Mary Allen
It is not uncommon for cats to have allergies – sometimes with many unpleasant side effects. From flea bite allergy to food intolerance. Here we will inform you how to recognize the respective symptoms, how an allergy is diagnosed, and which treatment options need to be differentiated.
Symptoms of an Allergy
Itching is undoubtedly one of the most common symptoms. In these cases, cats usually rub or lick their faces or paws and scratch their necks. This in turn results in hair loss, crust formation, and open wounds. The symptoms become more obvious and pronounced over time. In severe cases, even reddish or yellowish swellings/ulcers appear in the abdominal area, on the hind legs, or on the face. Frequent vomiting and diarrhea are also possible consequences.
Flea Bites and Environmental Allergies
Flea bites and environmental allergies are among the most common allergies in cats. However, the fleas themselves are rarely seen. An intolerance to environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or mold spores also causes many fur noses and pet owners to despair. Depending on the allergy, the symptoms only appear in spring (e.g. pollen count). Dust mites, on the other hand, can make life more difficult for cats all year round.
Food Allergies
Many cats are allergic to certain proteins. Often this is especially the case with beef, fish, wheat, and eggs. But additives such as colorings and preservatives are also often involved in the suffering of the fur noses. Typical symptoms of a feed allergy include:
- Licked or scratched areas of skin
- A constant itch
- Redness and extremely dry skin
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- In rare cases also constipation
Allergy-Causing Substances in the Household
There is almost nothing that cannot lead to allergies in cats. Fragrances and dyes found in certain household cleaners or textiles can also be the cause of unpleasant itching, rashes, or other inconveniences. In general, chemical cleaning agents should not be used in the immediate vicinity of the fur noses and should not be stored within easy reach.
Diagnosing Cat Allergies
After two to six weeks, cats with a flea bite allergy usually respond well to thorough flea control. Feed allergies can usually be diagnosed using an elimination diet. This involves feeding protein sources that have not yet been administered. If the treatment is successful, an improvement should occur after about four to six weeks.
If there is neither a flea bite nor a food allergy, the four-legged friends should first be examined for possible ectoparasites. These nestle on the skin surface of the velvet paws. Ticks are particularly widespread in summer, and in most cases, they can be easily removed with a tick tweezer. If the parasites are not the cause either, it is advisable to test the four-legged friends for environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis).
The vet can diagnose the possible allergens with a skin test. It shears the hair on the side of the chest and injects very low doses of allergens into the skin. Skin reactions only occur with allergic fur noses. You can see this 15 to 30 minutes after the skin test. Before doing such a test, however, it is important to keep in mind that medications such as cortisone can affect the skin test. Therefore, discontinue this two to eight weeks before the vet visit. You can obtain more detailed information on this from your vet.
Elimination Diets and Other Measures
Regular flea control helps with a flea bite allergy. Four-legged friends who are already seriously ill must also take medication prescribed by the veterinarian. If, on the other hand, the house tiger suffers from an environmental allergy, tablets are usually the simplest solution. These contain, among other things, certain fatty acids and antihistamines, which can usually be administered for years without any problems. If your cat prefers excursions in the great outdoors at home, then it is often impossible for many owners to feed the medication day in and day out. Desensitization therapy is an alternative. Here the cat owner injects the allergen concentrates. In the beginning weekly and later every three to four weeks.
If the fur nose has a feed allergy, the menu should be changed. In this case, pay particular attention to allergy-causing proteins. It is helpful to follow an exclusion diet. By means of the exclusion principle, one tries to find the allergenic substances. Start the diet with only one type of meat that you have not yet fed the cat. All treats and feed supplements such as eggs and quarks are not permitted during this feeding phase. Of course, such an exclusion diet harbors the risk that the four-legged friends hunt for their own food in the wild or, in the worst case, plunder the cat’s bowls in the neighborhood. Of course, this falsifies the test results. Avoid feeding dry food during this time, as herbal ingredients and other inadequately labeled ingredients make evaluation impossible.
If you want to follow the exclusion diet with conventional cat food – not recommended – it should at least be single-origin (e.g. only duck or only horse). For the first six to eight weeks you only feed the domestic tiger the specified type of meat. During this period of time, the affected areas of the skin should heal completely. If the symptoms have disappeared, your cat will be given a different type of meat in the next step. If the symptoms of the allergy reappear in the first three weeks, then use the first type of meat, as your four-legged friend is obviously allergic to the selected meat meal.
Remember that changing your diet can cause short-term diarrhea and digestive problems (within the first few days). The animals initially get used to the changeover. After all, if all the types of meat considered have been fed, you can usually clearly determine which type of meat or which animal protein has triggered the allergies in your cat. A small notebook will help you to always keep an overview.
Cat Allergies – Can’t Do it, Don’t Exist
Allergies are mostly lifelong illnesses. As you can see, your four-legged friends can be allergic to quite a few substances. The allergy itself cannot usually be cured, but the symptoms can be alleviated. Of course, this must first be diagnosed which substances affect the quality of life of your beloved furry friend. If your cat behaves abnormally and shows one or more of the symptoms mentioned, you should contact the vet as soon as possible. Compared to us humans, it is impossible for four-legged friends to clearly express their pain or health problems. Hence, it is your job to keep an eye on possible behavior problems in your house tiger.