important to be aware of both symptoms.
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How Are Food Allergies Treated
Food allergies, like other allergies, cannot be cured. Instead, they are managed through avoidance of foods that trigger allergy flare-ups.
Once your pet has been diagnosed with a food allergy, you may choose to continue the food that you used during the food trial for long term maintenance. Alternatively, you may be able to work with your veterinarian to find a different food that will provide similar relief from symptoms. Every cat differs in the severity of their food allergies. Some cats may react dramatically to even trace levels of an offending allergen, requiring carefully controlled hypoallergenic foods, while other cats may have a higher tolerance and may do well on a different flavor of a typical cat food.
“Food allergies, like other allergies, cannot be cured.”
Regardless, once you have found a diet that works for your cat, you will need to continue that diet long-term, avoiding cat treats and other foods that may trigger an allergic reaction.
With careful dietary control, the prognosis for cats with food allergies is typically good.
What Foods Are Associated With Food Allergies
The foods typically associated with food allergies in cats include beef, fish, chicken, and dairy. A cat must have been exposed to a food ingredient before developing an allergy to it. An ingredient a cat has consumed for a long time can still cause an allergy at some point in the cats life. An animal cannot develop an allergy to a food that it has never been exposed to. Limited research has been performed in this area and there may be other allergens that have not yet been identified.
“An ingredient a cat has consumed for a long time can still cause an allergy at some point in the cats life.”
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Symptoms Of Cat Allergies
Immediate reactions to cats could include:
- a flare-up of eczema
- skin rash or hives
For many people, the signs are more subtle and it can be tricky to identify the cause of your allergic reaction particularly if your symptoms are triggered by another factor. Some people are allergic to some cats but not others, as all cats produce their own individual amount of cat allergens.
Want to get a cat but not sure if you are allergic? Try visiting someone that has a cat, or head to a cat adoption centre, to test if cats trigger a reaction.
What Are Allergies In Cats
Food allergies are built up over time- a cat can have eaten chicken-based food his whole life and still develop an allergy to chicken!
Allergies are an abnormal immune response to a harmless stimulus. When your cats body contacts an allergen through their skin or after breathing it in, a chain reaction starts thats out of proportion to the danger your cat is ina hypersensitivity reaction.
Immune system sentinel cells release cell signals that cause itching, swelling, and redness.
Cats are not usually born with allergies- they develop as your cat ages. Cats are usually diagnosed between six months and three years, but as diagnosis is often difficult, cats have been diagnosed as old as 14 years!
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What Can I Do With My Cat To Manage Allergy Symptoms
Aside from keeping your house clean and free of allergens, there are several things to be mindful of as you interact with your cat. These include:
- avoid being licked by your cat this will spread allergens to you and could make symptoms worse
- gently clean your cat with a damp cloth
- always groom your cat outside
- after giving them a stroke, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly
- feed your cat PURINA Pro Plan LiveClear to help reduce allergens in your home – more details below!
Symptoms Of Straining To Pee Or Poop
Pay close attention to symptoms that may indicate your cat is unwell.
So now we know that if your cat is straining, you need to examine their body posture while straining and do a thorough check of their litter boxes. What else might help us to tell if theyre straining to pee or poop?
The simple answer is to look at the symptoms that your cat is showing. Cats that are straining will often go in and out of the litter box frequently, they may be vocalizing while straining because theyre in pain, arching their back, and moving their tail up and down. But if a cat is straining to pee you might notice symptoms such as
- Drops of urine around the house or in the litter box
- Wet fur around their bum
- The smell of urine from their fur
- Licking their penis/vulva frequently
These conditions fall under the term FLUTD and can be very painful. More worryingly, this can lead to a cats bladder becoming blocked, also known as a urinary blockage or urethral obstruction.
This means that through inflammation/stones/spasms/plugs the urethra has become blocked and the cat cant pass urine. This is a serious emergency as the cat is at risk of bladder rupture and kidney failure. This is often fatal if its not treated urgently.
Straining to poop in cats can be due to a few conditions
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How Is Atopy Treated
Treatment depends largely on the length of the cat’s allergy season. It involves one of two approaches:
- The first approach involves the use of corticosteroids , as well as improving the health of the hair and skin coat using spot-ons, sprays and/or shampoos. Steroids will dramatically block the allergic reaction in most cases and bring about rapid improvement in the cat’s clinical signs. Steroids may be given orally or by injection, depending on the cat’s condition. If steroids are appropriate for your cat, you will be instructed in their proper use.
- Treatment with antihistamines and essential fatty acids is variable. Some cats respond well to a particular antihistamine , while others are ineffective. It is important to understand that it can take up to 7-10 days before antihistamines become effective, therefore they are often infective in sudden flare-ups. Likewise, essential fatty acids are similarly ineffective during sudden episodes because they require several weeks to take effect. Cats predisposed to atopic dermatitis should be tried on fatty acid supplements to see if they help lessen future flare-ups and clinical signs.
Any cat suspected of having atopic dermatitis should also be considered for a hypoallergenic food trial. Many cats with atopic dermatitis are also allergic to an ingredient in their food, making diagnosis and treatment more challenging. As previously mentioned, this food trial should last 8 to 12 weeks in most cases.
Diagnosis Of Cat Allergies
With good flea control, your cat improves, a flea allergy will be presumed- but not diagnosed, as it could be a coincidence.
Diagnosing cat allergies is theoretically simple, but it can take a long time. Since flea allergy is the most common allergy, the first thing to do is to rule out flea allergy as a cause of your cats symptoms.
This means applying prescription-strength flea treatment to every animal in the house for at least 12 weeks without any break in cover. This is necessary to ensure that the flea life-cycle is broken. If, with good flea control, your cat improves, a flea allergy will be presumed- but not diagnosed, as it could be a coincidence.
If your cat doesnt improve despite flea control, the next rule-out is food. To diagnose a food allergy, a hypoallergenic exclusion diet must be fed.
This must either be a prescription hydrolysed diet or a novel protein diet. This diet needs to be fed exclusively for eight weeks to see whether your cat is going to respond- its usually necessary to shut them in for this time to ensure they arent eating at a neighbours house.
If your cat improves, food allergy is likely- feeding a bit of their old diet and watching for a return of the allergic symptoms is enough to be sure.
In some cases, referral to a veterinary dermatologist may be necessary, especially if your clinic doesnt have the appropriate equipment for skin tests, or if your cats case is difficult.
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Your Face Feels Swollen & Slightly Painful
Another sign of allergies that you might overlook is your face feeling kind of swollen, puffy, and sightly painful. This can happen when you’re very congested. Sometimes that congestion doesn’t come out as a sniffly nose instead it just causes head congestion that leaves you feeling swollen, foggy, and kind of odd.
How To Tell If Your Pet Has Allergies
Although our furry friends cannot verbalize their discomfort with words, they do offer plenty of physical signals when something is amiss. Dog and cat allergies are just as common for our four-legged friends as human allergies are for us. Although they can be caused by a wide-range of allergens , allergies in pets tend to present with similar symptoms. If you notice any of the following, its time to schedule an appointment at Berkeley Veterinary Center to see if allergies are the cause.
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