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What Are The Symptoms Of Cat Allergies

How Is Atopy Treated

Symptoms of an Allergy to Cats — From the makers of ZYRTEC®

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.

Allergy Symptoms In Cats

The pollen count is currently high, and my whole family is miserable. I also noticed Le Cat has been sneezing more often! We laughed and joked that maybe he’s allergic to pollen too, but I think he truly is allergic! Allergy symptoms among cats are just like those for people:1

  • Discharge from eyes

Not only is Le Cat sneezing, but he has a slight discharge from his eye. During his check-up, the veterinarian gave us medicine for his eyes. Now we know he has allergies and how to treat him, but does he also have asthma?

Treatment For Food Allergies

There are a number of treatment options.

The cornerstone of treatment is feeding only a restricted diet that does not contain any of the allergens which provoke a reaction. This may be the limited ingredient diet that was used for the food trial, or it could be a different diet.

There are various commercially produced diets that are generally recommended, or it is also possible to home-prepare a restricted protein diet.

Two types of restricted allergen diet are available:

  • , which are limited antigen diets where the particular protein has not been eaten previously by the cat. Examples include venison, rabbit, specific fish, and others. These diets may be commercially prepared or home-cooked . The best commercial diets are prescription diets generally obtained via your veterinarian, as over-the-counter pet shop sourced products are more likely to include common allergens or other extra ingredients that may provoke an allergy.
  • Hydrolyzed protein diets are limited antigen diets where the protein has been hydrolyzed into smaller fragments of protein which are very unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction.

Anti-allergic medication such as corticosteroids or glucocorticoids may be used as an additional way of damping down the allergic signs. Long-acting depot glucocorticoid injections are a useful alternative for cats that are difficult to medicate.

Shampoos and baths may help some cases .

Digestive tract medication may be used to help with signs of vomiting or diarrhea.

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How To Test For Cat Allergy

Upon visiting an allergy specialist, they will perform a skin-prick test to diagnose a cat allergy. This involves placing a small extract of cat allergen on to your skin. Your skin is then pricked so the liquid can seep beneath the surface.

You can also order at-home allergy testing kits, which you can perform yourself and send off to a lab for the results. These tests check for the number of cat-hair-specific IgE antibodies in your blood, telling you whether you are sensitised to cat dander and, therefore, possibly allergic to cats.

Home Remedies For Cat Allergies In Humans

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  • Nasal irrigation. You can fill a neti pot or specially designed squeeze bottle with saline solution, and use this to flush mucus and irritants from your sinuses6.
  • Clean your cat. If you are a cat owner, try bathing your cat yourself. If a friend or relative has a cat and you are regularly spending time around their home, politely suggest this as well. This may reduce their need to self-groom, and cut down the amount of saliva and Fel d 1 you are exposed to6.

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Here’s How To Treat Food Allergies In Your Cat

If your cat seems under the weather, it could be dealing with an allergy, which is one of the most common medical conditions to affect felines. Per VCA Animal Hospitals, cats can experience four major types of allergies insect allergies, inhalant allergies, contact allergies, and food allergies. The latter occurs when a cat has an immune reaction to a specific ingredient, which causes its body to respond as though the ingredient is a harmful invader.

In actual fact, food allergies are rare in cats, with only 1% of all cats experiencing them . However, 15% of cats who experience itching end up being diagnosed with a food allergy, and 42% of cats with itching and gastrointestinal problems experience those symptoms as a result of food allergies.

Food allergies can cause great discomfort to a cat, so if you suspect that your cat is allergic to its food, it’s definitely worth exploring further. Allergies are not curable, but they are manageable. The best treatment plan begins with a proper diagnosis.

How Do You Prevent Food Allergies In Cats

While there is no true way to prevent food allergies in cats, you should always feed your cat a high-quality diet, avoiding low-quality food such as food with too many grain fillers. From a young age, it is also a good idea to feed your cat a variety of proteins. Remember to always feed your cat a species-appropriate diet as well.

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Five Ways To Help Manage Cat Allergy Symptoms

  • Avoid being licked by your cat it could make symptoms worse!
  • Create cat-free zones in your home. Especially the bedroom.
  • Open windows for ventilation.
  • Keep the house clean and vacuum regularly to keep allergens at bay.
  • Speak to your GP about antihistamines or nasal sprays.
  • Are you allergic to your cats? You may be searching for tips on how to get rid of cat allergies naturally. Watch our helpful video on alleviating your cat allergy symptoms around your home.

    What Are The Causes Of Cat Allergies

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    There is a common belief that the hair or fur is mainly responsible for causing a cat allergy. However, this is not the main problem. Instead, substances called allergens are primarily responsible for causing such allergic reactions. These are mainly protein food sources, while non-food allergens might include latex, insect venom, cockroaches, pollens, mould spores, etc.

    Allergens in animals can be seen mainly in their urine, saliva, skin, and faeces. Therefore, when having cats as pets, it is essential to observe such substances in them. In addition, pet allergens are commonly seen in hair and clothing, and their lightweight nature helps them settle in carpets, bedding, furniture, etc.

    Even harmless things such as cat dander might seem like dangerous invaders when you have an over-sensitive immune system. However, the symptoms of cat allergies in adults are nothing but side effects of your body’s reaction to allergens.

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    Therapeutic Trial With Special Diet

    A food trial or Elimination Diet Trial , offering only a special limited antigen diet with a restricted protein source) for 6 12 weeks is the only definitive way to rule in or out food allergy.

    The cat must have access to nothing else other than the special hypoallergenic diet for this duration. If the cat improves during the elimination trial, then the diagnosis is confirmed, while if the cat continues to show signs of inflammation then the diagnosis is ruled out.

    Sometimes at the end of the trial period, a dietary challenge may be tried, deliberately stopping the exclusions and feeding the suspected offending allergen to see if there is a reaction. Often, however, this is not done because understandably, pet parents do not want their cat to develop signs again.

    How Long Do Cat Allergy Symptoms Last After Exposure

    Cat allergy symptoms will continue for as long as you are around an allergen. Once you are no longer near the allergen , symptoms of cat allergies should settle within a few hours.

    But they can last for 2-3 days, depending on how severe the cat allergies are. For example, if you’ve experienced significant eye swelling, this might take a couple of days to go down. You might be able to use antihistamines or oral steroids to help swelling settle more quickly.

    “It’s hard to say with 100% certainty whether symptoms will go away after exposure and whether you can grow out of allergies as such, so you must judge it on an individual basis. If you are struggling to breathe, you should avoid exposure for as long as possible, as having an animal around might not be the best idea, especially while you are awaiting diagnosis,” says Govind.

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    What Causes Cat Allergies

    About 10% of the U.S. population has pet allergies and cats are among the most common culprits. Cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. But contrary to what you might think, it’s not the fur or hair that’s the real problem. People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat’s saliva, urine, and dander .

    How do these tiny proteins cause such a big allergic reaction in the body? People with allergies have oversensitive immune systems. Their bodies mistake harmless things — like cat dander — for dangerous invaders, and attack them as they would bacteria or viruses. The symptoms of the allergy are the side effects of your body’s assault on the allergen, or trigger.

    Keep in mind that even if you don’t have an actual cat allergy, your cat can still indirectly cause your allergies to flare up. Outside cats can bring in pollen, mold, and other allergens on their fur.

    And what about so-called “hypoallergenic” cats? While some breeds — like the “hairless” sphinx — are said to be less likely to trigger symptoms of cat allergies than others, any cat has the potential to cause problems. This is true regardless of its breed, hair length, or how much it sheds. So if you know that you or another family member is allergic to cats, getting one — no matter what the breed — is not a good idea.

    How Does A Doctor Diagnose An Animal/pet Allergy

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    When you have moderate-to-severe allergies, it is best to see a board-certified allergist. Your doctor will diagnose a pet or animal allergy based on your medical history, symptoms, a physical exam, and allergy test results. Allergy testing is the best way find out if you allergic to a specific animal type. Your doctor can use either a blood test or skin test to help get a diagnosis.

    You can develop allergies at any time. And allergies can change over time. It is possible you were not allergic to your dog in the past, but you are now.

    The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America advocates for equal rights for people with asthma and allergies on planes. Our advocacy helped put new rules into place on U.S. airlines that limit emotional support animals on planes. But there is still more work to do to make flying a safer environment for people with pet allergies. Join our community to receive AAFA Advocacy Action Alerts. You will receive updates on this issue, as well as other legislation that affects people with asthma and allergies!

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    Allergies In Cats Faqs

    How can you tell if your cat has allergies?

    Cats with allergies typically have skin issues and are itchy. This doesnt mean they have allergies, but it is a possibility. Only testing with your veterinarian can determine if your cat has allergies.

    What can I give my cat for allergies?

    Always talk to your veterinarian before administering any medications or supplements. Based on your cats specific allergy, it may be treated with a combination of food and medications.

    What are the most common allergies in cats?

    Food allergy and environmental allergies are the most common.

    Im Allergic To My Cat How Can I Manage My Symptoms In My Home

    If you have found out that you do have an allergy, your doctor is the best person to give you advice on managing and alleviating your allergy symptoms. For example, you might benefit from using antihistamine tablets or nasal sprays. There are also a number of things you can do within your home to keep your symptoms at bay. These include:

    • having hardwood floors instead of carpets
    • using blinds instead of curtains
    • installing air filters to remove allergens
    • regularly cleaning where your cat sleeps
    • washing your cats bed regularly
    • moving litter trays and cat beds away from air vents

    To find out more about how you can reduce allergens in your home, as well as more information on pet allergies, visit Allergy UKs website

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    What Is Flea Allergy And How Is It Treated

    Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats.

    In spite of common belief, a normal cat experiences only minor skin irritation in response to fleabites. On the other hand, a cat with flea allergies has a severe reaction to even a single fleabite. This reaction is an allergic response to proteins or antigens present in the flea’s saliva. When a flea bites a cat to consume a blood meal, some of its saliva is injected into the skin. Just one fleabite may cause such intense itching that the cat may severely scratch or chew itself, leading to the removal of large amounts of hair. There will often be open sores or scabs on the skin, resulting in a secondary bacterial skin infection . The area most commonly involved is over the rump or base of the tail. In addition, the cat may have numerous small scabs around the head and neck. These scabs are often referred to as miliary dermatitis, a term that was coined because the scabs look like millet seeds .

    “This reaction is an allergic response to proteins or antigens present in the flea’s saliva.”

    Does My Cat Have Allergies

    Signs and Symptoms of Cat Allergies in Children — From the makers of ZYRTEC®

    Tips for Diagnosing & Treating Feline Allergies

    Like humans, cats can experience allergies to all kinds of different stimulants called allergens. If you notice that your cat seems to be feeling under the weather and is constantly scratching herself or sneezing, it could be a sign that shes experiencing allergies.If you happen to be an allergy sufferer yourself youll know just how miserable she must feel!Fortunately, feline allergies are very treatable. Once the allergen is identified its simply a matter of removing it from your cats environment or treating it with medication.Symptoms of Allergies in Cats

    Allergy symptoms in cats are quite similar to what humans experience. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your cat, she could have feline allergies:

    • Vomiting or diarrhea
    • Swollen paws or paw chewing

    Its not uncommon for cats to exhibit some of these symptoms sporadically, but if they are ongoing contact your veterinarian.Common Cat Allergies

    The first step to alleviating your cats allergies is figuring out what is causing them. A visit to the vet is the easiest way to narrow down your cats allergy stimulus, but generally speaking, cat allergies fall into one of 3 categories:

    • Environmental Allergies

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    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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