Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeCatWhat Are Cat Allergies Like

What Are Cat Allergies Like

What Causes Cat Skin Allergies

All you need to know about cat allergies & what you can do about them!

An allergy at its root is caused by the immune system reacting inappropriately to things that are not viruses or bacteria. When your cat has an allergy, their immune system thinks that a benign protein is a virus or parasite trying to attack it, which causes inflammation.

There are three triggers for skin allergies in cats:

  • Environmental allergies

Many cats that go to the veterinarian for skin problems may have mites or ringworm fungus as a cause for their disease, so your veterinarian may recommend testing to rule these out.

Many cats also have bacterial infections on their skin from constantly damaging the skin, which will slow healing. Your veterinarian may recommend testing for infection and if so, will treat your cat with antibiotics.

Seasonal Allergies In Cats

The immune system works to provide a defensive response in the body when any harmful material such as bacteria or parasites enter. Sometimes the immune system misidentifies non-harmful molecules such as pollens, thinking they are a threat to the body, so they release histamine and trigger a defensive response. The resulting inflammation is known as an allergic reaction. You and your cat can end up feeling miserable.

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. The longer your furry friend is exposed to the allergen, the worse the reaction becomes.

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!

Read Also: Does Staying Inside Help Allergies

Managing Atopic Dermatitis In Cats

Atopic dermatitis is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that your cat has consistently been on flea preventatives, has completed a food trial, and is still very itchy. At this point, the treatment options include:

  • Continuing to use corticosteroids

  • Using an immunomodulatory medication like Atopica

  • Blood testing for allergies to start immunotherapy

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatories, which means that they reduce the inflammation associated with cat skin allergies. Commonly used corticosteroids are prednisolone and triamcinolone.

Possible side effects include increased thirst and kidney injury. In cats, corticosteroids are usually quite safe, but they must be used at a dose that is as low as possible while still controlling your cats skin disease.

Atopica

Atopica, also called cyclosporine, suppresses the immune system cells that are associated with allergies so there is less inflammation. Possible side effects of cyclosporine are stomach upset and diarrhea, but it is generally considered safe in cats.

Allergy Shots

The final possibility for atopic dermatitis is immunotherapy, or allergy shots. Immunotherapy means that we are trying to change how the immune system sees the antigens so that it no longer reacts.

This starts with a blood or skin test to figure out exactly what environmental antigens your cat is reacting to. Once the test has shown what your cat is allergic too, a laboratory makes a serum of the antigens.

Avoid Contact With The Main Allergen Sources

Update on Feline Adverse Food Reactions

Once you know for sure what kind of allergy your cat has, you know how to help her feel better.

Here are a few tips:

Tips against cat pollen allergy
Prevent contact to allergen source: Just like with humans, the most effective way to protect your cat from an allergic reaction is to prevent contact with the allergens in question.
Get informed:
  • Keeping your cat indoors during that time or
  • Using medication to alleviate her symptoms
Keep kitty inside: If you choose to keep your cat inside while the pollen they are allergic to is outside, take extra care when airing your home.
Get fresh air: Most seed and pollen producing plants bloom during the day, so you can significantly help your cat by only opening windows after sunset.

Read Also: How To Test For Peanut Allergy At Home Baby

Can Cats Have Allergies Signs Common Types & Treatments

tags

Can cats have allergies just like their pet parents? Yes, they can! However, cats don’t normally show the same clinical signs watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing that we commonly associate with allergies in humans. Instead, cats with allergies display signs of itchiness such as licking, chewing or rubbing on the fur and skin. Allergies in cats are commonly separated into three categories: flea, environmental and food. The specific type of allergy present will help determine treatment and what to feed a cat with allergies. Read on to learn more about the types of allergies, their clinical signs and treatment options.

Cat Flea Allergy Dermatitis

A flea allergy is triggered by a reaction to a fleas saliva. Cats who live exclusively indoors are just as susceptible to fleas as cats who go outside because fleas can live anywhere in the environment.

If you are currently using flea prevention on your cat and your veterinarian cant find any sign of fleas, that would suggest that your cat has an allergy to a food or something in the environment.

Read Also: Do Allergies Cause Mucus Cough

Cat Pollen Allergy: What To Do If Your Cat Is Allergic To Pollen

Can you tell the symptoms of pollen allergy in your cat? Learn them now and also what you can do to help her deal with this easier!

With humans, allergies are a common thing. Everybody knows someone, who suffers from hay fever at some time during the year. It may come as a surprise to many that our feline friends can also suffer from cat pollen allergy. And while there is no permanent cure for the pollen allergies in cats, there are certain things you can do to help your cat. Whether youre a first-time cat parent or not, find out what works best for your kitty!

What Is The Best Type Of Cat Litter For Cats With Allergies

Allergies to Cats in Humans : Treating Allergies

Cats with allergies typically benefit from litter that is dust-free and fragrance-free. Appropriate litter varieties may include Worlds Best Cat Litter , Arm & Hammer Slide Clumping Litter , and Tidy Cats Free & Clean Clumping Cat Litter , among others.

Ultimately, though, selecting the best litter for your cat may require some degree of trial and error. Once you switch your cat to a new litter, wait a couple of weeks to see if the litter change has had an impact on your cats allergy signs. If your cats allergies are improving, continue with the new litter long-term and continue to monitor your cats signs. If your cats allergies are worsening or unimproved, try a different litter type.

Although dust and fragrances are the most likely allergens in litter, its possible that your cat is reacting to some other aspect of their litter. You may need to try a variety of litter types in order to find the litter that works best for your cat.

Read Also: What Do Fall Allergies Feel Like

What Medications Can Treat Cat Allergies

In order to treat and alleviate your cat allergy symptoms, your doctor may suggest:

  • Antihistamines reduce the production of an immune system chemical that is active in an allergic reaction, and they help relieve itching, sneezing and runny nose.
  • Corticosteroids delivered as a nasal spray can reduce inflammation and control symptoms of cat allergies.
  • can help shrink swollen tissues in your nasal passages and make it easier to breathe through your nose
  • Leukotriene modifiers block the action of certain immune system chemicals.
  • Immunotherapy. You can train your immune system not to be sensitive to an allergen. Immunotherapy is delivered through a series of allergy shots.
  • Nasal irrigation. You can use a specially designed squeeze bottle to flush thickened mucus and irritants from your sinuses with a prepared saltwater rinse.

My Cat Has Allergies: But What Kind

If a cat has allergies, there could be a variety of causes. Some cats even suffer from more than one kind of allergy.

Cat Skin Allergies

Cat skin allergies cause uncomfortable itching and irritation due to something in the kittys environment. One of the most common culprits that cause cat skin allergies are fleas. Flea allergy dermatitis is caused by an allergic reaction to flea bites and more specifically, the proteins in a fleas saliva. Just one bite from a flea can cause intense itching that can last for days in allergic cats.

Cat Food Allergies

Food allergies in cats are caused by something in your feline friends diet, usually a type of protein. That protein could include beef, chicken or fish. Feline allergy diets are formulated with limited ingredients and novel proteins that your cat hasnt encountered before like lamb, venison, rabbit or elk. Youll also find diets that contain hydrolyzed proteins, which are broken down into tiny pieces that wont trigger an allergic reaction when eaten.

Environmental Allergies

Recommended Reading: Are Pine Nuts Safe For Peanut Allergy

How Cat Allergies Are Diagnosed

There are two ways to test for any allergy, including to cats: skin testing and blood tests. There are two types of skin allergy tests. A skin prick test and an intradermal skin test. Both tests give fast results and tend to cost less than blood tests.

Certain medications can interfere with skin testing, so talk to your doctor about which test is best for you. Skin testing is usually done by an allergist due to the possibility of severe reactions during testing.

Testing For Cat Food Allergies

Cat Allergies: Why Are So Many People Affected? Cat allergies cause ...

If your cat is still itchy after treating their infection and using a monthly flea preventive, the next step is to test for a food allergy. Unlike people, there is no blood test for food allergies in cats. To figure out if your cat has an allergy to food, your veterinarian will prescribe either a novel protein diet or a hypoallergenic diet.

  • A novel protein diet is one with a protein source that your cat has never had before. Venison, rabbit, and duck are common novel protein sources.

  • A hypoallergenic diet is a food in which the protein source is broken down into small molecular pieces so that the body can no longer recognize it as a protein. Think of a puzzle that has an image of a pirate ship. When you take the puzzle apart, you can no longer see the pirate ship.

To diagnose a food allergy, your cat will need to be on the prescribed diet for a minimum of two months without eating anything but that diet. If the diet trial is effective, the next step is to add a new protein source to the food for one to two weeks.

If there is no reaction, we can assume that protein is not causing the allergy if there is a reaction, we know that your cat is allergic to that protein and it must be avoided. Occasionally, some cats must stay on the prescription diet for life to manage their food allergy.

Read Also: Can Allergy Drops Make You Sick

Diagnosis Of Seasonal Allergies In Cats

If you are noticing that your cat is experiencing great discomfort from what appears to be an allergic reaction, bring it in to your veterinarian. Be sure to provide the cat’s full medical history so that other possible health problems can be ruled out. The veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of the cat. You will be asked if similar symptoms have occurred in the same season during years passed.

It is beneficial to spot allergies early in a cats life to treat the issue before the reaction worsens. Allergy testing can be helpful to identify the exact cause of the reaction. An intradermal test, in which a small portion of the suspected allergen is injected into the skin, can help to rule out and potentially discover what is triggering the cat. If an allergic response is seen after injection, the allergen has been identified. Blood tests to measure the antibodies in the blood can also reveal potential allergies. A radioallergosorbent test or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay may be used for this measurement. Differentiation from conditions such as mange, ringworm or fleas must be made, sometimes using skin scrapings for microscopic evaluation.

Recovery Of Seasonal Allergies In Cats

Keeping your home extremely clean during a period of allergic reactions can greatly help your cat. This includes regularly vacuuming and floor washing with non-toxic cleaners. Shutting windows can help prevent allergy-causing molecules from entering the home. It may be best to postpone any vaccinations to a time after the allergic response has ended.

Strengthening the immune system can help it to make more appropriate responses to outside factors. Giving your cat a species-appropriate diet with no inflammatory foods can keep your cat’s immune system healthy. This diet should be low in both grains and carbohydrates. Adding lots of Omega-3 fatty acids and coconut oil to your cat’s diet can assist in strengthening the immune responses further. Continue treatments as recommended by your veterinarian. Begin them again if signs of an allergic reaction return.

You May Like: Can Allergies Cause Lip Blisters

Seasonal Allergies In Cats: Symptoms And Prevention

Its springtime again with the world beginning to come alive. Flowers are starting to bloom, trees are budding, and grass is coming back to life. Did you know that your beloved feline friend can be susceptible to seasonal allergies just like humans? Airborne environmental allergens including pollen, mold and dust mites can affect cats too!

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

How I deal with my cat allergies…

This is a summary of the coverages in your pet health insurance policy from Fetch. No coverage is provided by this summary nor can it be construed to replace any provision of your policy. You should read your policy and review your Declarations page for complete information on the coverages you are provided. If there is any conflict between the policy and this summary, the provisions of the policy shall prevail.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Difference Between A Cold And Allergies

Types And Causes Of Cat Allergies

There are 4 common allergies in cats: environmental, fleas, food, and seasonal. This section elaborates these types of allergies and the different ways in which they may affect your cat.

Environmental allergies. Substances that cause environmental allergies include pollen, grass, fungi, mold, and dust. Your cat may also have allergies to things like cigarette smoke, perfume, and some cleaning products.

Flea allergies. When a small insect known as a flea bites your cat, it causes an allergic reaction that can be very irritating. The saliva from a flea bite can affect a catâs entire body, not just where the cat was bitten. Your veterinarian can help you choose the right flea prevention product to help protect your cat.

Food allergies. Some cats may have allergies to certain foods. This can cause skin itchiness, vomiting, or diarrhea. Your veterinarian can help you find out which foods are irritating your cat and create an appropriate diet.

Atopic dermatitis. When a cat experiences allergies, their bodies can often react with a skin condition called atopic dermatitis. With this condition, your cat may develop skin sores, scabbing, hair loss, and redness.

Environmental and flea allergies are usually treated by your veterinarian using the same meds, often including skin creams or a prescribed medication.

Symptoms Of A Cat With Allergies

Allergies can cause many unpleasant symptoms in your cat. A cat with allergies may experience one or more symptoms, including:

  • Dry and itchy skin.
  • Diarrhea and gas.
  • Runny nose, sneezing and wheezing.

Many cats with allergies may scratch and bite at their skin due allergies, leading to additional symptoms like hair loss, excess shedding, redness and even bacterial skin infections.

Also Check: When To Use An Epipen For Food Allergy

What Does A Cat Allergy Look Like In Children

An infant who is sick, has difficulty sleeping, has trouble breathing, develops rashes, or has unexplained respiratory symptoms after being exposed to cat allergens may be allergic. If you have any concerns about your childs health, you should always consult your physician.

How to manage cat allergies

Taking preventative measures can help you to avoid cat allergy symptoms, whilst medications can help to alleviate symptoms when they arise.

Can A Cat Be Allergic To Cat Litter

Exclusively Cats Veterinary Hospital Blog: Feline Allergies: Why is my ...

While litter allergies are not widely documented in cats, and not much research has been done on this topic, they certainly can occur. Cats can develop allergies to any substance theyve been repeatedly exposed to, and litter certainly carries a repeated exposure risk!

Not only do cats contact litter with their skin, they also tend to inhale dust and other allergens whenever they are in the litter box. These two factors create an environment where litter allergies can develop.

There are multiple components of litter that may trigger allergies in cats, including:

  • Dust: Many clay litters create dust when the litter is scooped or when cats dig in the litter. Dust formation is thought to be correlated to sodium bentonite, a common ingredient in clumping cat litters.
  • Fragrances: Fragrances that are added to cat litter to control unpleasant litter box odors can be a common allergy trigger for cats.
  • Mold: Some types of litter, such as corn-based litters, can develop mold on the surface of the litter. This mold can trigger allergies when inhaled.
  • Wood shavings: Just like we humans can become allergic to different trees, cats can be allergic to tree shavings.
  • Walnut: Nut-based litters may contain walnuts, which can trigger allergies in some cats.

You May Like: Can Allergies Cause Chest Pain

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular