Mary Allen
Just like humans, cats can develop intolerances and allergies to food or feed components. Read here what the differences between intolerances and allergies are, how to recognize them and what to consider when feeding.
If cats cannot tolerate certain food components, this is usually due to a food allergy or intolerance. These phenomena can still occur even if the cat has been eating the food for years without any problems. It doesn’t matter which of the two complaints it is: The disruptive factor in the cat food must be found and the cat’s diet must be adapted accordingly.
Food Intolerance Or Allergy?
The terms food intolerance (or intolerance) and food allergy are often used interchangeably, but they are two different phenomena.
For Food Intolerance…
- … the cat usually reacts to certain food components or additives.
- … the cat’s immune system is not involved.
- … the symptoms get worse the higher the dose of the substance.
- … are symptoms of digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, or flatulence.
In The Case Of Food Allergies, On The Other Hand…
- … the cat’s immune system is involved and reacts to an otherwise harmless food component with an antigen-antibody reaction.
- … even the smallest doses of the allergen are sufficient to provoke an immune response.
- … symptoms are itching in the head and neck area, hair loss, reddening of the skin, vomiting, diarrhea, or flatulence.
The following applies to both phenomena: If the disruptive factor is found in the cat food, it should be eliminated. Colorants and additives also have no place on the list of ingredients.
Food Intolerance In Cats
An example of food intolerance is lactose intolerance, which is widespread among adult cats: As cats grow, the activity of the enzyme lactase in their body decreases more and more. However, lactase is required to break down the lactose in cow’s milk and the like. Undigested milk sugar then leads to typical digestive problems.
Gluten intolerance in cats, on the other hand, is unlikely, because so far the disease has only been unequivocally proven in a few dog breeds. However, if it is found in your cat, grain-free food is recommended.
Attention: The cause of a sensitive gastrointestinal tract does not always have to be in the bowl: stress is also a major factor that can hit cats on the stomach. For food-sensitive cats, it is worth switching to easily digestible food to protect the digestive system.
Food allergy in cats
Cats often develop a food allergy between the ages of two and six years and then have a sudden reaction to certain food components. These are often the protein sources in cat food: several studies have confirmed that beef, chicken, dairy products, eggs, and fish are among the most common food allergens in cats. Ingredients such as wheat or soy, on the other hand, are less likely to be the trigger.
Diagnosis Of Food Allergy In Cats
If all other possible causes of the symptoms have been clarified by a veterinarian and only the suspicion of a food allergy remains, a clear diagnosis can only be made with elimination and subsequent provocation diet. The same applies if you want to find out the trigger of an intolerance). This works as follows:
- The cat gets hypoallergenic food from the vet, usually based on hydrolyzed proteins.
- This special food – and only this – is served to the cat for the next ten to twelve weeks. Treats and other extra requests are taboo.
- Symptoms will subside during the elimination diet, provided the cause was actually an allergic reaction.
- After twelve weeks, the cat gets its usual food again. If the initial symptoms reappear (this can take up to two weeks), the diagnosis of a feed allergy is confirmed.
In the future, it is then necessary to strictly avoid the allergen and switch to appropriate food. You should rely on hypoallergenic food recommended by the vet because this is the only way to be sure that the food is actually completely suitable.
An alternative possibility is to feed the cat according to the BARF concept and to prepare the food rations yourself. However, this requires comprehensive knowledge of the specific needs of the cat so that deficiency symptoms do not occur and should therefore be discussed with the veterinarian as a matter of urgency.